Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 127, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 June 1917 — Page 2

Diplomacy

By KARL REED SILVERS.

With Mr. Ted Baldwin it was a case 9t *T can dance with everybody but ■ay wife." He and Betty had been Married for a year and a half and in that time they had never once disagreed on a single subject—except dancing. In his bachelor days Ted had rather prided himself on his ability in the terpslchorean art, and the compliments which several maidenly hopefuls showered upon him only strengthened his belief that he could easily and happily dance his way through life. And then he had met Betty Williams. Betty cared more for playing tennis than she did for dancing, and when Ted had danced with her once or twice be too showed a decided preferonce for the freedom of the courts. Even Betty's most ardent admirers admitted that the young lady in question would never be another Mrs. Vernon Oastle. But Ted had married her just the same. “What difference does it make?” he had said to himself. “There are other things In life besides dancing.” And then, strange as it may seem, Betty Baldwin, , nee Williams, conceived a sudden desire to learn all the latest steps. Through the long winter season she dragged Ted regularly to the weekly hops at the Country club, nelng her wifely prerogative to make him dance every single number with her. Her natural bent, however, was still toward tennis. After a month or SO of endless fox trotting and waltzing the week-ends became veritable nightmares to the otherwise happy husband. He ventured a protest. "I don’t think you’ll ever be much «f a dancer, Betty,” he advised her pleasantly. “Let’s not go to the club tonight" Betty answered not a word. For a moment she gazed at her husband with wide-opened eyes; then, suddenly she dropped her head In her dimpled arms ■nd burst Into tears. Thereafter Ted bore his cross in silence. The dancing subject was taboo. When the date of the annual assembly ball rolled around, however, Ted grew well nigh desperate. A worldfamed orchestra had been engaged to provide music, and twenty-five dances had been placed upon the cards. Moreover, Mildred Chatfield, whom Ted had aot aeon for three years and who was the most wonderful dancer he had ever known, had arrived In Glenwood and had stated her Intention of attending tise bell, ghe reminded Betty’s husband not to forget to dance with her. On the evening of the dance young Mr. Ted Baldwin gazed with halfopened eyes at his wife, sitting opposite. Suddenly a plan flashed Into his mind - ■“Betty,” he said, “we’ve been married for almost two years now, haven’t we?" “Yes," she answered, “one year and eight months." «*And we’ve never had a disagreement." “Never." “What’s the reason T’ “Don’t you know?” She looked at him Inquiringly. ; ~ "I don’t think I do?* “Well, Hl tell you. It’s because your wife, whom you don’t half appreetotot has resolved to overlook all of your faults and to smile indulgently whenever you do anything wrong.” Ted’s face lighted. “Do you mean to say that whatever I do, you'll simply smile and let it passF “That’s what I have been doing for the past twenty-odd months.*’ Ted nodded. he answered seriously. “When I come to think of it you’re right," He walked around the table gnd fri—"d one of her ruddy cheeks. “But m bet you a box of candy egetnet a good cigar that I can do something that will make you angry.” “What kind of thing?” “It won’t be wrong,” he explained, «««nrt it won’t be mean; but I’ll bet you’ll be angry just the same.” “I don’t think I shall.” She held out her hand. “Shake,” she said. They shook. After his wife had adjourned to the upper regions, Ted” took a piece of paper csrefnlly from the desk In the library, wrote a single sentence ■pen it and tucked the sheet carefully in his wallet Then he smlled a smile gs Infinite content- For the first time tMt winter he looked forward with gISSMN to a dance at the Country Stab. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Baldwin arrived fit the ball In due time, paid their re■pSSto to the dignified reception comadttoA stumbled around the room M tba mynmpa nt ment of the most gloftoag gMMto they had ever heard. At the eoMinston of the first one-step, heweTsr, Ted politely excused himself Mi made Me wng to the side of Miss Mildred Chatfield. “Hollo, M«»e I" be greeted pleasantly. “How many dances are you going to giro me?* Hbe looked at him with a twinkle in bor eye. “You're a married man now," she answered, “and I don’t think. I

