The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1922-10-06

him? ! will not"
Evidence was not lacking that the
crowd listening understood and ap.
preciatcd Tie tenor and purport of
these questions.
At the beginning, Mr.. Donahoy was
presented to his audience by the
chairman of the meeting, Capt. julius
Headington, world war veteran and
himself the Democratic candidate for
election to the next general assembly
as representative from Knox county.
Taxes Are High
The first topic touched upon by the
candidate was that of taxation, ask
ing if working men find their wages
commensurate with the. cost of living
This question was addressed similar
1y to farmers and to business men.
and from all must be given a uniform
ly negative reply. The cause the
speaker attributed to excessive taxa
tion blighting all effort
Going far back In taxing history,
Mr.. Donahey mentioned the incorpor.
alton of the uniform rule" in the tax
| ing system. In the course Of years
taxes increased until they reached a
maximum of three per cent. Then
came the Smttirt one per cent law,
causing drop in the rate to III per
cent. Since, there has been a steady
increase and the taxes now are over
two per cent and soon will reach
three. the speaker predicted.
The Uniform Rule
The trouble with the uniform rule,
Mr.. DonaEey explained, is that prop
erty is not uniformly taxed here in
Ohio. or the $22O,OO0,O0O taxes paid
in the state, rs per cent comes from
the homo owner. Twenty-Five per
cent is from intangiblos.
"For 70 years." declared the speak
err, there has been no enforcement OF
the uniform tax rule. No Legislature
has enforced the uniform tax rule
They can but they don't"
Explanation &C the cause was found
in the avenue for escape by federal
and state exempted bonds. 1t is es
timated that 40 per cent Of the ma
tional tax wealth is exempted.
Trouble With Ohio
"The trouble with Ohio" continued
Mr. Donahey, "is that she is run by
minorities. That's the trouble. Some
time ago, seven of the larger cities
of the state had bond issues up. There
were 4S0,000 voters in those sever
cities. ! know It, for that many hat
voted at the wet and dry election the
year before At these bond elections
only $4,000 votes were cast. There
we're 100000 who did not vote, but al
these bond issues carried.
"Unless we make Ohio majority
state, it is going to be only ques
tion of time until we are made to pay
for the very air we breathe and the
water we drink"
Indirect Taxes
Mr.. Donahey also spent some time
in discussion of the subject on in
direct taxes. The railroads and stree
car lines pay to the state $5,5OO,OO(
annually This they collect from The
people. The gas, electric light, pri
vate waterworks and telephones pa,
taxes and collect it from the people
Also the life insurance companies
pay taxes. We have dog taxes, hunt
ing taxes, thd doctors and dentists
pay taxes indirectly. The fedora
government collects $5,O0O,O00,dOO ant
more a year 1t is estimated that th'
average family pays. in indirect taxes
ar average of $4OO a year.
The man who rents was held to b'
the real taxpayer plus, Mr.. Donahe!
said The man who rents pays rem
and taxes too.
The public, debt of Ohio in 1912, |
was stated, was $1S6, 100000. 1t is tc
lday in excess of sC15,O00,0OO. !
would take 100000 wagon loads O
wheat to pay the interest upon thi
debt.
Excessive taxation and the abase'
currencies of Europe are responsible
for the unrest in this country. MI
DOnahey displayed a Russian banR