Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1924-02-21
William Jennings Bryan On
"7he Campaign of 1921
Written Specially for The Leader.
CThru Autocaster Service)


Il shall not discuss the relative
merits of candidates. 1t is difficult to
decide between candidates until the is
sues are clearly outlined Conditions
make issues and issues make candi-
dates.
Before taking up the issues of the
coming campaign, permit me to say
the country is to be congratulated up
on the fact that our campaigns have
been lifted to higher plane than those
lot the preceding campaigns
There IS less abuse of men and more
charity of opinion; not less conviction
or courage in expression, but more
courtesy. 1t is we'll that it is so,
The two great parties do not differ
in purpose of its patriotism but in
opinion and point of view And so with
public men. They differ, not so much
in character as in fundamental bias,
which-though often unconscious -
determines their views on public uues-
tons. Whether a public man leans to-
ward Big Business" or the side of
the people, is to be determined not by
what he says but by what he does.
The issues now before the coun-
try test the bias of leaders and the
point of view of the parties. The
difference in bias and point of view
is SO pronounced that the coming
campaign seems likely to be the
most holly contested campaign in
many years. The paramount issue
at this time seems quite sure to be
the question of taxation, and in
cludes the policy of the government
on the income tax and on the tariff
question.
The Tax Situation
Secretary Mellon has laid his
proposed revenue bill before the Com
mittee and the discussion has already
resulted in an alignment in Congress
that ignores party lines. If you will
take the two bills, the Mellon bill and
the Democratic substitute, you will
find that the Mellon bill gives less re-
duction in taxation and favors those
with large incomes over those with
small incomes. The Democratic sub
stitute not only makes a greater re-
duction in taxation, and thus brings
more relief to the taxpayers, but the
reductions proposed discriminate in
favor of the masses, instead of the
holders of large incomes.
Congressman Hull, Chairman of
the Democratic National Committee
has made comparison of the rates
and pointed out that the Democratic
substitute gives more relief than the
Mellon bill to over six million taxpay-
ers while the Mellon bill gives more
relief than the Democratic bill to on
ly twelve thousand taxpayers and
these twelve thousand are persons
with large incomes.
No bill could better illustrate the
difference in the policy of the two
parties, the Democratic party favor
ing reduction for ali, both rich and
poor, while the Republican bills favors
more relief to the rich than to- the
poor. The revenue measure when it
passes Congress and reaches the Pres
ident will bear more resemblance to
the Democratic substitute than to Sec
rotary Melons original bill.
And Tariff, Too
The Democrats will also endeavor
to secure reduction of the tariff and
the Republican organization will in all
probability oppose it. Here, too the
difference between the two parties will
be noticeable.
The bonus presents another issue.
The Democrats and many of the Re-
publicans will favor the bonus, while
"big business opposes it. Secretary
Mellon attempted to make tax reduc-
ton dependent upon the defeat of the
bonus. There is no reason why we
should not have both tax reduction
and the bonus! In fact we should have
more tax reduction than Secretary
Mellon proposed and we should also
have the bonus. The money neces-
sary to pay the bonus can be haised
by special taxes that need not bear
upon the masses at all. Then, too,
the government might resort to- a
specific tax on war profits, such as
was proposed two years ago. While
nearly all of the people are suffering
because of the war, few men made
enormous profits out of the war. Why
not make these wa.r-rich profiteers
pay the boys who took the risks while
the profiteer stayed at home and made
money?
The farmers have the greatest griev-
(Coofin1ed On aef paual