The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-04-10
DEMOCRATS FEET
POLITICS Is BACK
Of BUSINESS BOOM
Republican Leaders Would
Use 'Prosperity" as 1924
Campaign Issue
WASHINGTON REAU,
THE AGE HERALD
xnl.:-t1 n A. AnrsI q

Every governmental depa rtment
forecasts nationwide prosperity OF
a stable and permanent VARIETY.
Unofficially. there is added to Of.
fetal predictions the expression OF
belief that by next fall the country
closing year of the World war.
The roscate forecasts, while re-
earded as entirely reliable, are sus-
pected as being not entirely with
out political significance. Republl-
can politicians are aware that If the
country's business is exceptionally
good the summer of 1924, the people
will be content, according, to pre-
vious custom, to "let we'll enough
alone With the same idea in mind
democratic politicians declare that
only one thing can prevent com
plete and emphatic overthrow OF the
Harding administration in 1924.
That one thing is prosperity.
At the present moment, business
according to statements emanatine
from the department of commerce
booms. The federal reserve boards
reports are glowing. Monthly state
ments of the postoffice department
show receipts gaining at an ever
increasing percentage rate. The de-
partment OF labor declares "unem-
ployment" none existent.
Claim Only Capitalist PrOspcrs.
The situation, however. is, accord
ing to democratic politicians and The
American Federation of Labor, SUI
perficial. They declare that th'
business man, or the capitalist. Is
the man who is prosperous. They
argue that the capitalist has taker
nished by the Fordney- McCum bel
tariff act to fatten himself off the
savings OF the poor, and of onpor
tunities made possible by republican
"misrule" to increase the prices o
staple commodities. such as sugar.
Heavy buying which has featured
legitimate markets is declared by
administration critics to be the re
suit of the necessity of refillins
empty shelves suffered TO become
depleted during the republican pan
ic" of 1920-1921. These critics argue
that the tariff. shutting off foreign
markets. must necessarily operate Il
the disadvantage of American pro
duccrs of all save those manufac
tured goods in tie production o
which there is no surplus.
Farmers without Money.
They argue that despite the exis'
tence of good times" and indica
tons that an actual boom is under
way. the farmer has no money ant
the man who la bors has no money
sustained by official statements o.
the department of agriculture. II
these statements. the department
plainly declares that despite wha,
appears to be good business condi-
tons. the future holds nothing 70.
the farmer who is not efficient ant
cannot produce at very low cost. Fol
others, the department frankly de-
clares the future hopeless.
Prosperity for only the cottor
farmer is positively forecast by the
department of agriculture.
But should tho country become ex.
cecdingly prosperous and remain Sc
throughout 1924, democratic politi.
cal observers here do not think il
certain that Harding would be re
elected.
They point out the fact that the
country was never more prosperou.
than under democratic rule in 1920
and that the democratic candidate
that year was defeated by a major
ity Of 1000 600.
The reason the pebble who had be
come rich during thf Wilson admin
istration rcfratncd pom supporting
the democratic candidate that year
it is conteHded. was due to the fac
that taxation. on acckunt Of the wal
burden. was high. III is said to be {
characteristic of hurdan nature thai
irrespective of how much money :
man makes he beopmes incenset
whenever it is necessNr for him "tt
dig down and get bnoney for tn,
government.
The Harding admh istration ha.
not reduced taxation Ndespite the al
legged shift from the tich to the poor
Of the bulk of the buRden. Taxation
it is argued, cannot Dc reduced. ant
republican leaders soH admit.