The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-12-09

There is, however, an active opposi.
tion to Mr.. Eberhart. One phase OF
it is evidenced by the literary and
other activities of r. G. Dunn. An
even greater menace appears in the
reported dissatisfaction of. f. Jacob
son with Governor Eberhart's leader.
ship. 1t is now assumed that not
only will Mr.. Jacobson take leading
part in the convention to be called
early in the year by the Anti-Saloon
league, but that he intends to
champion in the Republican state
convention thee of county option.
What there may be behind this is
open to conjecture.
In this connection w. E. Lees CO.
quoting with the county option
movement; his veiled advocacy OF a
tonnage tax, and his incipient candi-
dacy have more than passing signifi-
canoe; for both Mr.. Dunn and Mr..
Jacobson are disposed to be friendly
to Mr.. Lee. 1t is to be noted that all
this spells trouble for the party
organization as at present constituted
which is dominated by certain we'll
known twin city politicians, whose
policy is rather to evade than to meet
issues, and who are believed to repre-
sent certain interests which in the
last two campaigns have had much to
do with shaping Republican policies,
and defeat which followed.
The politicians referred to deprecate
the idea of a factional fight. They
insist that this is a time to heal sores,
not to raise new issues or to encourage
a scramble for the goyernorship.
They are inclined to favor Eberhart's
nomination, but if the party cannot
unite on him they suggest the nomi-
nation of Ripley Brewer of Stearns
county as an alternative. Mr.. Brewer
is understood to regard the proposition
to become the candidate of the organ
Zation with favor.
Despite their efforts, however, the
tonnage issue persists in obtruding
itself. The discrepancy in the total
rate of taxation paid by the iron in
terests compared with that paid by
farmers and business men in less
favored localities persists in obtruding
itself. The statement made that
whereas the iron interests pay tax
on low valuation approximating ten
mills on the dollar, whereas the aver
age rate throughout the state approx
innate twenty-six mills has never been
successfully controverted and cannot
be, and it sticks in the crop of tax
payers compelled to pay a higher rate.
These figures, of course, vary from
year TO year, but the proportion of
one to the other is approximately
constant.
To illustrate the difference in taxes
paid by the Steel Trust and those
paid. in our cities, 1 have prepared a
short statement taken from an official
report showing the difference in the
tax levy for school purposes in three
representative range cities as compar-
ed with three representative cities of
Southern Minnesota. The compari-
son affords food for serious reflection:
For instance the superintendent at
Chisholm is paid 81, 800 year; at Hfb-
bling. $500; at Virginia, $500. High
school teachers at Chisholm are paid
from $3.50 to $1,000; grade teachers
from $3.50 to s7O0. High school
teachers are paid at Hibbing, from
SIT to sl,l57; grade teachers from
1925 to $3.50. AT Virginia high school
CCdOAciS dtC pdiu AIO1DOW w cl,OOOs
grade teachers from 5000 to $3.50. At
Northfield these salaries are: Super
intendent, 81 100; high school teachers,
$685. to 81, 900; grade teachers, $405 to
$500. 1t will thus be seen that the
range schools are well supported.
What does it cost the taxpayers9 The
rate of the special tax is given below
in mills for three range towns and
three towns in Southern Minnesota
for purposes Of comparison.
Hibbing. g............... ...............1.9 80
virginia. ..l.Z9
NOrthneld. ..ll.SU
Rochester. 1900
Albert Lea. IL. 20
/ may add that compared with
many other cities throughout the
state the discrepancy would be even
greater. For instance the rate in
Aitkin is $3.50 mills; in Browns Valley
it is 80 mills; in Madison it is % mills;
in Winthrop, 80 mills, and In Red