The producers news., 1935-08-02
Soaking The
RICH
Tax Doughnuts, Liver, Buttons, Toilet Paper-Any-
Thing-But Leave the Rich Alone
Stephen Peacock in Western
Worker"

Stephen Peacock in Western )
Worker
When President Rosevelto first
announced his "soak the rich" tax
program, l threw my hat in the
air, yelled hurrah, and shook SO
many hands l got a bunion in my
thumb. At last there was Justice
in the Universe.
Then l sadly recalled the fate
of the late lamented Blue Eagle,
who met his Waterloo at the feet
of kosher chicken, and l began
to feel like chopped liver turned
slightly sour.
Keeping an Open Mind
Bitterness was avoided when
fortunately, l came across an ar
ticle by Algernon Lee, one of the
"old guard" Socialist leaders, COM
menting on the newly formed
American Commonwealth Feder-
alton" New Leader, July 13).
Says Algie: "Some view it with
disapproval or alarm ...-----.- while
others think they see in it the be-
ginning of a great movement foI
the emancipation of all who suf-
fer under capitalistic exploitation
-------.---
'"The possible danger will more
likely be escaped and the posi-
bility of good, if there be any
such will more likely be realized
if we avoid jumping to hasty con-
clusions. What we say at this
time, on the one side or the other
we should say rather tentatively
keeping our minds wide open t.
fact or argument which nigh
change our views"
Now, here was positively the
most remarkable exhibition 1 hat
ever seen of that everlasting no
decision bout between Kid on
The -One-Hand" and K. o. "O1
The -Other-Hand."
1 decided to approach the Rose
veltian "soak-the-rich problem il
this broadminded fashion. / settle,
the top of the Colt Memorial Tow
er to get wide perspective of tn
situation. looked all around, frs
"on the one side," and then 60
the other" Rushed down stairs an
took a wide look upstairs. Stoo
outside looking in and then insid
looking out. Mr.. Lee opened m
mind so wide it is in grave DANCE
of cracking apart entirely. 1t
, now so broad that it can easily b
; used for a merry-go-round or COW
shed.
Now want to "avoid jumpin
to hasty conclusions" but may
, state rather tentatively" withoU
the slightest desire to hurt an!
ones feelings-if there is "an!
one" that there are many ci
izens in this country who real
believe that the rich ought to |
). soaked? And may I politely viii
per that there is an enormol
amount of data to prove that the
are actually rich people in tn
l. country who could stand beir
t soaked and that the rich are ge
= ting richer and the poor poore
: And would it be passing beyo1
the bounds of propriety to hi
y that this data which is now lite
l, ing our kitchen floor comes fro
a such highly respectable sources
h the New York Times, Wall Sire
% journal, American F'ederationi'
The Annalist, U. S. Labor Stat
); tics, etc.
m For example: since Roosev'
n took office retail food prices ha
it increased 81 per cent, meat
e. per cent; corporate cash divide
s. declarations of industrials, rs
roads and miscellaneous COMP
a. nies totaled 1923, $4,000 in 19
g compared to 1854, ,155,00O in 19;
8 automobile accessories ond equ
RI ment industries appear to be he;
X ed for the largest profit year sil
,b 1929; meat trust profits M
ID doubled and trebled since 19
rs and a confidential report of
M Research and Planning Divis
a of the N. R. A. IN. R. A. Not
he July, 1885, sums up the policy
Of the New Deal when it says: ''CC
PORATE FINANCIAL POLL
(NEW-DEAL IS. P.) HAS ST
CEEDED RATHER ADMIRAL
IN DOING THAT WHICH
WAS DESIGNED TO ACCOM-
al SH, NAMELY, MAINTAINI
on DIVIDENDS AND INTERE
PAYMENTS" (For more stati
.ar cs mail a snipe with self-add1
- - sed envelope to S. p, care of
W.
49, On-The- -Other-Hand
is On-The- Other-Hand there
weeping and wailing, wringing
:, hands and gnashing of teeth. T
NJ els were at a premium when I
resentatives Of the U. S. Cham
Of Commerce appeared at hear
rQe IN, Az ,o~o~ocod noyu income