Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-25
CANCEL DEBTS
CONTINUED from Page on.)

-
the beginning OF the war fighting our
~. and the money we provided at
tns beginning OF the war saved us
from sacrificing men. And what Is
money as compared with human
lives.
The Friday evening meeting was
Colby night for Augusta Rotary. The
theme OF the evening was presented
blythe president of Colby college, and
there were In attendance about 70
Colby graduates among the Rotar-
iaus and guests of the evening. 1t
was a lively and enthusiastic meet
ing from beginning to end and was
enioyed and appreciated by all In at
tendance. The observance of College
niehts has become an institution
with Augusta Rotary and popular
one. President Newbert OF the CLUB
pres,ded over last evenings session
and introduced the speaker OF the
evening, President Roberts OF Colby
college. who is an enthusiastic Ro-
tartan and the first president OF the
waterville club.
rresident Roberts Of Colby College
President Roberts stated that he
was glad to bring the greetings OF
the Waterville Rotary club for that
club had always looked TO the Au-
gusta Club for example and insplra-
ton. And he said that he spoke for
all OF the members of the College
in voicing their appreciation in be-
tutr invited the meeting.
The recent Arms Limitation Con-
ference at Washington was held in
response to two imperative and
world wide demands. he asserted.
The first demand was the lesseninS
OF the intolerable burdens OF taxa
ton. II came 10 he generally felt
that the mad scramble for military
supremacy meant financial suicide.
And yet we are better off here than
many other countries. The per
capita debt OF. France is three times
that OF the United States and yet
our resources are ten times as great
as those of France.
The speaker then referred to the
sub iect Of taxation. showing that our
national budget requires from each
head Of a family-from one out of
every FIVE OF our population-about
$3.50 a year which is $500 more
then before the war. He demonstra-
tod the bearing that this has on
wages, stating that wages will never
go back 10 the pre-war level as long
as we have a $3.50 per family fed
eral budget. The head Of the family
the war because of the war debt.
Besides the demands of the ma
tlonal budget there are the demands
OF the municipal budget. The speak
er referred 10 farming towns in the
state where the State. county and
town taxes amount TO so mills on the
dollar. He explained how taxes are
shifted until it comes down to the
polnt that we workers have to pay
the tax.
Farming on any large scale ought
20 be prohibited on the ground OF
lis being a form Of gambling. declar-
ed President Roberts. 1t is the most
uncertain business in the world for
the farmer can't be sure that he Is
going 10 get any crop and he has no
idea OF what II will be worth. The
farmer gets practically nothing for
the taxes he pays. while the people
in the city get police protection, fire
protection and many other advan-
tages. The signs OF the times are
that the farmer is trying 10 work for
relief from the situation in which he
Is placed.
Another demand that was respon-
sble for the calling OF the Washing
ton conference was that the world is
afraid ~ more war. This last war
taught the world a much needed les
son about the horrors OF war. Our
people have been a peaceful people
This last war has done much to put
the whole world into the American
attitude. The whole world is afraid
~ another war and the conference
was called in the hopes that reduce
ton Of armament would lessen the
likelihood % war. There Is no doubt
that tho lessenlng OF ornaments les
sens the likelihood NJ war. II an
other war should threaten, there
might he n general strike against
war The agencies Of destruction
were so perfected In the last war that
no ono dares 20 think what they
would be in another war.
President Roberts then presented
his arguments in favor OF the SOL
disrs' bonus bill and stated that as
taxpayer he would he willing TO do
his part tina. the nation might seem
grateful 20 tho Young men in the war.
He pointed out that the arms con-
ference has done much by eliminating
the disputes which we're causes Of
var and he considered this of more
importance than the limitation of
arms. II was his opinion that Mfr.
Tsrs plan OF League Of Nations.
before the war. would never have
been successful. There were too
many crudgcs. He stated that Mr..
Wilson's league would not have done
as well because IL was bound up with
the Versailles treaty. The world
cannot be policed IL in the hearts of
tho people there arc grudges.
In closing his address. he pointed
out the reasons why the United
states should cancel the war debts
OF other nations that had borrowed
from this country in order TO carry
on the war against Germany. He
said That in honor we ought not TO
ask one cont from these nations
which used our money TO tight our
war.
President Roberts was given a ris-
ing ovation and enthusiastic applause
a. the close OF his mastery address.
Ssventssnth Apnivsrsary Of Rotary