Semi-weekly herald., 1908-10-22
out of that to which it is legally en-

titled.
Have you ever heard of the smelters
defaulting on the taxes which were
legally assessed against them? They
simply ask for fair and just assess
ment of their property, one in pro
portion and equal to and on the same
basis as that made against your own
holdings, but this they never have
received from Coston.
Now look up the taxes of Hopkins,
his opponent in the race for the as
sessorship and you will find that he
has paid every cent of taxes assessed
against him.
Don't take our word for this. Go
to the office of the country treasurer,
examine his tax rolls for the years
mentioned and prove the truth OF these
statements as to the Coston and Hop
kins taxes. They are public records
and are always open for your inspec-
ton.
Now who do you want for office?
A taxpayer and reputable citizen or
tax dodger and one supported by the
Democrat and Day?
How do you like this showing of
S605.57 due the county from Coston?
How do you like 1t, taxpayer, when
you have been taxed high and had to
pay? How do you like it, small prop
| erty holder, when you were forced to
pay and thus be one of the many of
who kept Coston in office and furnish
ed him everything free for his private
business? Mr.. Rancher, when you
1 10 xx-ft
taxes your farm has been sold, your
cattle sold. in fact, your bed, If needs
be. Again, a portion OF the money
| owed by Mr.. Coston's company be.
longs o the road fund. If he had paid
the commissioners might have been
able to fix two or three chuck holes"
in some of the cross roads.
Should not the office holder be one
of the first to pay his taxes and thus
show his gratitude to those who have
elected him and are keeping him in
office? Should he not help out the
taxpayer, the ranchman and the cat
tleman by paying his taxes promptly
and helping to have this necessary
work done?
Do you see the senegambian in the
pile of wood? Do you see why he
wants his Democratic board of county
commissioners elected and himself Pc
petuated in office? You know that he
is always striving to feed at the pub
lie crib. This is his third race for
county assessor not to mention for
mer office holding. He and his back
ers want you to keep him there for
ever. Why does he not follow the ex-
ample of Roosevelt and decline third
term?
OF course Coston tells you 1t is to
tax the smelter out of all reason and
try to run it out of the county but 1t
is SO that he can cover up these legal,
due, overdue and unpaid taxes of his
and If he gets complaisant Demo
cratic board of county commissioners.
it is possible to have these lawful taxes
which he justly owes rebated. which
belongs to you and the county and
which he should pay
Have you figured that If the smelter
be driven from the county that you,
the taxpayer, will have to pay the bill
Il takes just so much to run the coun-
ty and if the smelter goes, your taxes
will be increased SO that there will
be money enough to pay the expenses
of the county. You hold the sack for
Coston lodges his taxes. Coston has
told you by his past actions, and they
and refusing to pay his taxes that lie
won't help in the future and SO the
entire burden falls on you.
Do you want an artful politicianS
an artful and consumate tax dodger
as assessor, man whose sole aim is
to drive out and keep out men Of
capital, men who will bring La Plata
county to its own as one of the pros
porous counties of the state or do you
want man against whom no one can
say a derogatory word Except Day
and the Democrat and his hand is
against everything which would build
up the county as evidenced by his ac-
tion in the beet sugar factory ques-
tion) and man who always pays his
debts and taxes?
DO you want commissioners who
will stand by an assessment no mat.
ter how exorbitant and illegal (read
Iovreas speech), who may possibly.
rebate Coston's lawful unpaid taxes
and saddle the additional taxes on
you, or do you want commissioners
who will force Coston to pay these
taxes and who will give every man,
business house. cattleman, sheepman,
ranchman and corporation square
deal?"
Tell the community, the state, the
man seeking investment, the tax
dodger. the taxpayer Just what you
want by your vote on November 3,
1908.