The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-10-31
The Hale.smith Debate.
rom the Lacrosse Chieftain

IOF representative IfOtu buIS COuuty,
and State Senator F. Dumont Smith,
OF Kinsley, met in joint debate in this
CITY last Tuesday evening. By agree
ment the following subjects were dis
cussed:
/. The proposed tax bill.
2. The preseut ballot law.
3. Craddock's proposed method Of
taxation.
MIR. Hale opposed the first two and
supported the latter and Mr.. Smith
defended the first two and opposed
the last.
The largest audience eyer~assem-
bled at an evening meeting in this
city greeted the speakers. There was
large attendance from the county,
nearly all parts of the county being
represented. The large audience
was attentive. courteous, and at times
very enthusiastic. When Mr.. Hale
entered the room and advanced to the
stage he was given an ovation, and
later, when both speakers took their
places on the stage, the applause was
renewed.
The opening address was delivered
by Mr.. Hale, and was mastery pre-
sentation of his objections to the pro-
posed tax law. His argument was
conclusive, logical and convincing,
as was evidenced by the frequent
bursts of applause. At the expira-
tion of one hour time was called and
the prolonged applause of approval
was very fattering indeed. MIR.
Hale occupied most of the time al
lotted to him in exposing the in
iquities OF the proposed tax law, and
demonstrated conclusively that ia
stead of making the tax burden on the
small tax payer and well-to-do people
lighter to bear, it would actually in
crease the amount of tax they would
have to pay without providing ad-
equate means OF compelling the large
corporation and extremely rich
people to pay their just proportion
of the taxes. The speaker heartily
endorsed the position of Mr.. Crac-
dock on the tax question and demon
strated that the relief proposed by
Mr.. CraddOck is entirely feasible and
that every promise made can be full
filled if the present laws of this state
on assessment and taxation are
honestly enforced. Mr.. Hale spoke
briefly of the present ballot law,
showing that it abridged the rights
of the people; restricted their action
in nominating conventions, and pre-
vented the people from uniting at the
ballot box for the overthrow of un-
desirable or corrupt office holders.
Senator Smith, member of the tax
commission, in reply gave history
of the appointments, organization aud
work of this commission. His de-
tense of the proposed bill was weak
and did not come up to the expecta-
tiOns of his audience. He admitted,
after hearing Mr.. Hale, that the bill
fell far short OF what it ought to be.
and that the Law would be oppressive
TO certain class OF tax payers
The commission, in its address to
the Legislature, is unanimous In ex-
pressing the hope that tie bill be
passed without material change or al
teration. Mr.. Saaith evidently did
not have this ia mind when he ad-
mitted the weakness OF the proposed
bill His argument I'd support the
bill WAS substantially the same as
that used by the eommissiOa in nrg-
ing the Legislature to enact the bill
into las, and to one who Is fasniliar
with the report, the speaker seemed
At times to be quotiag verbatim from
the report. In all candor this part
of his address muse be pronoaBoed,
perhaps, as good . defence as can
be made for a bad bill, proposing a
dangerous aud untried experimeur.
The speaker discussed, at some
length, the taxation of railroads and
other property in Missouri and
Kansas, aud attempted to prove that
Mr.. Craddock could not comeel rail-
roads to pay more taxes Since
they have paid slightly more in
the past than they are paying at
present he failed to convince the au-
dience that Mr.. Craddock could not
make them pay much more ia the
future. Mr., Smith made exactly the
same statements in defense of the
present ballot law that he made in
his speech in Bison, short time
since, and did not attempt reply to
the objections offered and questions
asked by Mr.. Hale. Mr.. Smith was
applauded q number of times while
o1oal-;.o. hx La .a.a.. f.:e-l- = a.