The Washington times., 1924-11-11
TAXREBATESAID
IN VICTORY
OF c. O.
Democrats Indirectly Gave
Large Sums to Help
Elect Coolidge
BY JONATHAN WICKslgIRE.
stAfnnoxy Tsa1ir~ ~ =

extraordinary OF the Mckinley
full dinner pair era, seems in q
fair way to become automatic as
result of the sweeping Coolidge
victory so recently scored under the
comparably strategic leadership OF
William M. Butler, chairman Of the
Republican National Committee,
And this has no references to
alleged sslush funds" or admittedly
lavish campaign expenditures. No
imaginable amount of money could
buy so per cent of the American
electorate and, in view of the
tabulated results, probably even Mr..
Butler would now concede that the
bulk of his party expenditures was
useless extrayagance; that great as
was the Coolidge majority, 1t might
have been still greater but for the
reaction resulting from use Of such
great sums in an election.
No, the money that talked most
effectively in the campaign just
closed was legitimate enough, and
q goodly shore OF 1t was contributed
by those Progressives and Demo.
Gratis most active in their opposition
to the return OF the G.. D. p. to
power. When the representatives
Of these two factions in Congress,
fearing to 60 back to their consti-
tuent9 without some action, COM
promised their principles last spring
and joined with the opposition in
rushing through an emascuIated
revenue bill refunding rs per cent
Of this years income tax payments,
they contributed ST. 900 In cash
to be distributed by their Republi.
can opponents among $4,000
voters.
More than that, they made sure
that 400, 900 other income tar.
payers, twice between the conven.
ton season and the date Of the
election should have occasion to
bless the Coolidge Administration,
as they cut in two the installments
they had figured they would be
compelled to pay--a juicy psyche.
logical contribution of many ad.
ditional millions to the Republican
campaign fund.
II would be hard to imagine such
OId-tin1e Senatorial leaders as Quay,
Plat, Aldrich, Hanna, Penrose, or
in the lower house, Tom" Reed
and Uncle Joe" Cannon, bending
before the. storm Of popular demand
to give their opponents such handi.
cap on the eve of q national cam.
paign, in the vain hope that they
might themselves claim or receive
i any considerable share of the
credit for the accomplishment. They
would have stood firm upon prin-
ciple, sure in their knowledge that
to the party In power the people
give the major portion Of blame or
credit for the actions OF any Con-
gress.
These old leaders were possessed
OF the assurance bred of political
conviction traditional conviction
akin to the religious, which perhaps
should not be expected OF newcom-
ers IKE the Progressives. but has
mad Its flashes here and there
among former leaders OF the Demo
cratic party.
But the income tax refund does
not stand alone. One and one-haIf
millions OF former service men al.
ready have taken advantage of
the bonus insurance act, q poor
enough thing, perhaps, for which
the Republicans were permitted to
TAKE any credit possible, when
democrats and Progressives in the
congress, scared white at the pros
pect OF obtaining nothing, abandoned
their own widely advertised program
V nelp rush through the Repub.
lican measure.
The four million odd former ser.
wee men in the country were alb.
solved OF any obligation to graft.
tude for kind intentions ana gran.
diose promises gone to seed. but
probably a considerable proportion
among their four million voter de-
pendents look with more or less
concealed favor on that insurance,
compensation plan.
The Coolidge veto? Wen. the
Republicans joined in showing that
under, SO that's that. Those in.
surance policies had talked a good
many million dollars worth to the
electors before they went into the
election booths on November 4.
some unknown billions Of dollars,
for which no partisan contributor
Is responsible, unless indeed II be
That providence thanked BY the
chief beneficiary on the day follow.
Ing the election, talked for calvin
Coolidge and the Republican party.
billions made up of the increment
from $3.50 wheat. $1.20 corn, II cent
hogs, and such like.
OF course, the intelligent farmers
knew that neither Coolidge nor the
Republican party were responsible
for these prices. But they were
not so certain that the Democrats
or Progressives might not be respon.
sihle for a decline II returned to
office. Let well enough alone; when
there's money in the pocket, its
jingle and crinlSle talks plainly
enough for most.
The doctrine that money talks
may appear materialistic. Political
writer's, cynical though they man
be, have been hesitant to accent il
in its fullness. only one Of any
authority, to the writer's know.
ledge, having heretofore subscribed
to IT.. But n anything has been
more fully established by the results
OF the election Just past than that
the nlajority-the vast najority--of
the voters are governed in their
balloting by their immediate econo.
mic status. you name IL.