The Tomahawk., 1921-06-02

the soldiers as is big business itself.
If bonus law were passed there
would not be such good chance OF
abolishing the excess Profits tax or
cutting down the tax on laSge in
comes. That is where the shoe pinches
big business. And as for gratitude
for soldier services, the interests feel
no more of that than they do for the
hard labor of farmers and working
men who make their profits possible.
There is no profit in gratitude.
This action, together with the joker
proposed by leaders of congress to
kill off the cheap soldier insurance to
aid the big insurance companies, ought
to show the soldiers about how things
stand.
TAXES AND DEMOCRACY
"A study of the tax systems of
other countries" says Senator Laid,
"seems to reveal general law, name
ly:
sThat where there is true democ-
racy of the people, the funds for the
support of the nation are raised large
ly by taxes on incomes, inheritances
and wealth in general, or in other
words, taxes on those best able to bear
the burden.
"Where privileged classes, whether
commercial or landed interests, are in
power, the indirect taxes on consump-
ton prevail, thus transferring as far
as possible the burden of taxation to
those least able to bear them."
Senator Ladd. Of course, knows that
our taxing system and the changes we
hear so much of do not speak well for
our alleged democracy. And he wants
the farmers to realize where they and
the people really stand.
i
THE WEST VIRGINIA WAR
Notice by state authorities that
they were able to cope with the civil
war in Mingo county, w. Va, kept the
federal administration from declaring
martial law in that territory and send
ing in federal troops. A great deal Of
shooting has been done but compare
lively few killed or wounded unless
reports Of casualties are concealed.
Most newspapers, while giving
front-page accounts of the violence,
give no clues as to it's cause which
would enlighten an intelligent mind.
To get at the cause one must open up
the nasty features Of so many Of our
mining communities. These COM
munities operate for the most part
under system not unlike that of
Slavery days.
Mines are necessarily in remote
corners away from the large cities.
The corporation owns the land around
them and it puts up novels to house
the workers. It also runs the stores.
It also runs the politics, especially the
sheriff's and the coroner's Office. Thus
the corporation controls all the fac
tors necessary to keep its workers at
the minimum of existence. An in
crease in wages ordered by state or
federal board means nothing because
miners are paid in store paper, not
money, and the company owns the
store.
If miner shows signs Of leadership
for improving conditions, the sheriff
runs him out of the county. If miner
is killed, the coroner helps the COM
pany rob the family he leaves Of just
compensation. A small army of spies
and gunner are employed to keep the
workers from demanding better condi-
lions. 80
Add to such a background the facts
that union leaders have succeeded at
last in organizing large part of the
West Virginia miners; that they are
on strike for better conditions; that
the company gunner elected them
from the company-owned novels, and
that gunner have tried to break up
their tent colonies, and we have the
essential factors in the latest indus
trial war.
MEXICO'S "CONFISCATORY
TAXES
The Mexican Review, a magazine
published in English and Spanish in
this city, the purpose of which is to
promote better understanding between
the two countries, has an interesting
thrust in its May issue at the confis-
cation propaganda put out against
Mexico.
IT, annears that the oil mapnate. f..