The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-02-14

Mellon and to bring pressure upon
congress to defeat adjusted compen-
sation. They discreetly refrained
from pointing out that for every
nickle the poor man, whom taxes
pinch, got OF his bill, the wealthy
got many dollars of. They were
content to extol Mr.. Mellon; the
newspapers, the magazines, the
movies held him up as the wise
financier who, without thought OF
politics, sought to ease the burden of
taxation-and the fact that this
would entail the defeat Of an ad-
iusted compensation bill was merely
detail, though an indispensable
one.
The man who thinks Mr.. Mellon is
not In politics and is not misrepre-
senting facts concerning adjusted
compensation to serve the financial
ends of the rich and to serve the
political ends of his party has a mis-
taken impression of the situation.
The bald facts in the case are Mr.
Mellon is simply using this tax re-
duction talk as a shield behind
which to fight adjusted compensa-
ton. That fact has been formally
reported to the officials of certain
financial institutions of the country
by their hired observers in Washing
ton.
Adjusted compensation can be
paid and taxes can be reduced as
much or more than Mr.. Mellon has
said they could. The taxes OF the
man earning less than $4,000 a.
year-and that takes in most OF us
can be cut to far below the Mellon
schedule and the nations debt to It's
soldiers will average between $SO,-
100000 and $90,000,000 a year
thruout the lifetime of the bill But
we are going to get $3.50, 100000 a
year in interest on our debt to Great
Britain, and President Coolidge has
a committee at work pairing down
waste in government expenditure. 1t
has been estimated that this Will
save another $22O,000,000 to $3.50
100000 q year.
It may surprise you, but neither
the British debt interest nor these
savings have been figured In the gov
eminent receipts by Mr.. Mellon. And
these sums alone-either OF them. IN
fact-would pay the cost OF adjusted
compensation.
I have said that politics as well
as finance is mixed up with this
fight on adjusted compensation. Tnis
unfortunate circumstance Is merely
q nroduct of the times. This 1s a
"political year" The political at
mosphere permeates every nook ana
corner Of Washington and tinctures
everything it touches. 1t has touched
and tfnctured the compensation IS
sue. In point of fact, the whoie
thing narrows down to comb1na-
ton Of high finance and inside
politics, each of which has It's own
end to gain by the defeat OF the
measure.
The political drama into wnlch the
compensation issue by force OF CIT
has been drawn IS IN us
early stages. The orchestra Is just
starting the overture. The fr1ends
and supporters Of the several candl-
dates of both parties are rallylng
about their chosen leaders and paw
ing the way to nominating conven-
lions which will be held in the sum-
mer. Our national nominating con-
ventions are not very democratic IN
situations. They are SO contrlVeu
that popular will counts Tor little
unless backed by an organization
a practical political organization
This is equally ture Of both parties.
It is money and an organization
which counts most in pre-nomina-
lion fight rather than enthusiastic
masses of people. After the nom
nations, however, the masses OF
voters-count and de-
eide the election.
Mr.. Coolidge Is candidate to sue
iced himself, and his personal cam
)aign manager Is the REORGANIZATION
contest which is now well under way
8 william M. Butler, millionaire
of New England. Mr..
Butler is out to interest men with
money in the candidacy of his aspir-
int for the presidency. He Is out to