Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-04-20

Tie total taxes received
fron all the railroads in
the state OF South Dakota
for 1904 WAS s>-.,s S1@ S& 4
III the Soath Dakota rail
roads had been assessed Is
mach per mile rs the rail-
roads in Wyoming. our
railroads woai have paid sS5 600 q
Or if assessed the same
as North Dakota our rail-
| roads would have paid. $50 coo u
and the people of the state
would have saved over, sieo 900 u
Iof their hard earned
money. How does that
rike tax payers
III our railroads had been
assessed as much per mile
as the roads in Nebraska,
our roads would have paid 81 600 oo
and the farmers, business
men and laborers would
have saved about ...-..-. 500 wv w
or about $50 for every
voter in the state.
How doth the average taxpayer
like this beautiful system OF taxa
tion?
These figures are correct and easily
obtainable. The amount OF taxes
paid i'm this state is from Official hg-
ures, and the amount paid by other
states is based on the increased valua-
ton of their railroads as compared to
the skin game" assessment in this
state.
There is not a machine paper In
the state that will discuss this ques-
tion. They howl pass, pass, pass, and
every machine benchman in the state
is riding on a free pass while the peo-
pie pay.
If the railroads in this state are
bound to rob the people through
Kittredge- northumberland COM
bine then the railroads must be pre-
pared TO run up against a square
deal. at Pierre with Crawford as Cow
ernor, and a loyal staff at his BACK.
The passage of III anti-pass law Will
make up the difference between what
the railroads pay now and what they
will have to pay. A machine thump-
er is not any more entitled to a free
pass than a farmer, in fact not nall
as much, as the farmer helps to main
tain the railroads while the loud
mouthed machine hireling raises
nothing but trouble and a large crop
of lies.
II the railroads run up against
trouble in the future owe these ques-
tions they can thank the arrogance
and cussedness of their hired political
agents in this state.
1t may seem to some that the edi-
tor Of the LEADER is unfriendly to the
railroads, but such Is not the case.
The editor of the LEADER spent con-
siderable time and money to get the
first bit of road built in the territory
from Sioux City to Yankton, and the
editor OF the LEADER has ever been
and expects to be a friend OF the rail-
roads, but the LEADER will not cease
its efforts to divorce the railroads
from state politics or criticise them
for maintaining an INSCRIPTIONS gang
OF agents whose chief ambition is to
skin the people for their personal gain
and bubonic ambition.
The railroads allow NO man or set
OF men to NEEDLE with their affairs
either public or private and the peo-
pie of this state demand that the
railroads get out Of our local and state
politics. The demand is one any
self-respecting independent people
should enforce to the letter. You say
it is customary for the railroads to
NEEDLE in the affairs OF our people
yes and it became a custom and grew
to be a vested right, seemingly, for
the officers Of the great insurance
companies to rob and plumber the pol
icy holders. Then came a volcanic
eruption. The insurance potentates;
they were veritable money kings and
waited upon by liyeried fiunkies
heard a voice demanding a square
IDEAL. These Wall street dictators
lheard more voices and then a shout
that was heard over the e TheI
they sought shelter from the wratf
of the people, but that cry for justic'
found them behind their gilded door
living on the money belonging e
thousands Of widows and orphans
Alexander grew sick and resigned am
tried to hide from that fearful voice
Mccall died with that stern demant
for Justice ringing in his ears, an
McCurdy is being sued for million
and may find a home in state prison
!, The people are all powerful T
right any wrong, and just SO sure a
the railroads continue to defy tn
|, taxpayers, and maintain a peopl
robbing lobby at Pierre, and throug
Infamous methods dictate state non
nations, then will these transporta
!. tion potentates hear q voice that Wi
demand q square deal and that dc
lmand will begin at the ballot box.
South Dakota is not alone In TIL
|, reform movement. Every state Is 81
manding q square deal and ever
LII .vc< ,uI,of hor roOplo ~