Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-30

GOXL OL AE8n8RVEkAN - b1AAAA0 s<AS
profit out of agriculture. mining and
other raw material industries. Large
standing armies and the cost of pre-
pairing for war still cast their burd-
ems upon humanity. These condi-
tons the existing Republican admin
istration has proven itself unwilling
or unable to redress.
The Democratic Party pledges It.
self to the following program:
Honest Government
We pledge the Democratic Party
to drive from public places all who
make barter of our national honor.
it, resources or the administration
of its laws: to punish those guilty
of these offenses.,
TO put none but the honest in
public office; to practice economy in
the expenditure of public money: to
reverence and respect the rights Of
all under the constitution.
To condemn and destroy govern
fnent by the spy and the black
mailer as by this Republican ad-
ministration was both encouraged
and practiced.
Tariff and Taxation
The Fordney-McCumber tariff act
II the most unjust. unscientific and
dishonest tariff tax measure ever en-
acted in our history. It IL class leg
islation. which defrauds all the peo-
pie for the benefit of a few: II
heavily increases the cost of living.
penalties agriculture; corrupts the
government. fosters paternalism,
and. in the long run, does not bene-
At the very interests for which it was
enacted.
We denounce the Republican tar
iff laws which are written in great
part in aid of monopolies and thus
prevent that reasonable exchange OF
commodities which would enable
foreign countries to buy our surplus
agricultural and manufactured pro-
DUCTS with resultant benefit to the
toflers and producers of America.
Trade Interchange. on the basis OF
reciprocal advantages to the coun-
tries participating 10 a time honored
doctrine OF Democratic faith. We
declare our party's position to be in
favor of q tax on commodities enter
ing the custom houses that will pro-
mote effective competition, protect
against monopoly and at the same
time produce fair revenue to sup
port the government.
The greatest contributing factor
In the increase and unbalancing of
prices In unscientific taxation. After
having increased taxation and the
cost of living by two billion dollars,
under the Fordney- McCumber tar
iff. all that the Republican Party
could suggest in the way of relief
was q cut of three hundred million
dollars In direct taxes: and that was
to be given principally to those with
the largest incomes. Although there
was no evidence of lack of capital
for investment to meet the present
requirements OF all legitimate indus
trial enterprises, and although the
farmers and general consumers were
bearing the brunt of tariff favors al
ready granted to special interests,
the administration was unable to de-
wise any plan except one to grant
further aid to the few. Fortunately
this plan of administration failed,
and. under Democratic leadership
aided by progressive Republicans, a
more equitable one was adopted,
which reduced direct taxes by about
lars.
The issue between the president
and the Democratic Party Is not one
of tax reduction or Of the conserva-
tion of capital It Is an issue of the
relative burden of taxation and OF
the distribution OF capital as affect
ed by the taxation OF income. The
president still stands on the so-called
Mellon plan, which his party has
just refused to endorse or mention
In its platform.
The income tax was intended as q
tax upon wealth. 1t was not intend
ed to take from the poor any part
OF the necessities of life. We hold
that the fairest tax with which to
raise revenues for the federal gov
eminent Is the income tax. We ia
vor graduated tax upon income,
10 adjusted as to lay the burdens OF
government upon the taxpayers in
proportion to the benefits they en-
Joy and their ability to pay. We
oppose the so-called nuisance taxes.
sales taxes, and all other forms of
taxation that unfairly shift to the
consumer the burdens of taxation.
We refer to the Democratic revenue
Measure passed by the last congress
Is distinguished from the Mellon
ak plan as an illustration of the
policy of the Democratic Party. We
lrst made a fiat reduction of % per
'ent upon the tax of all incomes
payable this year and then we so
hanged the proposed Mellon plan
. to eliminate taxes upon the poor, !
educfng them upon moderate in |
ONES and. In a lesser degree, upon
ne incomes OF multi-millionaires
We hold that all taxes are unneces-
ariiy high and pledge ourselves to !
urther reductions.
WA dnnAnnNA
device to relieve multi-million-
Tres at the expense of other tax. !
ayers and we accept the issue OF,
axation rendered by President
coolidge.
Agriculture
During the four years of Repub-
can government the economic con-
ition Of the American farmer has
from comfort to bankrupt-
y: with all Its attendant miseries.
he chief causes Of this are:
a)-The Republican policy of iso-
lation in international affairs
has prevented Europe FROM
getting back to its normal bal
ance, and. by leaving unsolved
the economic problems abroad
has driven the European CITY
population from Industrial ac-
tivities to the soil in large
=. numbers in order to earn the
3. mere necessaries of life. This
has deprived the American
7" farmer OF his normal export
trade.
o)-The Republican policy of a
prohibitive tariff, exemplified
a. In the Fordney- McCumber law.
"a which has forced the American
AZ farmer with his export market
y debilitated to buy manufac-
tured goods at sustained high
domestic levels, thereby maxi
Ing him the victim of the
profiteer.
1.-The Republican policy of high
transportation rates, both rail-
and water. which has made 1t
impossible for the farmer to
ship his products to market at