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FEBRUARY 23, 1924 
PUBLISHED WEEKLY 
A Chance For Effective Action 
The front page of a New York City newspaper, issue of February 6th, carried an article headed as follows: 
514,238 IN CITY TO BENEFIT BY STATE INCOME TAX CUT 
Rural Legislators Object but They Are Expected to Subside Shortly 
The rural legislators will “subside” unless you see to it that they don’t. Remember that the reduction of income 
aroi niDrrT J?'DDnirnrv 1117 thing which wil1 hel P farmers in the tax situation is TO 
TAX ON PROPERTY. Here is the petition again that we printed last week. Already 
hundreds are beginning to come in. .There should be thousands; and there will be before we get through. City folks get 
what they want because they make themselves count where it will do the most good. Here is your chance. Sign the 
petition on this page, get other voting members of your family and your neighbors to sign it, and send it to AMERICAN 
AGRICULTURIST immediately. The petition follows: 
TO THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATURE, AND TO EVERY OTHER 
PUBLIC OFFICIAL IN STATE, COUNTY AND TOWN GOVERNMENT 
IN THE STATES OF NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW JERSEY 
WHEREAS, first, taxation has increased in this nation more than four times since 1913, and in our State 
and local governments more than three and a half times, and 
WHEREAS, second\ this burden of taxation, particularly for State and local governments, falls heaviest 
fooo directly on far rners and farm property, amounting to 16.6% of the farmer’s income in 
1922, stopping agricultural prosperity and fast becoming absolutely insupportable, and 
WHEREAS, third , the general basis of taxation is INCOME and not PROPERTY, and 
WHEREAS, fourth , our national, State and local governments have made little real progress in cutting 
out unnecessary officers, government departments and appropriation bills since the end of the 
World War, therefore be it hereby 
RESOLVED 
-First, that we, the undersigned, are unalterably OPPOSED TO THE EXTENSION AT 
PRESENT OF ALL NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES 
Second , that all of our national and local officers should give immediate attention to THE 
GRAVE NECESSITY OF LARGE REDUCTIONS IN ALL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES, 
to the reduction of government personnel, to combining and simplifying government de¬ 
partments and activities, to the need of short legislative sessions, to smaller expense ac¬ 
counts for public officials, to passing fewer laws, and in short, to the necessity for practicing 
the same economy in public affairs that farmers are constantly obliged to practice in the 
production of the necessities of life. • 
Jttion ^TN^S^ScffoN 1 ^" in CrCdit ° r 3117 ° ther Uns ° und farm reIief Iegis “ 
Fourth , that taxation, both State and national, be maintained on all luxuries, as for example, 
chewing gum, tobacco, motion pictures, etc. 
tax red uction be made TO ABOLISH DIRECT PROPERTY TAX. A REDUC¬ 
TION OF INCOME TAXES IS NOT SATISFACTORY. The farmer’s income is from his 
property holdings and therefore his assessed valuation, particularly on paper, is high. The 
reduction of income taxes, while government expenditures are still so high, will inevitably 
result in greater taxes on property, chiefly FARM REAL ESTATE. Signed eventually by 
100,000 farmers. * 
Name. . . . 
(Write Plainly) 
. Address 
( Paste blank paper to this petition for additional names.) 
