Letters, Oct. 12, 1936

(6 of 7)

b) Such of the same as are paid by TIME'S two managing editors, eight associate editors, 13 weekly contributors, and all others on the payroll—approximate number of taxes: 2,200.

c) Such of the same (plus corporation franchise, capital stock, excess profits taxes etc) as are paid by TIME'S hundred-odd advert and by all the other firms who would have advertised had they not had to spend ; money paying them—approximate number of taxes: 1,565,400.

d) Federal taxes paid on all the telephone telegraph, cable and radio message; on all electrical energy for commercial consumption; on cigars, cigarets, and distilled spirits (to the extent that the commercial of these products is inevitable); on cameras, firearms, perfumes, fur-trimmed articles (costing over $75) and mechanical refrigeration—approximate number of taxes: 225,325.

The most remarkable fact about all GOP computations is that, regardless of the number of taxes on a product, the amount that they represent is persistently the same—about 20% of the retail price. Thus, though a 10¢ loaf of bread's 2¢ tax represents a mere 58 taxes, TIME'S 1,793,000 taxes would amount to only a penny more.

On the whole it seems both unwise and ungrateful of you not to cooperate in this great effort to abolish "hidden" taxes, which supposedly would result in reducing the price ot the world's most informative magazine to 12¢.

Maybe you're a bunch of old skeptics after al, and it has occurred to you to ask yourselves: "Would it"?"

JOHN VERNON MORICE

Chicago, Ill.

Lenin Telegrams

Sirs:

"It seems to me that your authority for Lenin's warning against Stalin [TIME, Sept. 28 ] is hardly sufficient to justify your stating it as a finite and established fact. In view of the overwhelming evidence of Lenin's complete confidence in Stalin as compared to his profound mistrust of Trotsky, does it not seem probable at Krupskaya Lenin, sympathizing for reasons her own with the Trotsky-Zinoviev-Kamenev combine against Stalin and knowing her position to be inviolate under any circumstances, made a few alterations in her husband's testament?

Barbusse quotes Lenin as saying in the same letter as early as 1911, "Kobi's [a Stalin pseudonym] articles deserve the closest attention. It is difficult to imagine a better refutation ot he opinions and hopes of our conciliators and Trotsky and his like are worse than all the liquidators who express their thoughts openly. All those who support the Trotsky group are supporting the policy of lies and deceptions toward the workers."

During the greatest crises of the revolutionary government, it was always Stalin upon whom Lenin depended for support and counsel Trotsky was his legman at the Treaty of Brest Litovsk, but it is interesting to note two telegrams which Lenin sent in answer to Trotsky's request for instructions. On Feb. 15, 1918, he wired, "Reply to Trotsky. I must first consult Stalin lefore replying to his question." And on Feb. 18, "Stalin has just arrived. We will examine the situation together and send you a joint reply as soon as possible. Lenin." . . .

RING W. LARDNER JR.

Selznick International Pictures, Inc.

Culver City, Calif.