Evening star., 1924-06-29

cost of transpo '",n are takins
the profit out of "@3lture. mining
and other raw ifa,~ri y industries.
Large standing armies and the cost
| of preparing for war stili cast their
burdens upon humanity These con-
d'tions the existing Republican ad-
ninistration has proven itself un-
willing or unatft 20 redress.
! The Democrat, rarty pledges itself
to the foIlowirL r-psram:
HONEST GOVERNMENT.
We pledge the Democratic party to
! drive from public places all who make
barter of our national honor its re-
o.. sources or the administration of its
/ laws: to punish those guilty Of these
| offenses
| To put -..ne but honest in public
office; to Practice economy in the ex-
penditurss : public money; to rsver7
under til 1stitution.
To co >Hemn and destroy govern
ment by ne spy and the blackmailer. :.
as by this Republican administrations
| was both encouraged and practiced.
TARIFF AND TAXATION.
The Fordney McCumber tariff act
| is the most unjust, unscientific and
dishonest tariff tax measure ever en-
acted in our history. 1t is class iegis-
| lation. which defrauds all the people
| for the benefit of a few; it heavily
| Increases the cost Of living. penalizes
| agriculture, corrupts the government.
| fosters paternalism and in the long
| run. d ,es not benefit the very inter-
| ests for which it was enacted.
We aenounce the Republican tarift
laws, which are written in great part
| in aiu Of monopolies and thus prevent
modities which would enable foreign
countries to buy our surplus agri-
cultural and manufactured products
| with resultant benefit to the toiIers
| terehange, on the basis of reciprocal
advantages to the countries partici-
pating. Is a time -honored doctrine OF
| Democratic faith. We declare our
party's position to be in favor of
tax on commodities entering the Gus
toms houses that will promote eff
fective competition, protect against
monopoly and at the same time pro-
duce fair revenue to support the
government
Cnscientifc Taxation.
The greatest contributing factor in
the increase and unbalancing of
prices Is unscientfic taxation. After
having increased taxation and the
cost of living by $4,000 100000, under
the Fordney ,McCumber tariff, all
that the Republican party could sug-
gest in the way of relief was cut
of $500. 100000 in direct taxes, and
that was to be given principally to
those with the largest incomes. AL
lack of capital for investment to
meet the present requirements Of all
legitimate industrial enterprises, and
although the farmers and general
consumers were bearing the brunt OF
tariff favors already granted to spe-
cial interests the administration wRs
unable to devise any plan except one
to grant further aid to the few. For
ton, and. under Democratic leader
ship aided by progressive Republi.
cans, more equitable one was
adopted, which reduces direct taxes
by about -t50.000.000.
The issue between the President
and the Democratic party Is not one
of tax reduction or of the conserva-
tion of capital. 1t is an issue OF
relative burden of taxation and Of the
distribution of capital as affected by
the taxation of income. The Presi-
dent still stands on the so-called Mel
Ion plan. which his party has just
refused to indorse or mention in its
platform.
Pledge for Reduction.
The income tax was intended as
to tase from the poor any part Of the
necessities OF life. We hold that the
fairest tax with which to raise
is tfaun the income o tas tax e We favor grsd.
uated tax upon incomes. 80 adjusted
as to lay the burdens of government
upon the taxpayers In proportion to
the benefits they W. enjoy and d.. their
called nuisance taxes. sales taxes and
all other forms Of taxation that un-
fairly shift to the consumer the bur
dens Of taxation. We refer to the
by the last Congress as distinguished
from the Mellon tax plan IS an IL
lustration Of the policy Of the Demo-
cratic party. We first made nat
then we so changed the proposed
Mellon plan as to eliminate taxes
upon the poor. reduced them upon
decree upon the incomes of multi
millionaires. We hold that all taxes
are unnecessarily high. and pledge
ourselves to further reductions.
as device to relieve multi. million
aires at the expense of other tax
payers. and we accept the issue of
taxation rendered by President Cool
idge.
AGRICULTURE,
During the four years Of Repub-
lican government. the economic con-
dition Of the American farmer has
changed from comfort to bankruptcy.
WIN all 1tS attenQauC InlScIicSL 1uc
chief causes for this are:
(a) The Republican party policy
Of isolation in international affairs
has prevented Europe from getting
back to it's normal balance. and. by
leaving unsolved the economic prob
lens abroad, has dri"an the European
city populs stion from industrial ac-
tivities to the soil in large numbers
in order to earn the mere ne"essaries
Of life. This has deprived the Amer
trade.
(b) The Republican policy OF a
prohibitive tariff, exemplified in the
Fordney-Mccumber law. which has
export market debilitated to buy
manufactured goods at sustained high
domestic levels, thereby making him
the victim of the profiteer.
transportation rates, both rail- and
water. which has made 1t impossible
for the farmer to ship his product to
market at even a living profit.
Direct Contact With Europe.
To offset these policies and their
disastrous results, and to restore the
with other industriaIists, we pledge
ourselves:
fa) To adopt an international
policy Of such cooperation, by direct
ofhcial instead of indirect and evasive
the farmers export market by restor-
ing the industrial balance in Europe
and the normal now OF international
trade with the settlement Of Europe's
economic problems.
(b) To adjust the tariff % that the
farmer and all other classes can buy
again in competitive Manufacturer
market.
(c)' To readjust and lower rail ana
water rates, which will make our
markets. both for the buyer and the
seller. national and international in
stead Of regional and local \
Id To bring about the early com.
pletion of international waterway
SYSTEMS for Transportation ana 10
develop our water powers for cheanes