POTATO FACTS FOR 1917

Present „unusual high prices for potatoes will lead to the planting of fields to this crop that have never grown them and perhaps where they are wholly unsuited. A suitable well prepared seed bed, an abundance of available plantfood, strong clean seed, shallow cultivation, and spraying are the five cardinal principles necessary for a potato crop. Last year a number of potato men of Van Buren county, Michigan, grew approximately 200 bushels to the a?re by paying attention to the above factors while the slate average was less than one-half this. A rich well-drained sandy loam, well supplied with humus and properly balanced plantfood, is the best potato soil. However, it Is possible to grow profitable crops of potatoes on heavier soils if they are first brought to a high stage of fertility and are made friable by the use of organic matter. Since this cannot be done this year growers must make the best use possible of rotted manure supplemented by fertilizers. Intensive methods make it possible to grow crops yielding from 250 to 400 bushels per acre and to decrease the cost of raising each bushel. The big expense In potato-growing comes in the preparation of the land and the attention given the crop throughout the pare ground, cultivate, and spray a 300-bushel crop than It does a 150bushel crop. Harvesting will cost more, but the big overhead expenses are practically the same. Obviously the thing to do is to Insure larger yields by abundance of available plantfood that will give the erop a good start and force it to early maturity. Potatoes Lazy Feeders. Potatoes are short rooted and comparatively lazy feeders. They do not . reach out far for their food. Consequently plenty of well rotted manure and commercial fertilizers should be thoroughly worked into the soil so the plants will have plenty of plantfood near at hand all through the growing period. This is the practice of the successful potato growers ©f Van Buren county, Michigan. Since prospects for a fairly remunerative price for potatoes is so bright, in many instances, it will pay this year to side dress the growing crop once or twice during cultivation with fertilizers, especially if the ground is not ideally rich potato land. ' - The »otato takes up a fairly large amount of nitrogen, a moderate amount of phosphoric add and a large supply of potash; hence, a fertilizer supplying 8 to 5 per cent ammonia 3 to 8 per cent phosphoric acid and under normal conditions 5 to 8 per cent potash Is about right for loam soils. On snndy soils use more ammonia, on clay use more phosphoric acid and less potash, and on muck use 1 per cent of ammonia, 10 to 12 per cent phosphoric acid, and 8 to 10 per cent potash when the latter can be obtained. If you cannot get all the potash recommended or desired in the fertilizers this year use it anyway as good results have been secured where a low analysis of potash was used. Methods of Application. At least one-half of the ammonia of the complete fertilizer ussd should be in quickly available form In order to give the younfe potatoes an early, vigorous start. The other half should be In more slowly available form so us to furnish a continuous supply as it is heeded by the growing crop. The phosphoric acid should be readily available so that when the time comes for the setting and filling of the potatoes, there may be as large a number of potatoes as possible, and the potatoes may ripen uniformly. In applying the fertilizer, it has been found that quantities varying from 800 to 1,800 pounds per acre have given excellent results. In Maine, where about 25,000,000 bushels are produced annually the application of fertilizer on the good soil of that state varies from 1,000 to 2,400 pounds per acre. Apply fertilizer in the row up to the capacity of the fertilizer attachment of the planter. Any amount in excess of this should be drilled in with a wheat drill before planting, or applied with a lime and fertilizer distributor and well mixed with the soil. This distributes the plantfood throughout the soil where the flhy pbtato roots may find it early in their growth. The tubers form on separate roots which cluster under the plant, while the feeding roots stretch ,off Into the soil In search of available plantfood. Contrary to common belief, the general distribution of fertilizer between the rowsjof potatoes does not tend to spread the growing tubers, but tends to provide a better distribution of food for the growing plants. All seed potatoes planted this year should be treated with formalin or corrosive sublimate to free them from disease. It costs but a few cents per acre to"do thls-as well as to spray for potato bugs, beetles, blight, etc., which attacks the growing plants. If any one of the five factor* necessary to the growing of potatoes are neglected the crop will not be as large nor the profits as high as they should be. Good seed well planted in a rich well fertilized soil and the crop properly cultivated and sprayed will mean big crops next summer and fall.—Henry G. Bell.

GROWING NAVY BEANS.

