Milford chronicle., 1921-10-07
REPUBLICANS AND TAX
REDUCTION

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18-In a state
ment issued today through its President,
Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr., the Republi-
can Publicity Association takes exception
to the assertion of a staff writer of the
New York "Tribune" who represents
Republican leaders as confronted with
the demand of the administration for
continued large appropriations, on the
one hand, and the demands of the people
for reduction of taxation on the other,
with political death as the alternative if
the reduction of taxes is not accomplish
ed. The statement says:
1T is altogether likely that the corre-
spondent of the Tribune is not thorough
ly familiar with the state of public Op-
inion throughout the country. Beyond
question the people of the country desire
reduction of taxes more than they desire
any other one thing just at this time.
Nevertheless, the people are intelligent
enough to understand that the present
members of Congress are not responsible
for conditions which make immediate re-
duction of taxes practically impossible
If the country is to make a choice be-
tween the candidates of a party which
does not reduce taxes Immediately and
the candidates of a party which made
that reduction impossible they will un-
doubtedly choose the former.
Both Congress and the officials OF the
Executive Departments are endeavorlng
to find very possible means of curtailing
public expenditures in order to pave the
way for reduced taxation, and with hope
of success, but it has been long under
stood by men familiar with public af-
fairs that many fixed and unavoidable OBJ
legations of the government are not sus-
ceptibe of immediate reduction. This
was foreseen when the Republican plat
form of 1920 was drafted at Chicago
That platform specifcly stated that no
immediate reduction of taxes could be
promised for the reason that the prev
ious administration had conducted the
public business in such a wasteful and ex-
travagant manner and had incurred in
debtedness in such degree as to make i'm
mediate relief out of the question. The
Republican party dealt frankly with the
voters. Neither by direct assertion nor
inference did it promise immediate re-
lief from tax burdens. On the contrary
it gave clear and unmistakable warning
that no immediate relief could be expect d
ed. This being true, the Republicans
cannot be charged with bad faith IT there
be no diminution of taxation at the pres
ent session of Congress.
But even if the Republicans had prom
ised reduction of taxes, what reason
would there be for the people of the
country at the election of 1922 to return
to a Democratic administration? 1t was
a Democratic administration that brought |
about the conditions of which TIN 'eople |
now complain. This does hot hcan that
The Democratic administration was re-
for the war, the reasonable ex-
1enses of which the people would bear I
without complaint But it does mean that
he Democratic administration conducted
he war in such wasteful manner and by
such extravagant methods as to pile up
IN Indebtedness far beyond any justiti-
.ation. Not even the Democratic press
will have the hardihood to deny that un-
Ter the Democratic administration there
vas an orgy of extravaganza from which
he taxpayers will suffer for decades to
ONE.
The political retirement of the Re-
publican party would mean the restora-
ion of the Democratic party, practically
IL of whose leaders were either active
PARTICIPANTS in the Wilson Adminlstra-
ion or were its supporters. However,
much the people may be displeased with
Republican failure to reduce taxes now,
f failure there shall be, they will be
till more displeased with the Democratic /
arty which made that reduction dittlcult
f not impossible"