The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-03

5=S S5SsT vember, to endorse President Coolidge, but don't want to endorse the party that has retuseo to follow his leadership.
 'Nor do I want to endorse the demo- crats after what they have done to ple- vent the country from reaplng the benefits of real tax reform. A plague of both your houses l say. 1T the self-seekers in Congress goaded me me much more, I would even tllrt wn the idea of voting for Latollette' not because I want him, but Just 10 M- press my disgust with the way the two main parties have been bungling at Washington.
 "Has Congress touched a single thing that it hasn't messed up
 "Its handling of the Japanese prob lem is a shining example of now to oo the right thing in the wrong way. Everybody favored keeping out or the yellow races, but why not go about IL the right way, instead of the wrong way I hear that as result Japan IS not to buy more lumber from PaciIlc coast states, but is to direct all her business to British Columbia.
 = 'The bonus has been made nothing but apoliticaI football. As finally passed it is sure to be as disappointing :. to most of those receiving 1t as II IS to those who have opposed adding sew ,eral more billions to the tax payers bonds.
 But the booby prize goes to Con gress for the way it has played IacI and loose with Mellon's plan for tax reform One of his main plans was to induce our richest citizens to invest more of their money in business enter prises and less of it in tax exempt se- curities The Mongrel measure that finally came from Congress fails miser' ably to effect that big purpose. ln- stead of scientific tax reduction, Con gress indulged in chicannery. In some respects the new tax bill is worse than the old.
 "The railroads have been kept guess ing. They have been threatened with drastic rate reductions. The govern ment has been loudly advocating rali- way construction. But who is going to invest millions in acquiring additional railroads when there is no telling what the politicians may decide to do at any moment?
 Then look at how Congress has been shilly-shalling with proposals to catch farmers votes. It is hardly con- ceivable that those advocating some of the subsidy schemes have not known very well that the railroads would not he heIpful but harmful in the long run.
 "Coneress is getting ready to quit, I know, but that isn't much consola- tion, seeing that the harm has already been done. You probably noticed that Edison was fearless enough to come out boldly and explain that the lay ing off of workers in his plant was caused directly by the fool things done by- Congress. Many other employers have been laying off men from the same cause, only they have not cared publicity to proclaim the fact. There
 in U- ment throughout the state of New York in April. What the figures for May will be I don't know, but rather think they will be still worse.
 Tt isn't much comfort to worker who is paid off or who has his wages or hours reduced to be told that the blame lies with the politicians. But the chances all are that between now and November a lot of workmen will want to soak the politicians who did their worst to bring on poor times Wage cutting has set in at various places. According to the iron trade paper, Pennsylvania coke workers have had their pay cut severely. one steel mill has also started cutting.
 "It is too bad, for I am confident that if Congress had behaved itself sensibly and done it's level best to keep pay envelopes full this country would now be in tip-top shape"
 'Yes, it is too bad, for there is ev- anywhere a deep yearning to do busi- ness and to keep employees working full time. Americans hate pessimism They hate inaction. They hate cur tailment. They want always to go ahead-to do bigger and bigger things
 The optimistic features of the out look were presented in this column a week ago. There immediately came requests for permission to reprint the column in full or in part and also ap- preciative letters. For example, $ Amado, importer and jobber of toys and sporting goods, writes;
 ''I have been reading your daily ar ticles for the last few years. Your ar ticle Shoot these facts at the prophets of disaster is appropriate. I wish you would shoot another one to the gloomy prophets. l conduct a toy and sport ing goods store, the largest of its kind on Broadway, Brooklyn. My business has increased from 10 to Is per cent over last year because I have made UT my mind to do so. l am looking fol it and getting it."
 Another reader writes:
 "Your optimistic views in regard tc the business situation are fine. Yol always tell us the why's and wherefores If only larger percentage of mankino would generate the radiant optimism l am sure we would not have suct business depression"
 Happily, things in this country ofter change for the better very suddenly.
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