I “A firm seed bed, seed free of disease planted in a soil well supplied with humus and plantfood, shallow cultivation and careful harvesting are essential factors in successful bean growing,” says a well-known bean authority Tn this section the beans should b<» planted by May 20.

THE REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

PLANTS ARE FACTORIES

PLANTFOOD IS FOUND IN THE SOIL

Railroad trains run through the land, collecting and hauling raw material to the factories In different cities and towns. Likewise the plant roots gather up raw available plantfood of the soli and carry It’to the stalk where It passes up to the leaves and Is digested in the green matter or chlorophyll with the help of the power that comes from the sun. The leaves of all plants are the factories that manufacture the raw plantfood of the soil into digested food thftt Is used to build up every part of the plant, including stalks, leaves, roots, fruit, grain, etc. The wider the leaf and the more leaves on the plant the greater the stomach or digestive surface consequently the more plantfood that can be digested. One reason so many farmers get small crops Is that they do not have enough leaf surface to digest plantfood. Peter J. Lux, the champion corngrower of Indiana, was well aware of this important fact when he selected his corn not alone for the ear but for a wide leaf to digest more plantfood. As a result of this fact he won many premiums and medals on his corn, including a SSOO prize at Whiteville, Mo. In selecting any seed, care should be exercised to see that Its different characteristics suit It to the particular region where you want to grow It. Then see that the soils Is well supplied with humus and plantfood by adding both manure and fertilizers. The larger the leaf or stomach of the plant the larger the quantitp of plantfood that can b« digested If It Is at hand consequently the larger and better the crop that car be grown. This la efficiency and efficiency Is what we as farmers should ever keep before us this year.

MORE MONEY FROM WHEAT

Wartime Prices Mean Big Top-Dress-Ing Profits. Wheat has brought wartime prlcef for the past two years. Most of the 1916 wheat crop was sold for ovet twice as much per bushel as was obtained by farmers a few years ago Every extra bushel counted double lasi year. The world must be fed, and the continued demand upon the Amerlcar producers must mean high prices sot 1917 wheat Early reports show that the condl tion of the winter wheat planted foi 1917 was from 15 to 20 per cent below normal, and that the crop went Intc the winter in bad condition. The outlook for big yields is not glowing. Crof experts assert that the 1917 wheal crop Ip bound to bring excellent prices You cannot Increase your 1917 winter wheat acreage now, but you car Increase your yield from 15 to 5C per cent by spending a little mort money on each acre. Extra bushels mean extra dollars. Labor costs and other overhead charges per bushel are kept down, and net profits shoved up when greater yields per acre are obtained. This year of all years, spending a little more money than usual on the wheat crop will pay big returns. Less than two bushels of tfheat at present prices will pay for actual money outlay per acre for top-dress-ing; five to ten more bushels per acre from top-dressing with fertilizers Is not unusual. Figure your acreage, estimates for yourself next fall prices, and weigh the subject of top-dressing on Its merits as an Investment that will bring large returns. _____ Plantfood Makes Crops. The tiny wheat plant must have special nourishment as soon as It wakes up.in the spring, which Is before much of the plantfood In the soil becomes available. Big crops demand enormous quantities of plantfood. The biggest help you can give your wheat crop this spring Is to apply a top-dressing of 100 to 800 pounds per acre of fertilizer, analyzing 2 to 4 per cent of ammonia, 8 to 12 per cent phosphoric acid in an available form. The fertilizer should be broadcasted or distributed on the wheat through the fertilizer attachment of the wheat drill, with the lime spreader, or other fertilizer distributor. If the wheat drill Is used, leave the disks suspended so that they will not cut the wheat plants. Apply this fertilizer before the field is rolled or harrowed. Harrowing will work it into the soil where the roots can get the plantfood. You can carry on these operations until the wheat is up four inches in height without Injury to the crop. Top-dress, grow mor* bushel* per acr© and Increase your bank account.

TOP DRESSING It to possible, by POSSIBILITIES, top dressing to bring back every run-down meadow and rough hillside In the country, and this without one dollar labor expense except that of spreading the fertilizer. Results obtained at the Rothamsted station can be duplicated in this country and are being duplicated in increasing measure.

HOW SHALL WE FAY FOR THE WAR?

