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About The Northman. (Portland, Or.) 1920-192? | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1920)
THE NORTHMAN r Bucking Bolshevism, • X____________________________________________________________________________ is something discussed B olshevism from the head of the government to port said, that 164,590 firms had not turned over to the government the entire amount of the so-called luxury taxes on sales and admissions. In some cases firms failed to make any returns of the collections. Internal revenue collectors in all cases forced the delinquents to make good the en tire amount, as well as pay a heavy penalty, Mr. Williams said. The bu reau estimated that for the present year more than 7,000,000 firms and individuals will pay federal taxes. It is utilizing every avenue of informa tion to check up on “tax slackers”. the heels of the garbage crew with little or no apparent progress in any direction. The government recently entered upon a crusade of deportation of alien socialist “reds,” but it appears to have pindled out with the shipping of the first boat load. I. W. W.’s are hauled to jail here and there on charges more or less serious and with the usual varying attendant results, but there is a total lack of definite plan or policy or co-ordinate action. In other words, the Bolsheviki situa tion seems to be all stirred up, but there it stands. No cake is being baked. This is one of the elements from which * * * Bolshevism is something of Russia— the substance of I. W. W.-ism is made. The tax-slacker is as far from being an a something which is the product of cen turies of the autocratic, tyrannical, and admirable citizen as the service-slacker. It is this same class of business men, inhumanly oppressive rule of the czars and grand dukes and the indescribable who fail to make returns on the profits of system of cruelty of that vast empire. their war-time activities that is belittling It is something we cannot grasp or under the A. E. F. and is active in opposition to stand without complete knowledge of granting the just claims of those who Russian history and personal contact with went to the front. They are fine workers the proletariat. It -is nothing of America, for the I. W. W. camp. * * * but there appears to exist an affinity be Contributing causes of I- W. W.-ism are tween the Soviet and the I. W. W. of this country which bodes no good to democ to be found in the innumerable things that lower respect for the law: racy. Court delays, groundless appeals and The soviet is the reaction of the des potism that has ruled the Russias. It is unjust decisions; Unwillingness to abide by the decision an attempt at rule by the opposite extreme of thought and station in society. There of the majority; Unprincipled methods in business ; is nothing American about it and it is Dishonorable methods in politics ; something to be excluded from thought The system of education which fitted t rd discussion as applying to this country, boys and girls for being nothing but in the discussion of our problems- The I. W. W. we have with us. Whether “ladies” and “gentlemen” in imitation of it is an importation or a native plant we the feudal period instead of equipping will not discuss at this time since it will them for a useful life-work; Irresponsibility of influential organiza- not change the situation. The fact re mains that the spirit has grown so strong tions ; That section of the foreign language as to be regarded by many to be a menace. To remedy evil or disease of the body press and that element of citizenship politic it is as necessary to locate the cause which regard everything American with as it is to cure the physical ills. Remove contempt and disdain, and in no wise to be compared with the institutions of their the cause and the disease disappears. native country. What is the cause of I. W. W.-ism? Thé easy divorce; Turn to the daily papers. The following The movement toward the glorified appears in current reports from Wash ington: C Despite the government’s wartime appeal for tax payments as a patriotic S. BENSON FOR RESTRICTING duty, more than 300,000 firms and FOREIGN PRESS individuals failed to make honest returns under the revenue laws in the Writing from Paso Robles, Cali last two years, the bureau of internal fornia, Mr. S. Benson, of Portland, revenue announced tonight. In a six voices endorsement of the Americani months’ drive, which ended February zation stand of Mr. Langoe, as 1, $19,051,000 in delinquent income follows: and luxury taxes were collected, Com missioner Williams reported. Mr. H. J. Langoe, Editor Pacific The amazingly large number of Scandinavian, Portland, Oregon. persons who did not respond to the My Dear Mr. Langoe: Permit me government’s appeal has caused treas to congratulate you on your stand on ury officials to consider the delin the foreign language question. I quent tax payments problem a grave would go still further—I would pro one, A new roundup of alleged delin hibit by law the printing and circula quents has been instituted to cover tion of foreign language papers in the the tax period on which returns were United States; also the teaching of made March 15. any foreign language to anyone that Of the total delinquents, 331,386 has not gone through our grammar had not paid any income taxes and an school or acquired a fair knowledge additional 44,260 did not pay the full of the language of our country. amount of taxes due. From these two Very truly yours, sources approximately $11,000,000 S- BENSON. was collected- Discovery was made also, the re- 11 tenement, the apartment house, with its one room and a bath and paper-bag house keeping. These and many others. The causes of I. W. W.-ism are all about us! Stop and think and you can see them! * * * What is the remedy ? It is as plain as the disease. Play your part as a citizen squarely! There is good medicine for many things in those seven words. Keep the prescrip tion right with you. Live up to the Fourth-of-July talk! This country was started out on the principle of a square deal, and while there has been more or less of palming and second card dealing, the principle stands. The I. W. W. should be given to under stand very clearly, definitely and concise ly that this is a republic; That it was founded as a republic. That it has been conducted as a republic from July 4, 1776 to the present moment. That it is the intention of the people of these United States ot continue as a republic, as Mr- William J. Bryan would say, “without the aid or consent of any nation on earth.” That it is the aim and object of the people to make this republic the greatest and best the world has known and they positively must not be interfered with. That the plans and specifications were adopted in the Declaration of Indepen dence and constitution adopted by the continental congress and those plans and specifications will be adhered as closely as the best mechanics on the job can drop a plumb or lay a square. That there is no mistake about this. That this is the solemn and determined purpose of the people—not the floss or the dross, not the froth or the foam, not the lees or the dregs, but the real people regardless of occupation, size of pocket book or color of hair or hide. That every body is invited and welcomed to turn in and help on the job—to do the best they know how, good intentions covering a multitude of the sins of citizen ship, but there must be no standing around and knocking or crabbing the job; * * * That preaching sovietism in this repub lic is just as treasonable as preaching monarchy. We have nothing against sovietism. It may be better than our brand of democracy, but we don’t know it, and we propose to let Russia do the demonstrating. If you don’t like this republic and love sovietism, the thing to do is to rush to Russia as soon as possible. It is a big country with plenty of fresh air. There appears to be oodles of room on the politi cal ground floor and unquestionably you will be able to get sovietism to the full extent of your hearts desire—and possibly some more. Mr. citizen, you who are beginning to see “red,” smoke on this awhile: You are either an American, or you are not. If you are an American show it, sing it; live it, act it, talk it, teach it. If you are not, sing low, for Uncle Sam is sore. This may be taken as something of an outline of the subject with which The Northman will subsequently deal in detail. It has niany interesting curves, angles and ramifications. The sermons will not be in the language of the classics, but they will be crisp—and possibly sensible. i