Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-03-27
The Literary Digest
Poll

ton, up to March II, shows that
lI6,034 Georgians favor the
mellon plan, as compared with
l6,5I4 opposed, almost three to
one, and this ratio is maintain
ed for the United States as a
WHOLE.
More than 100000 votes
were polled up to March II, in
what is said to be the most am
bilious straw ballot ever taken
in America.
The total vote on March IL
is 2,093,982 ballots, of which
l,452,002 in favor and 64l,-
$50 opposed. The percentage
Of votes cast is 90 for, with
30.7 opposed, or an average for
Ifhe whole country of about 7 to
3 in favor of the plan outlined
by the Secretary of the Treas
ury.
The favorable percentage
e weeks ago was 8l.5, which
fell steadily through four sue
ceeding weeks to 66.7, loss of
3 points.
During this time the whole
country was to some extent
cooling toward the plan. 9th
er plans were being proposed,
particularly the Garner plan adj
vocated by the Democrats. The
deposition of the American Lee
gion was active because of the
flat statement of Secretary Mel
lon that no real tax reduction
would be possible if a soldiers
bonus was paid.
| However, after reaching a
low-water mark, the percentage
in favor has gained a few
points, and as the poll is yet I'M
completed, it may be expected
to rise somewhat in the succeed
ling weeks.
/ Friends of the plan expect
the Senate to save the Mellon
bill which was voted down in
the House for the Garner plan.
lone editor expresses this opin-
ion:
Additional hope lies in the
conference committee. The SEN
ate represents hte sober second
thought and the country is help
| ing the formation of sounder
thought than was contained in
the House action. The country
is speaking indirectly through
the vote in the Literary Digest,
and as that vote is open to all,
1t nay be taken that it is repre-
sentative of all, at least all who
| are not infected with apathy"
! This editor calls attention to
the fact that the poll is showing
a heavy percentage in favor of
the plan and expresses the be-
lief that:
eff the percentage should be
extended to include the whole
presidential vote in 1920 it
would give the program of the
Secretary of the Treasury a ma
Jorlty of about 100000 over
all competitors and detractors.
| Nor is there any good reason to
doubt that the Digest poll is an
approximately accurate reflec-
ton of the sentiment of the ma
ton. 1t has been taken impair
TALLY and it is geographically in
| elusive"
South Dakota is the only
state in the Union showing a
percentage opposed to the Mel
lon plan, with OLA in favor
and 9,283 against.
The state showing the high
est vote In favor of the plan is
New Jersey with a vote of A.
Ala in favor and 5,725 against
The enormous total that is
rolling up in the Digest's nation
wide poll is a sign that the
American people are much
aroused on this subject of tax
Reduction. Verify, the hand
writing is on the wall" a warn
ing to those representatives in
Congress who are playing poll
tics with taxes, rather than ex-
ercising their best judgment for
scientific readjustment of our
national taxing plan.
Tax readjustment to date has
: been handled as a party meas
ure, each of the major parties
seeking to make of it political
lcapital. The result is that the
; best interests of the largest mum
Der of people is lost sight of in
5 the wild scramble for politicaI
advantage.
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