A Gonstruetlw Criticism on tin House Revenue Bill. LOANS BETTER THAN TAXES

Flv© Reason* Why Excessive Tax** at th© Outset of War Ar© Dlsadvantageeub—Great Britain Example Worthy of Emulation —How th* Taxee Should Be Apportioned.

By EDWIN R. A. SELIGMAN.

McVicker Professor of Political Economy, Columbia University. v On May 23, 1917, the House of Representatives passed an’ act “to provide revenue to defray war expenses and for other purposes.” In the original bill as presented by the Committee of Ways and Means, the additional revenue to be derived was estimated at sl.810,420,000. The amendment to the income tax, which was tacked on to the bill during the discussion in the House, was expected to yield another $40,000,000 or $50,000,000. In discussing the House bill, two problems arise: 1. How much should be raised by taxation? IL In what manner should this sum be raised?

I. How Much Should Be Raised by Taxation? How was the figure of $1,800,000,000 arrived at? The answer Is simple. When the Secretary of the Treasury came to estimate the additional war expenses for the year 1917-18, he calculated that they would amount to some $6,600,000,000, of which $3,000,000,000 was to be allotted to the allies, and $3,600,000,000 was to be utilized for the domestic purposes. Thinking that It would be a fair proposition to divide this latter sum between loans And taxes, he concluded that the amount to be raised by taxes was $1,800,000,000. There are two extreme theories, each of which may be dismissed with scant courtesy. The one is that all war expenditures should be defrayed by loans, and the other Is that all war expenditures should be defrayed by taxes. Each theory is untenable. It is indeed true that the burdens of the war should be borne by the present rather than the future generation; but this does not mean that they should be borne by this year’s taxation. Meeting all war expenses by taxation makes the taxpayers in one or two years bear the burden of benefits that ought to be distributed at least over a decade within the same generation. In the second place, when expenditures approach the sums of present-day warfare, the tax-only policy would require more than the total surplus of social income. Were this absolutely necessary, the ensuing havoc In the economic life of the community would have to be endured. But where the disasters are so great and at the same time so unnecessary, the tax-only policy may be declared Impracticable. Secretary McAdoo had the right instinct and highly commendable courage In deciding that a substantial portion, at least, of the revenues should be derived from taxation. But when be hit upon the plan of 50-50 per cent, that is, of raising one-half of all domestic war expenditures by taxes, the question arises whether he did not go too far. The relative proportion of loans to taxes Is after all a purely business proposition. Not to rely tq a large extent on loans at the outset of a war Is a mistake

Disadvantage* *f Excessive Tax©©. The disadvantages of excessive taxes at the outset of the war are as follows: L Excessive - taxes on consumption will cause popular resentment 2. Excessive taxes on industry will disarrange business, damp enthusiasm, and restrict the spirit of enterprise at the very time when the opposite to needed. i 8. Excessive taxes on Incomes will deplete the surplus available for investments and Interfere with the placing of the enormous loans which will be necessary in any event 4. Excessive taxes on wealth will cause a serious diminution of the incomes which are »t preset largely drawn upon for the support of educational and philanthropic enterprises. Moreover, these sources of support would be dried up precisely at the time when the need .wouM be greatest & Excessive taxation at th* outeet of th* war will reduo* th* •laatlcity available for th* increasing demanda that ar* *oon to com*. Great Britain’* Policy. Take Great Britain aa an example. During the first year of the war she Increased taxes only slightly, in order to keep industries going at top notch. During ths second year she raised by new taxes only 9 per cent of hey war expenditures. During the third year she levied by additional taxes (over and above the pre-war level) only slightly more than 17 per cent of her war expenses. | If we should attempt to do as much In the first year of the war aa Great Britain did In the third year it would suflice to raise by taxation $1,250,000,00tt If, tn drder to be absolutely on th* safe side, it seemed advisable to Increase the sum to >1,500,000,000, this should, in our opinion, be the maximum.

