Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-29
TAX PLANK HELD
GROWING ISSUE IN
POLITICAL CIRCLE
BY ROBERT T. SMALL
copyright 1924, by the Consolidated Press
Acknowledgment Leased Wire
to The Atlanta Journal.)


Politicians large and politicians
small are flocking to Florida for a
brief rest before the start Of the
strenuous presidential campaign. In
the slack waters of this southern
extremity of the country they are
able, it seems, to get a better per-
spective on the situation than when
they are in the midst of the swirllng
rapids around Washington, New
York, Cleveland and Chicago.
The outstanding impression when
one gains from numerous talks with
the politically wise is that the whole
question of taxation is to be thrashed,
out in the campaign and may have
a much greater bearing on the fl
k[sine.
In the first place the positions
taken by the congressional leaders
of the two old parties at Washing
ton en- taxation are bound to have
a great effect on the campaign war
chests.
The Republicans apparently are
going to have a much larger fund
than the one raised in 1920 even
counting the nearly $2,000,000 def
icit which was incurred by the then
chairman of the Republican national
committee, VIII Fl. Hays, in the con-
duct Of the campaign.
The Democrats apparently are go
ing to have the slimmest "pickings"
they have ever known. unless some
entirely unexpected source OF cam
paign revenue should suddenly be
opened to them. Mr.. McAdoo is
understood to have been assured of
oIo1 IL n
his nomination, but how his wealthy
friends and supporters will regard
the "soak the rich" slogan of the
Democrats in congress is calculated
to cause no little Worriment to the
gentleman from Southern California.
If the Democrats of the house and
senate adhere to their program of
relief for the surtax payers, with
the addition Of new excess profits
imposition, they are going to dry up
some of the substantial we'll springs
of campaign contributions in the
past. This is not a surmise. Demo
cratic members of the ways and
means committee in the house and
of the finance committee in the SEN
ate have been bluntly told SO by
some of the most influential bust
ness men of their party. Democratic
senators and representatives have
been informed that their attitude on
the tax question is calculated to
ALLEVIATE every business interest and
every business man from the party,
and is certain to shut off all cam
paign contributions from this class
of the citizenry.
The Democrats Of congress, 1t is
claimed, are putting the members of
this national committee m the posi-
ton Of going to a business man or a
man of means and saying please
give us a contribution to help us
out through our program of making
you pay more tax"
Fine chance for large contribu-
ton there.
The Republicans on the other hand
are making a direct play to the bust
ness and financial interest in it's
Mellon program to reduce surtaxes
in manner which the secretary Of
the treasury fully believes will put
more capital into industry and result
in greater prosperity to the United
States.
"Give us contribution to help us
reduce your taxes" is the Republic
an appeal to the business man, the
man able to give, and there can be
no question that if taxation is to be
publicans will get a whaling big pot
of gold to carry forward their ideas.
The Democratic appeal, of course,
Is to this common people" They
say their tax fight is for the man
in the street, or in any event for
the man earning $4,000 a year or
under. This is not the class of
man, however, that gives largely
to any campaign fund. Such men
can not afford to give political con-
tributions Of any appreciate size
unless their income is from political
sources and dependent upon party
success.
Will Hays in 1920 showed the fu-
tility of attempting finance an
aggressive presidential campaign on
(So-called popular contribution. He
Sta rted out to limit all contributions
to "a maximum Of 81 900. The result
was a huge deficit which has just
about been wiped out by three years
of untiring labor on the part Of that
master Of political finance, Fred Up
ham, of Chicago, treasurer Of the
Republican national campaign. Fred
has announced to his friends that he
will never go through another ex-
perience like that in 1920, so evident
ly there will lbe no limit placed on
the contributions this year. The
Coolidge position on taxation having
called out so much popular support,
especially among the well-todo and
thrift. is likely to call out even great
err support when it comes time to
send in the checks and cash to the
Collidge fund.
The Democrats, lacking corpora
ton support as a rule, have been
compelled in the past to rely upon
few wealthy men, true to the par
ty through thick and thin to fur
nlsh the bulk of support in its cam
paigns. Not a few of these men,
men who kept various headquarters
from being closed up by the sheriff
in the Cox campaign, have frankly
stated this year they will not give
their money to soak the rich
policy in Democratic councils.
The legitimate financing of a mod
ern presidential campaign, the
maintenance of headquarters in the
various sections of the country, the
hiring of speakers, advertising and
other means Of education and promo
ton, requires a mint OF money.
SO 1t looks now as if the Demo
Gratis will go into the campaign I'M
der the handicap OF having perhaps
the leanest purse in their history
against the most plethoric campaign
bag the G.. o. p. has ever known.
States Largest Pecan Tree