Evening star., 1924-05-19
Future and Problems
NO. v.
Overshadowg Issues Are Ku Kux Kan Taxation and Law
Endorsement, Noted Southener Declares
BY OSCAR w. UNDERWOOD.

BY OSCAR w. UNDERWOOD,
United States Senator From Alabama
and Democratic Leader I'm the Upper
House of the Congress.
The tremendous catacIysm of the
world war has 50 deranged and dis
organized our self-complacent views
on many things that 1t has become
an urgent and imperative necessity
10 nnd" ourselves again and to re-
ADJUST our vision to the new condi-
tions OF social and political life that
nave come upon us. The thought and
action OF our people must shape itself
10 conform to the new economic prob
lens that have arisen from the ruin
and devastation of a terrible war.
These problems are entitled to the
service OF the best professional and
business intellect the country pos
sesses. but they are far from getting
It, Questions Of the greatest moment
are left to the exiGencies of partisan
poIitlcS where they should receive
the serious consideration of brains
skilled in the administration of large
now too often lost sight Of should
be the endurance of peace and the
people.
oVershadowing issues now confront
ing our country are:
Taxation.-I favor the speedy re-
auction of the tariff taxes which are
levied on the people and which con-
stltute distinct and outstanding
party political issue. L believe that
the so-called "soldierS adjusted com-
pensation bill, Commonly knovr nc
the bonus" will increase our taxes
ana, therefore,, should not be enacted
l IaVor the Immediate elimination of
the useless bureaus OF the govern
nent and the reduction of the enor-
nous number of useless federal en-
ployes. eii-
ku klux Klan.-You cannot miY
Ainerlcanlsm and klanism. Any per
son who favors the Klan does so in
open opposition to the Constitution.
@ @mhich IS the foundation rock upon
"nIch our government is builded
The Presidency.-I favor a consti-
tutlonai amendment limiting the
term OF office of the President to one
term OF six or seven years
Law 1nforcement.-I favor the Wig
orous enforcement by the executive
departments of the United States and
hoid that no man is qualified to take
the oath of office as President who
would hesitate for an instant in the
performance Of that duty.
The need for Immediate tax reduc-
tion is vital. How far we can carry
the burden of present taxation no
one can fsretell. But the fact re-
mains that we are fast approaching
the danger point. We have reached
point where we must call a halt on
any further increase in taxation or
extension of national credit.
The tariff is a tax burden, no mat
ter what Specious arguments are used
to the contrary. The tariff tax bene-
fits the few at the expense of all the
rest There should be a material re-
duction in this form of favored in
dustries" tax.
Our taxpayers are burdened with
a rapidly growing form of national
peril-a bureaucracy in the shape
of federal employees. According to
the latest figures of the Civil Service
Commission, We have at present
64.959 employees in the District of
Columbia, and 4S3.547 additional en-
ployes in the nation at large-a total
of 54S,505-all civilians employed by
the federal government. 1t is a veri-