In considering the apportionment of lhe extraordinary burden of taxes In war times certain scientific principles are definitely established: How Taxes Should B* Apportioned. (1) The burden of taxes must be spread as far as possible over the whole community so as to cause each Individual to sharp in the sacrifices according to his ability to pay and according to his share Ih the Government (2) Taxes on consumption, wfilCh are necessarily borne by the community at large, should be Imposed as far as possible on articles of quasi-luxury rather than on those of necessity. (3) Excises should be imposed as far as possible upon commodities in the hands of the final consumer rather than upon the articles which serve primarily as raw material for further production. (4) Taxes upon business should be imposed as far as possible upon net earnings rather than upon gross receipts or capital Invested. (5) Taxes upon income which will necessarily be severe should be both differentiated and graduated. That Is, there should be a distinction between earned and unearned Incomes and there should be a higher rate upon the larger incomes. It is essential, however, not to make the income rate so excessive as to lead to evasion, administrative difficulties, or to the more fundamental objections tfhlch have been urged above.. (6) The excess profits which are dtle to the war constitute the most obvious and reasonable source of revenue during war times. But the principle upon which these war-profit taxes are laid must be equitable in theory and easily calculable in practice. Th© Proposed Income Tax. The additional Income tax as passed by the House runs up to a rate of 60 per cent This is a sum unheard of in the history of civilized society. It must be remembered that it was only after I the first year of the war that Great I Britain increased her Income tax to the maximum of 84 per cent, and that even now in the fourth year of the war the income* tax does not exceed 42% per cent It could easily be shown that a tax with rates on moderate Incomes substantially less than in Great Britain, and on the larger incomes about as high, would yield only slightly less than the $532,000,000 originally estimated in the House bill It is to be hoped that the Senate will reduce the total rate on the highest incomes to 84 per cent, or at most to 40 per cent, and that at the same time it will reduce the rate on the smaller incomes derived from personal or professional earnings. If the war continues w* shall have to depend mor© and mor* upon th* Income tax. By Imposing excoealv* rates now wo ar© not only endangering the future, but are Inviting all manner of difficult!** which even Great Britain has boon able to escape. Conclusion. The House bill contains other fundamental defects which may be summed up as follows: (1) It pursues an erroneous principle in Imposing retroactive taxes. (2) It selects an unjust and unworkable criterion for the excess-profits tax. (3) It proceeds to an unheard-of height in the income tax. (4) It imposes unwarranted burdens upon the consumption of the community. (5) It is calculated to throw business Into confusion by levying taxes on gross receipts Instead of upon commodities. (6) It falls to make a proper use of stamp taxes. -■ (7) It follows an unscientific system in its flat rate on imports. (8) It Includes a multiplicity of petty and unlucratlve taxes, the vexatiousness of which Is out of all proportion to the revenue they produce. The fundamental lines on which the House bill should be modified are summed up herewith: (1) The amount of new taxation should be limited to $1,250,000,000-or at the outset to $1,500,000,000. To do more than this would be as unwise as it is unnecessary. To do even this would be to do more than has ever been done by any civilized Government in time- of stress. (2) The excess-profits tax based upon a> sound system ought to yield about $500,000,000. (3) The income-tax schedule ought to be revised with a lowering of the rates on earned incomes below SIO,OOO, and with an analogous lowering of the ©©taann the higher incomes, so as not to exceed 84 per cent A careful calculation shows that an income tax of thia kind would yield some $450,000,000 additional. (4) The tax on whisky and tobacco ought to remain approximately as It to with a yield of about $230,000,000. These three taxes, together with the stamp tax at even the low rate of the House bill, and with an improved automobile tax, will yield over $1,250,000,000, which is the amount of money thought desirable. '-L The above program would be in harmony with an approved scientific system. It will do away with almost all of the complaints that are being urged against the present It will refrain from taxing the consumption of the poor. It will throw a tor heavier burden upon the rich, but will not go- to the extremes of confiscation. It will obviate interference with business and will keep unimpaired the social productivity of the community. A It will establish a just balance between loans and taxes and win not succumb to ths danger of approaching either the tax-only policy or the loanonly policy. Above all, it will keep an undisturbed elastic margin, which must be more and more heavily drawn upon as tbs war proceeds.

Failure.

