Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-30
GERMAN RULERS ARE
APPROACHING CRISIS
ON TAX SITUATION
Signing of Treaty With U, S,
Comedies With Demon
stration in Berlin for 1.-THE
Next War"
BY MAMMALIAN EAEZE&T
Germany's Foremost Fub1icist
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal. J


Copyright, 1921
BERLIN, August 27.-The official
signing Of treaty Of peace with the
United States. has conceded with a
demonstration in Berlin for "the
next war;" and Ludendorff, the
man who brought misery to the
German people, is the inspiration of
host of marching "goose-steppers."
The insane people who talk glibly
of the next war are finding willing
followers as the Wirth government
makes public it's new tax bills, fore
telling the heavy levies which will
be laid against the taxpayers to meet
the reparations bill of the allies and
to pay for the cost Of the armies &C.
cupying the Rhineland.
The German people must earn
fifty-seven billion marks this year
to pay the allies while they watch
their country's scientific, humane
and educational institutions fall into
decay for want Of funds. Could in
ternaticna1 hatred have better
breeding place?
the Wirth government is fast ap-
preaching g. crisis, and the publish
ing of the terms Of the separate
treaty with the United States is not
likely to enhance it's popularity. The
new treaty is also better for Germany
than the pact of Versailles. But our
people long since lost hope Of being
anything better from the Washing
ton government.
Meantime a tremendous political
struggle over the new tax burden Is
beginning. The comprehensiveness
of these taxes is cause of m1sg1v-
ing. Capital, income, trade and
nifty is to be burdened.
The nationalists are saying:
"Our party voted against the &C
ceptance of the London ultimatum
carrying the tremendous separations
demand. It is not our business to
raise these sums. We will leave the
responsibility to those who think
Germany can pay"
If the present government In con-
sequence is overthrow and parna-
ment dissolved, the demagogues will
argue: 1T is not our fault that you
have to pay more, but the fault of
our opponents. Vote for US this
time"
Needless to say if the voters bark
en- to this appeal they will still have
to pay the increased taxes or submit
to a foreign administration of our
finances like old Turkey did. But un-
doubtedly the nationalists would
welcome such development, for 1T
would stir up a Whlte-hot hatred Oh
all foreigners.
If this question goes to. the polls
the Social Democrats will be the op-
position side, although their repre-
sentatives now head the ministries
of the treasury and domestic econ
omy. This party's oldest plank de-
mands that the capitalists shall pay
and that indirect taxes shall not be
levied. The cry is a reaction to CEN
turtles of abuse when all the burdens
were heaped upon the lower classes
with the privileged escaping. Far
into the nineteenth century the idea
prevailed as expressed by a French
demanded six million francs from
the church. '"The church gives it's
prayers, the nobility their blood and
the common people their fortunes"
But can Germany obtain the i'm
mense sums needed from the small
y
six billions Of marks arrears on rep
arations, DR.. Wirth asks for one
hundred and fifty billions, of which
one hundred billions are to come
from new taxes. Sugar, already out
Of the reach of the people, is to be
taxed half a mark a pound more. 1t
is impossible to eliminate the indi-
rect taxes entirely, but they should
hit alcohol and tobacco and the lux
uries. The Social Democrats COM
plain that the 10 per cent taxes on
wages make it impossible for the
capitalists, and propose to cover our
debt by selling gold values" land,
buildings, industrial enterprises and
everything which has not been
turned into paper. They propose to
take a first mortgage on these prop
the indirect and wage taxes which
hit the people.
The landlord, the captains Of in
dustry and the merchants naturally
oppose this violently, regarding it
as the first step toward a rationale
zation of property.
A hard struggle is in prospect, as
every party hostile to the new tax
plans is gaining adherents rapidly
There is growing anger, too, against
petty inquisitive controls of the new
government, while everybody real
ICES that no control will enable the
government to take the great war
booty from the prof1teers.
The law says that all profits ex-
ceeding 10000 marks shall go to
the state, but the law is extensively
lodged as the ostentatious luxury of
the nouveaux riches plainly shows.
But what about the nouveaux
pauvres-the educated people, off,
Gals and the small profteers? They
do not command big capital or
massed votes, and hence they vatnly
wall their distress.
Everything is becoming dearer
daily. The devastation of the drouth
has raised the price of bread and
meat. Coal is rising and money is
deteriorating through the constant
operation Of the printing presses.
The new taxes will mean still fur
Their increases in prices, and as a
consequence there must come an in
crease Of wages. The miners already
are demanding 40 per cent more.
This will increase production costs
everywhere and must bring about
further wage increases until the vi
cious circle cracks and Germany's
industrial machine collapses.
Meanwhile, the political danger
grows and one hears increasing talk
on the streets Of not only "the next