Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-12


when he is helped out of his diff
Guilty by any cause that will give
him higher prices for his wheat 1t
means higher -four and feed for the
Eastern farmer and consumer. The
question can not be dealt with as q
whole.
In the meantime we should have
faith In our business, and see some
of the bright spots, for there are
many.
Cause for Alarm
The rapid increase governmental
functions and of government agents
and a corresponding increase of
taxes, local. State and National, is no
small cause for alarm to;every think
ing person.
We all agree that there are too
many laws, too many commissions,
too many Government and State en-
ployees, too heavy taxes all along the
line, and yet it never was more easy
to vote a new bond issue, to create a
new board or Commission to regulate
somebody's business and to apprO-
pirate money presumably. to. be. paid
by somebody else, but which must
finally come back to the average tax
payer and consumer. 1t is estimated
that present tax burden to the av-
erage family is $500 per year. and
that one person in every IL Is sup
ported in government employment.
People are born young, grow to
maturity and finally; old age over
takes them. 1t is stated that the old
age disease is the hardening of the
arteries or the loss Of elasticity in the
tissues.
1t is the business Of life to retard
this process of growing old and to
retain the characteristics of youth
and maturity so long as we can. No
one is anxious to be progressive in
the process of life. We are told that
a nation y born young, grows to ma
turity and hastenS on to old age and
decay. -. .-.
The old age disease OF a nation is
increased governmental functions
with corresponding increased agents
and taxes. England is becoming very
seriously handicapped by the large
number of people supported at gov
eminent expense and the very heavy
taxes upon her business.
Backward Steps .r ~
Nearly every recommendation or
change sought for the past few years
by reformers or so-called progressive
groups has been to extend govern
mental functions and to increase
IIldS dNoPG1hSS c<t pDAiA
tons. 1t is progressing toward ola
age with all it's. old world character
istics. -
Why should we not strive to re-
tain the youthful, healthy and vigor-
ours characteristics of our own coun-
try. for the past century with the
smallest amount of law and govern
ment possible, with. the greatest in
diyidual freedom and liberty. and the
lowest taxes of any nation on EARN
But in so doing we. would be: caileu
conservatives and would be charged
with standing in the way OF prog
reSS.
It is appalling to see how thought
lessly piece by piece We are Destroy
ing our Constitution The primary,
the referendum and initiating have
changed our State government from a
commemorative form to a democracy
and we are already beginning to. see
the serious effects of such ,change.
These changes seem right in. theory,
but they do not work out in practlce.
The primary election bids fair to
undermine the machinery or govern
ment itself, by destroying all party
organizations which are absolutely
essential to a representative form OF
government.
\ bill providing for an old age
pension, passed our last State Sen,
ate and was defeated in the House. A
bill was initiated. providing for an
eight hour day for women. and was
defeated at q special election in
October, in which the Grange. took a.
very active part, and. showed what
could be done when we really. get be-.
hind a measure. These two bills
we're sponsored by the same group of
people, and are being introduced and
pushed in various states through the
country The Grange of Ohio de-
feated an old age pension bill. which
was pushed by the same group that
booked the forty eight hour law in
Maine.
1t is a concerted action by a group
of people to get for themselves short
err working days higher wages. and
pensions to be paid by other groups.
This would remove all incentive for
thrift and is contrary to our Amefi-
can idea of individual liberty to
make our own contracts for service.
Guard Local Government
The tendency toward centraliZa-
ton of government should be care
fully guarded. whether for roads or
schools, or charities or any other
function. This country was founded
on the need OF self government. How
zealously the matter Of State rights
was fought cut, and how jealously
the early people defended even the
district road and school systems.
Have we forgotten the old trouble of
centralized power from which our
forefathers fed three hundred years
ago. Pc
His Recommendation
7 would emphasize first that the
tax levy can easily be made the
means to confiscate property and de-
stroy business. thus removing the in
dividual incentive to accumulate.
Second: that taxes are rapidly and
dangerously increasing. and if con-
tinued will approach this point.
Third: that taxes, wherever placed
or collected in time become con-
sumption taxes and rest heavily. on
all alike.
Fourth: that seeming to shift the
burden to the State or nation in the
form of so-called State or National
Aid. is only an adroit way Of fooling
the taxpayer, for he. personally pays
it with the added overhead costs of
commissions and added salaries
Fifth: that the grange should
stand for a pay-as-you-go policy,
and not pass burden of debt ON
to future generations.
Sixth: that we should demand a
more rigid economy in the expendi-
ture OF public money.
In concluding this my final report
to this body, I wish it were possible
for me to express in part the deep
appreciation I have for the honor
you have bestowed upon me in choos-
ing me to serve you as Master for
eight years, and previously as Lee
turer for nine years. No other honor
is greater in the gift of the people. I
shall feel that nv Iabors llayes not