The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-03-27
Local Man States That Ten
Per Cent Tax flinders Ath-
letic Development of Youth
By j. X. LEE

1t requires athletics for the physical
development of the youth of the United
States and for the continued good health
and condition of the grown men and
women who indulge in any kind of sports
There are few who do not go in for some
kind of sports If the parents themselves
do not, their children do, so this ques-
ton is one that vitality affects 80 per
cent of the people.
Unless the 10 per cent war tax on any
and all kinds of sporting equipment is
repealed soon by Congress- a serious re-
tardment in the progress of athletics may
be expected Congress will take no ac-
ton until sufficient pressure is brought
to bear from constituents back home,
and this pressure, in the form Of resolu-
tions by sporting clubs, appeals from all
kinds of community clubs, athletic clubs.
letters from dealers and from the people
should be continually applied until we Sc
cure the desired result.
FAILS PURPOSE
Congress, in its ardor to raise new reve-
nue., thought it was taxing professiona
baseball for one thing, but the real facts
are that professional baseball buys only
one-half of l per cent of the sporting
goods manufactured in the United States
Over 70 per cent of the athletic goods
made in this great country is sold to boys
under Is years Of age
Few of we common people care how
much tax Congress soaks on racing
motor boats, for instance, but there is a
terrible error somewhere when we re-
member that autos, piano players talk
Ing machines, candy, cameras, opera
glasses. lorgnettes. jewelry, etc., are
taxed only per cent, and chewing gum,
toilet soap, toilet powders and such only
per cent, while all sporting goods are
10 per cent l believe sporting goods,
which enables us all to enjoy better health,
enable the youth of the land to secure
. better physical development in ut-of-
door recreation and afford pleasure to
practically the entire nation, are Of vast
ly more Importance and are more neces-
sary and less of luxury than jeweled
lorgnettes. that are only taxed per
cent. When unwise laws are enacted
there is no remedy except to have them
repealed, and the people, by concerted
action, can have it done. This 10 per cent
war tax on sporting goods must go.
DRIVE is ON
Sporting papers, magazines and clubs
everywhere are adopting resolutions and
writing their congressman on the ques-
ton. Other countries encourage athletics
to develop its youth, while our Congress
soaks on heavy tax.
Sports writer's can be of invaluable as
sistance in this fight; and SO can sporting
goods dealers. 1t affects the fisherman,
the shooter, the kids who play bali in
the sand lot and many others. If you buy
coat to hunt in you pay 10 per cent
extra, but If you buy coat to chop
wood in there is no tax. Clay targets
at the trap cost tenth more; shells and
guns the same. If Congress will repeai
this tax, all sporting goods will quickly
take a tumble in price. Representative
Royal Johnson of South Dakota, Long
worth of Ohio Wilson Of Illinois and
Senator Smoot of Utah are interested In
the movement to repeal the tax, and if
sportsmens organizations all over the
country, who are so vitality affected, will
take the matter up vigorously with their
representatives at Washington we can
bring the matter to head. There is no
time as good as right now.