Has success your pathway doggsd, Everywhere you turned. Never left your heart in doubt. Never left you spurned? &as good fortune tracked you down. Followed on your drift. Poured the gold into your lap • As a Midas gift? Has fulfillment close pursued, Over-brimmed your glass. Left you naught for which to yearn, Naught to come to pass? Then you have been robbed of much Strengthening for men: It at first you do not fall. Try, try —McLandburgh Wilson in Life.

“Borrerin”

Mr. Peaslee’s expression was one of great dissatisfaction mixed with a none too patient resignation. He grunted as he seated himself upon the long seat in front of the village post office. Mr. Nudd noticed ’ the grunt and mentioned It. “If I felt half as mean as you look and sound, Kellup,” he observed dispassionately, “I’d shut myself up somewheres till I got over it. You act ’bout as sociable as a hedgehog. What’s happened to stir you'up so?” “Borrerln’ responded Mr. Peaslee with a briefness that testified to a disturbed mind. “Jake Winship, mebbe?” hazarded Mr. Nudd, and Caleb nodded ruefully in confirmation. “Mebbe you’ve suffered some yourself, Nudd,” he began with an air of settled patience, “but I don’t b’lieve you’d scarcely credit what I’ve had to put up with from that Winship gang sence they moved onto that hill. It’s borrer, borrer, borrer, day in and night out with ’em, till I hardly know whether I’m goln’ to find my hat if I want to go outdoors a spell." “They’re ’bout as aggravatin’ as anything I’ve ever had to put up with,” Mr. Nudd conceded feelingly, “and the wust part of it, fur’s it thorns me, Is that they never have any Idea of brlngln’ back anything they borrer. Ain’t they ben that way with you?” Mr. Peaslee grinned weakly and shuffled his feet uneasily. ‘”S a mat- . ter of fact, Nudd,” he explained, “Jake Winship’s bringln’ back something he borrered is jest what’s wrought me up to such a heat this very day. He’s ’nough to mad a saint, seem’s if, and yet I can’t help laughin’ over It, too. “I’ve always shoveled my paths In the winter,” Caleb began, “with any shovel I had at the time—sometimes a spade—sometimes a round-pointed shovel —whatever came handiest, that’s what I’d use. I d’know’s I ever made any gre’t complaint over not havin’ a snow shovel; anyway, I don't remember It If I did. But something or ’nother put it into my wife’s mind to get me one, and so she did —fetched It home one day last fall, much’s two months ’fore we had a flake of snow or was likely to. I thanked her for’t and stood it up in the shed and let the whole thing go out of my mind complete. “I d’know’s I’ve thought of that shovel sence the day I stood in there till today, for, If you remember, we didn’t have much snow last winter that needed shovelin’ —two-three little flirts that hardly made sleddin’ and didn’t drift any to speak of round my place. Come to that, what little fell mostly blowed out of the way; so you might say I-didn’t do any shovelin’ at all, and I never even thought of my new snow shovel; “Today, though,” Caleb went on, “1 had It fetched to my mind by something else I wanted. There was some grass round the back door that my wife wanted I should cut and I went out to the shed to get the scythe I’ve always kep’ hangin’ there, but 1 couldn’t find a sign of It anywhere. 1 done the same thing that every other man does when he can’t find anything. I went to my wife ’bout it and wanted to know where it had gone to. “’Well,’ s’she, ‘I d’know’s I c’n tell you for certain, but I’ve got my s’plcions. I saw that shlf’less Jake Winship comln’ round the corner of the shed an hour or so ago with somethin’ that looked like that snow shovel I bought for you on his shoulder, and mebbe minutes after that J ketched a glimpse of him puttin’ off cross lots with something on his arm that looked like a scythe and snath. If you was to press me to give a guess*’ _ she says, ‘Td say prob'bly he’d brought back the shovel he borrered last winter and took the lend of your scythe for a spell? “And,” Caleb finished resignedly, "I found out she was right ’bout it—as commonly to And I guess that answers the question 'bout whether Jake Winship ever brings back anything he borrera —he doos, but there ain’t any great help in havin’ him borrer a snow shovel in the winter and not bring It home till ’long In July some time. “I s’pose,” said Caleb with a' sigh, “that the best I can hope for is that hp’U get the scythe . back some time durin* the first of the winter, when ha wants the shovel again."—Youth’s Companion.