Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-09-30
Y. s. STEEL AZ cHAPERoNE.

Mr.. Jacobson, the third gubernato.
rial candidate whom the special inter.
ests have sent against Governor John.
son, opened his campaign in Duluth
under the caves Of the United States
Steel Corporation building.
This is appropriate in view Of tho
fact that Governor Johnson's board OF
equalization and tax commission raised
the assessed valuation of iron mines,
principally owned by U. S. Steel, $780,
100000, or nearly fourfold, thereby
causing the iron properties this year
to pay 100000 extra taxes into the
state treasury alone, to say nothing of
the large volume of additional taxes
which said corporation is compelled
to pay for local schools, road and
bridge Improvements and county and
township support.
The last Republican board of equal.
ization left the valuation of the iron
mines at $42,OO0,0O0 Governor John
son boosted this to s194,0OO,OOO.
The highest tax which Republican
administration ever turned into the
state treasury from iron mines was
$4,000. The state treasury will re-
ceive from the same source this year
$6GO,00O
Two significant things happen.
, First, Jacobsen, special interest can
didate No. 3, opened his campaign
with an arraignment of the Demo-
cratic administration for increasing
taxes"-without stating, of course,
whose taxes were raised.
Second, Mr. Jacobson opens his
philippe In Duluth before select au-
dience, of which the officers and polit-
ical workers of the Steel Trust are
| conspicuous personages.
A third thing has not happened dur
ing the four months in which Mr.. ia
cobson and his gubernatorial bee have
been prominently before the public in
the present campaign for nomination
and election-and that is, no word
against trust domination or for iron
and steel taxation.
During the past three years Mime
sofa has achieved the greatest feat in
the just and scientific assessment and
| taxation of iron mines that has been
accomplished In this country-not a
| syllable on the subject from Mr.. ia.
cobson.
During Governor Johnson's admins.
tration irol. properties have been
raised in taxable valuation $50 per
cent and farm lands barely per cent
not line from Mr.. jacobson, except
that Duluth philippe against Demo.
cratic taxes"
The last Republican administration
raised farm lands about $12O 900, 900,
or nearly so per cent, while it added
only $30,0O0,000 to the value of iron
ore lands. Is this the kind of taxation
which Mr.. jacobson would restore?
Is this why he selects the sheltering
caves of the u S. Steel building for
his first campaign meeting, and why
| he fires Off his first gun under the
watchful eye of the Steel Trust official
directorate?
| In Governor Johnson's first cam
paign, it will be recalled, the inter
ests which chaperoned the campaign
of the opposing candidate hailed from
the pine timber and the lumber camps
In Governor Johnson's second cam.
paign the same timber interests vera
| prominent in handling the Republican
| state convention, while Tom Shev]ir
gave the successful nominee a bril-
! liant debut at Duluth banquet
But pine timber chaperoneship hav
irg twice failel, is it now proposed to
try the U. S. Steel as chaperone at an
| other Duluth love-feast? The signs
are pregnant with suggestion.