Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-10-11
Afraid of the Facts.

that editors Of papers controlled by
the railroad Kittredge crowd fight
very shy of figures when discussing
the tax levy issue. They are free with
assertions but make no attempt to
back them up with figures. For in
stance nearby railroad organ recent
ly asserted that 1.-THE board increased
the railroad taxes a little and increas-
ed the taxes on farms and city prop
erty largely" The fact is that rail
road property was raised 45 per cent
and farm property 20 per cent. The
board attempted to act fairly by all
classes of taxpayers and we believe
that when the people understand the
facts the action of the board will be
heartily endorsed. Just why the ma
chine papers give their readers such
untruthful stuff as is now being sent
out by the big boss is hard to under
stand. The people are going to know
the facts before the primaries are
held and any attempt to mislead them
is sure to result disasterously for the
side SO doing. An exchange last week
said
AS there are 1000 farmers in the
state to one banker and 25,O00 to one
railroad, it is easy to see why the
stalwart is trying to win the sympa-
thy of the farmer.
There is not particle of justitica.
tion in the stalwart charges and the
| farmers know it. For the first time
in years the board came as near as it
| was practicable to a perfectly fair and
just equalization and ii future boards
will maintain the same or nearly the
/ same relative values for the various
kinds of taxable property, all classes
Of people who have taxes to pay will
be better satisfied The railroads are
the most important industries in the
state, save that of agriculture and we
know that even our farming industry
would dwindle to small proportions
without the cooperative help of the
| railways. 1t is therefore to the inter-
/ est of the state to encourage the rail-
ways in every legitimate way that
may lend their energies to the peop-
ling and development of the state.
Railway men are not afraid Of the
/ people, but they know that the dem
agogue can make trouble.
"A dozen newspapers in this state
are now playing the demagogue and
pettifogger by their efforts to show
i that the state board favored the rail-
ways at the expense Of the farmers,
i when the fact is the board brought
the property of these two leading in
4 dustries nearer to it's just proportion
that has ever been done since the
state was admitted. That the board
at it's meeting next year, guild ed by
/ the same spirit Of fairness, will be
/ able to adjust valves nearer where
they belong, may be true, because 6!
experience and better information,
and when all these taxable interests
/ discover that the state has but one
single purpose in view and that to
put no more than it's share of the tax
burden upon any interest,-to treat
all impartially this equalizing busi.
ness will fade out of our state politics
and become a business and not poll
tical question. 1t is the pettifogging
politicians, ambitious for place and
Ipower that are now seeking, by this
hue and cry about unfair valuations s.
to obtain places at public crib, or re
tain positions which they have for
| feited by putting their private inter
ests before the general welfare.