The Wilmington morning star., 1944-11-25

accept no responsibility for the personal
views of Mr.. Pegler, and OFTEN dlsagree
with them as much many OF his read
ers His articles serve the good purpose
of making people Think
By WEsTBROOK PEGLER
copyright. 1914, by King Features Syndlcate)
NEW YORK. Nov. 24-From the very be-
ginning. all arguments in favor OF the federal
income tax have emphasized its democratic"
character All opposition to the tax itself, to
the more and more confiscatory revenue acts,
and to their oppressive administration by the
Treasury, has been hooted down without rea-
sonable hearing.
In the sense that democracy means the rule
Of the majority or a manipulated minority
without regard for the rights OF others, the
tax is truly democratic Its oppressive char
scter is manifest in the burdensome weight
Of this tax that is carried by the few million
individuals who, in normal times, pay it all,
and again in the load carried by few popu-
lous and wealthy states for the benefit OF the
many
The propaganda for democracy has been
strident and persistent in the years OF the
Roosevelt rule and apparently most OF our
people think democracy means freedom and
think that is what Mrs. Roosevelt has in mind
when she harps on the word.
Within the last year, the editor of an i'm
portant southern paper, Democratic, OF course,
said democracy meant the same thing as the
republican system and indicated that he would
like to end discussion of possible differences.
Embarrassed
The truth is, however, that the genuine
American party democrats, as distinguished
from those who have European inclinations,
p.ications of democracy They do not like this
thing but not all of them are ready, just yet,
to abandon their party to the European demo-
Gratis whose theology Mrs Roosevelt constantly
breaches.
And it is disturbing to them to realize that
the communists, whose Political Action Com
nittee outWeighed and outscored their own
democratic national committee in the cam
paign, are correct when they say communism
is democracy. They are correct because COM
munism is the inevitable result of this new
democracy Of the Democratic party
AS to the democracy of the income tax, it
may be remembered that Mrs. Roosevelt once
proposed and almost put over an amendment
which would have limited individual incomes
10 $4,000 year through confiscatory sched-
ules on income above that figure.
That was absolutely contrary to the original
intent of Congress, that the plain understand
uIS was llldI llllS tdh was eHdClSU LOT tue puT"
pose of raising revenue and not to limit any,
body's earnings. Had there been an attempt
then to limit income it would have been de-
feated but, had it passed the supreme court
OF those days certainly would have nullified it
on constitutional grounds.
Nevertheless, Mrs. Roosevelt tossed off her
suggestion, which later was traced to an old
p atform OF the communist party. and, when
Congress fatty turned her down, her husband
frio IN ol, -
rebuked but it will seem that this limitation
is their idea of democracy and something new
in American taxation.
nave pointed out some peculiaritles OF the
income tax which are hostile to the integrity
CT the family as unit and markedly partial
to Society," and "the community
In this connection it begins to dawn that
this version OF democracy is unfrendly to the
religious teachings of those of us who are
religious at all because all of us who have
such feelings put family first.
Russia and Germany put the state ahead and
this is the p rit of these determinations
against the family in the income tax
That, too, would be good democracy accord
ing to the new version whose extreme advo-
Gates have recently gone SO far as to propose
that not only young men but girls should be
drafted for year Of national service not
alone for the value of the service itself but
through compulsory association of "all the diff
ferent groups as Mrs. Roosevelt put 1t.
Suggest Reasons
Why would the advocates of democracy want
to discredit the family? I think their reasons
are suggested by their conduct and preaching.
They are very materialistic and, although one
hears much talk of humanity from them
there is seldom any mention OF COD:
They would not think of calling this war a
fight for Christian principles, although these
would constitute an excellent formula Tor the
peace and well-beng of mankind. Our friends,
the Russians, would think it strange but we
can get together on democracy because de-
mocracy eventually devours itself and can toll
crate even slavery.
It has been said that the Russians nave
edged over toward the right in the last lew
years which may be true or false, but there
is no doubt that we, on our part, have moved
far to the left seeking common ground WIN
them.
So far, under the democratic concept, we
have established in the income tax the prin-
ciple that mans obligation to his own FAMILY
is inferior to his obligation to society: Be1ore
he may provide for his own dependents ne
must contribute to the support OF others ana
ne may even give to a communist school as
deductble contribution much more. tnan ne
may give his own wife, free of the GIT tax
in the same year. even though the wl1e' oy
her work, lf-denial and inspiration may nave
had a great share in the earning OF the money.
1t is true that Congress passed this law So
it must be the will of the people. 1t is true
also that that this is democracy. Ana, H.