The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-08-07

ed. that prompted some members
OF the senate to vote for the Lodge
reservations. Those who conscien-
tiously voted for them in the final
roll calls realized, however, that
they acted under duress. in that a
politically bigoted minority was ex-
ercising the arbitrary power Of its
position to enforce drastic condi-
tons. Happily the voters of the
republic, under our system Of gov
eminent, can remedy that situation,
and have the faith that they will,
at the election this fall. Then Or
ganixed government will be en-
abled to combine impulse and ia
cility In the making Of better world
conditions. The agencies Of ex-
change will automatically adjust
themselves to the opportunities of
commercial freedom. New life and
renewed home will take hold Of ey-
cry nation. Mankind will press a
resolute shoulder to the task of re-
adjustment, and a new era will
have dawned upon the earth.
Domestic Problems.
We have domestic problems to
be settled. They are most press
ing. Many conditions growing out
OF the war will not and should not
continue. The work of readjust-
ment will call for our best energy,
ingenuity, unselfishness and devo-
ton to the idea that it is the gen.
eral welfare we must promote. One
Of the first things to be done is
the repeal of war taxes. The en-
try of America into the world war
projected our people into an I'M
paralleled financial emergency,
which was faced. with a determine
ton to make every sacrifice neces-
sary to victory. Billions in liberty
loans subscribed by patriots re-
CARELESS Of their financial condi-
ton were instantly placed at the
disposal Of the government, and
other billions were gladly paid into
the treasury through many forms
Of taxation. To have paid by cur
rent taxes more than one-third of
the expense Of the greatest war in
the history of mankind. is a re-
Election on the high sense of ma
tional duty with which we of Am
erica view the obligations Of this
generation.
Must Reduce Taxes.
Immediately following the armis-
tice. measures to modify onerous
and annoying taxation should have
been taken and the Republican con-
esess in which all tax laws must
originate, and which for almost
two years has exclusively held the
power to ameliorste this condition,
has not made single effort or pas
sed single law to lift from the
American people load Of war tax
alton that cannot be tolerated in a
time of peace. Federal taxation
must be heavily reduced, and 1t
will be done at once, If a Demo-
cratic administration is chosen in
November. Without hampering es-
sential national administrative de-
partments. by the elimination OF
all others and strict economy ev-
erywhere, national taxes can be re-
duced in excess of two billion dol
lars yearly. Annoying consumption
taxes, once willingly borne, now
unjustified, should be repealed.
The incomes from war-made for
tunes, those Of non-producers and
those derived from industries t.at
exist by unfair privilege mag be
able to carry their present load,
but taxes on the earnings of the
wage-earner, of the salaried and
professional man. Of the agricultur-
al producer and Of the small trades
man. should be sharply modified
I believe that better form OF tax
alton than the so-called excess
profits tax may be found and I sug-
gest small tax, probably one to
one and one-half per cent on the to-
tai business Of every going con-
Germ. It is to be understood that
the term business" as used does
not include income received BY
wage-earners. salaried men. agri.
culturists and the small business
man who should be exempt from
this tax. The profiteer and some
Of the highly capitalized units have
used the excess profits tax - Z
favortte excuse for loading on the
consumer by means Of highly IN.
hated selling prices many timel
the amount actually paid the gov.
eminent.
High Prices.
A necessary condition to the m.
donai contentment and sound bust.
meas IL . Just proportion between
fAir profits to business and fall
prices to the consumer. 1t u I'M,
questioned that tho enormous ex.
pansion Of public and private cred,
It made necessary az q part Of va,
financing. the diversion Of the pro
ducta Of many industries nom theft
usual channels, az wen - tho dis
turbancs to genefs, business cause
BY the vithdHAWAl Of millioaa o.
msn from producing flelda, all con,
tEfbuted TO tho rise in pricss. Re
veFSion Of these various assnciso d
. moro stable condition will tend
toward o fecessi0n In the enorm
ouAly inflated present prices o.
many commodities and propeft,
values and there are nov evidences
that . Sane adjustment L. not "a
distant, Deep patriotic sentimen
enthralled cur people darilg III
-Nas - 1tlyA ettsntiea ~ uly