The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-05-26

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clares that he is against tax exemp.
ton of low incomes, on the ground
that the payment of taxes creates fol
people with low incomes "a sense OF
part ownership in the government
The most outrageous privileges are
enjoyed by the parasitic owners OF
federal, state and municipal securi
ties. This RENTER class, which is
completely divorced from the process
of production and whose only connec-
ton with industry is coupon-clipping
owns today no less than 16 billion dol
lars of such securities, which are
wholly exempt from all taxation.
The most vicious form of indirect
taxation is the tariff. The tariff
raises the cost of living for the work
ing class, and increases the price of
industrial goods bought by the farm
ers. The United States has the high
est tariffs in the world, despite the
fact that the industries of this coun-
try are the most highly developed
and enjoy the strongest position.
Trust monopoly and tariff go to-
gether. The chief function of tariff
is to secure unlimited monopoly to
the trusts. The tariff helps to ex-
clude foreign competition. 1t makes
it possible for the trusts to raise the
prices of their products to the buyers
of this country by an amount nearly
equal to that of the tariff. At the
same time it makes it possible for
the trusts to sell their goods below
cost price in foreign countries, thanks
to the surplus profits they make in
this country.
Trust monopoly and high tariff are
the most dangerous factors working
for new imperialist wars. The larger
the territory protected" by tariff the
greater the amount of super-profit
The trust monopolies, therefore, have
a tendency to expand the territory of
the United States, to occupy new re-
gions.
The high tariff wall around this
country forces the other countries
likewise to protect" themselves by
tariff walls. This binders or even
prevents the export of American pro-
ducts to other countries. But accu-
mutation of capital is going on with
increasing speed, and American big
business, instead of exporting goods,
is exporting capital on an ever-great-
er scale. The next step is again the
defense" of the investments of
American bankers in foreign coun-
tries. A strong army and Second
to none" navy are necessary. War
threats, war danger, and wars are the
order of the day. The protective, .
defensive tariff is in reality the
most offensive weapon in the hands
of big business.
The tariff policy of both parties
of big business exposes the empti-
ness and unprincipledness of their
so-called struggle against each other.
The republican party was originally
the party of tariff, because it repre-
scented the growing manufacturing in
terests of the North. The democratic
party was originally the party against
tariff, because it expressed the inter-
ests of the large plantation owners of
the South. But with the change in
economic conditions both parties are
altering their positions on tariff. The
industrialization of the South has Gre
ated a section of the democrats to
come out as advocates of high tariff.
On the other hand, the international
bankers of the North who have in
vested billions in Europe and are
afraid that Europe will not be able
to pay her debts if she can not ex-
port industrial products to this coun-
try, are now in favor of the lowering
or abolition of the tariff and are max
ing their influence felt more and more
in the high councils of the republican
party which they dominate.
The interests of the working class
are against high tariff. At the same
time it would be an illusion to think
that "free trade" would be per-
manent relief for the toiling masses
Free trade under capitalist conditions
is as much a capitalist institution as
high tariff.
Demands.
/. Abolition of all indirect taxes
2. Exemption from all kinds Of
taxation for all wage-earners.
8. Transcription for all working
and exhibited farmers.
4. Graduated income tax, starting
with incomes above $4,000 and in.
creasing gradually, so that all in
comes over $4,000 per year are con.
fiscated.
5. All tax exceptions on bonds
stocks and securities must be abol
ished.
s.. All tax exemptions on bonds
taxes on great fortunes must be in
troduced.
T. Tariff on all necessities of the
working class and on all goods useC
by the farmers must be abolished.
The Plight of the Farmers.
For two decades the conditions Of
the farmers have been growing stead
lily worse. The working farmer is be