The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-03-24
Has 1t Come to This, Philip?
Or, If the Rich Pay Fully as Much as
the Poor, How High Is Up?

VI, Ii the klcn ray Fully as Mucn as
the Poor, How High Is Up?
THE ACT before the two ebony-skinned mirthmak-
appear this weeks bill at the Moore 10
a well-staged attempt At serious philosophy The
theme! Il really doesnt matter for th: 10 not re.
view of Harriet Rempells splendid sketch. Suffice Il
to say that drove homo the truths sought convey
in clear and unambiguous way.
Then came the dusky sons Of Africa. They appar-
emily didn't have serious thought to offer. They
there to evoke laughter, 10 pour out bucketfuls
of nonsense.
"How high is up?" is . sample.
MISS REMPELLS art portrays life.
AVA Yet let Us dismss our Ethiopian friends too
suddenly. Who knows but that behind all that nom
sense they, too, arc philosophizingi
They want to know how high il up! A silly qucs-
ton, you say. II doesn't mean anything? Well,
maybe So
sTHE claim has been made that the poll tax works
l. hardship on the laborins man. In this connec-
ton Il might be well to emphasize the fact that Il will
ALSO reach some Of the wealthiest men in the COM
munty, who, under the present system, escape the
payment of taxes"
MISS REMPELL'S sketch would have no room for
AVA a. rite statement ~ the above Not that there
isn't fund of fine humor in her act There 10. How
ever, the colored boys Moss and Frye who follow her
act would be more apt to spring something quite that
frivolous.
The poll tax Is a good thing. because ifn make .
few wealthy tax dodgers pay fully a. much A. any
scrubwoman."
"How high is up?"
You can get good chuckle out of either.
- - =. - - ~
PUT the colored boys didn't spring that At all Il
- was said in all seriousness in address 10 the
Municipal league BY Senator I. D. Rockwell
You see, the senator knows that there bankers
who have lot Of money, but own little real
tat h~aA hsuk ~ thev
Money, SUCH tax proof in this state. Like
wise, there wealthy bondholders and mortgage
holders and note holders and investment brokers who
employ their money in such way that they, too. e.
cape taxation on the great bulk Of their riches The
senator knows Il - wrong that the small homo owner
should often pay taxes than . wealthy banker.
The senator student of taxaton; yet in al serious
be defends the present poll tax, because, he
the community who, under the present system. escape
the payment of taxes-
IONW WITH the act, Messrs. Moss and Frye.
" 'How high 10 up?" Fine!
.How much !. FIVE dollars when"
"When what?"
when you're a rich coupon clipper with sidewhis-
kers to comb every morning, and when you're poor
widow with several kiddies who must comb the town
every day for a chance to make living?"
NOW let Senator Rockwell proceed-or these
~ the words Of Moss and Frye?
"Yes, indeed, it'll make the wealthy tax dodser
squirm. He's going be hit absolutely hard the
poorest among us. He'll have to pay FIVE dollars.
FIVE DOLLARS! Think of it! Every bit of il! n
can't say how many of these rich slackers there are
Maybe q hundred Maybe FIVE hundred. Maybe a
thousand. Of course, the poor wage will dig
up tens of thousands to every hundred the wealthy
tax dodgers will pay on the poll tax. But, gosh!
We've got the rich evader at last. And he may bite
his nails and fume and rage-the best he will get
of il is to sneak off in and yodel so il has
come 70 this, Philip"
But he'll pay, and he'll pay FIVE DOLLARS!
A GAIN ask, who is doing this talking? If il il
the senator, it 10 comedy behind a mask of seri-
ousness. If it is Moss and Frye il is serious philoso
ply behind a mask of nonsense.
"How high is up?"