What I am anxious to do is to get the best bill possible with the least amount of friction.... I wish to avoid [splitting our party]. I shall do all in my power to retain the corporation tax as it is now and also force a reduction of the [tariff] schedules. It is only when all other efforts fail that I’ll resort to headlines and force the people into this fight.
ATTRIBUTION:
William Howard Taft (1857–1930), U.S. president. Butt to his sister-in-law, Clara F. Butt, June 16, 1909, after Taft had sent a message to Congress “Concerning Tax on Net Income of Corporations.” Archie Butt, Taft and Roosevelt: The Intimate Letters of Archie Butt, Military Aide, 1: 143-144, Doubleday, Doran & Company (1930).
Taft was speaking to two high tariff and low corporation tax men, Sen. Nelson A. Aldrich and Rep. Sereno Payne.
