Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-13
EMiNENTLY SENSIBLE

EMiNENTLY SENSIBLE
We are of the opinion that such Of
the Maine farmers as listened to or
who read the address of State Mas
ter Thompson at the annual conven-
ton OF the State Grange, will largely
endorse it as eminently sensible. The
farmers of Maine are practical peo-
pie, accustomed to rely ON their own
efforts, not accustomed to subsidies
or special favors and not expecting
them.
We believe they will concur with
The State Master that this is a time
to keep their feet on the ground, and
think sanely, when despite the in
crease in taxes it was never so easy
to increase them as now when laws
mu tiply and commissions of all sorts
Ind conditions are coming into being
with hands outstretched for more of
the public money to spend.
Speaking of the need of help for the
GARNER he said: I'm my mind the one
dangerous remedy is government aid
and control in attempting to manage
The business, by price fixing or farm
credit" No class legislation. 1.-THE
old age disease of II nation Is in
creased governmental functions with
corresponding increased agents and
taxes"
There is a good bit Of wisdom about
that. also to be found in this:
NEARLY every recommendation
or change sought for the past few
Years by reformers or So-called
progressive groups has been to
extend governmental functions
and to increase taxes, thus
adopting old world conditions. 1t
is progressing toward old age
with all its old world character
istics."
Further reading is advisable. We
believe he expresses the opinion of
the level-headed farmers in Maine.
They are an indivdualstic lot of
people, possessed of an old fashioned
independence and determination to
. 30 for themselves, and proud of
their ability to do so. They read
and they think and make compar-
sons. They know these innovations
cost lot of money, that the property
of the farmer is right in sight of the
tax assessor. They have seen the
concerted efforts of a group of So
called reformers, quoting the State
Master. ito get for themselves short
er working days, higher wages, and
pensions to be paid by other
groups. The tendency to-
ward Capitalization of government
should be carefully guarded, whether
for roads or schools or charities.
This country was founded on the
need of self government. How zeal
ously the matter Of State rights was
fought out, and how jealousy the
early people defended even the dis
trict road and school systems"
Then take his recommendations
they should receive due attention
and consideration and we reprint
them:
ga" Il would emphasize first that
the tax levy can easily be made
llic lliCdllS W '1OIlHSCdlS pIOpCtly
and destroy business, thus re-
, moving the individual incentive
to accumulate.
Second: that taxes are rapid
ly and dangerously increasing,
and if continued will approach
this point.
Third: that taxes wherever
placed or collected in time be-
come consumption 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 oe foolipg the taxpayer, for
he personally pays it with the
ADDED overhead costs of COM
missions and added salaries.
Fifth: that the grange should
stand for pay-as-yo policy,
and not pass a burden of debt on
to future generations.
sixth: that we should demand
a more rigid economy in the
expenditure of public money"
The Maine farmer may need en-
couragement and training in CO.
operative effort. His conditions have
not been as favorable in this respect
as have those Of the farmers Of the
West. He must acquaint himself
with and adapt himself to such
change If he would profit
best from his endeavors. But we
trust he will long adhere to his in
dependent thought, to his common
sense views, to the fact that fads are
expensive. that professional faddists
are to be Stunned, that he who would
dance for long must pay the fiddler,
that taxes are fluid and like water
seek the level.