The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-09-30
COUNTY OPTION.
Tie Logical Unit is the County.
Fair to All.

VII tIlt SEVEN loot DdIlcl lnt uutS-
tion at the head will be the County
option bill. Those who vote ''yes
are in favor OF enfranchising the
farmers Of South Dakota, represented
10y population of more than ,i2o. 900.
But the saloon advocates ask. "lsn
it carrying Local option a little too
far, when farmer, 20 or - miles away
can dictate the policies OF the city,
Let us answer that query byreminding
our saloon friends of a few facts per-
tanning to the relation OF the county
TO the cities and towns within its
boundaries.
THE SALOON A SOURCE or EXPENSE
TO THE FARMER
/. The farmer is not counted out in
the tax levy. In every county in
South Dakota. save two. of the sc
counties the farmer pays a larger per
cOnta2e OF taxes than does the citizen
OF the cities and towns OF the county.
In " counties the farmer pays from
one half to nine tenths OF all the taxes.
Every taxpayer in the county should
be heard on questions involving the
expenditures OF county taxes. That
the saloon figures cOnSpicuOusly in
the expenditure of taxes is beyond
argument, in that it increases the cost
or maintaining the criminals and the
county poor farm in supplying the
majority of the paupers.
;. This burden falls upon the
entire county and not merely upon
that portion that goes wet. In
vestlgation has shown that in South
Dakota the "wet vote is often made
up largely OF non-taXpayers and the
small taxpayers. This fact was very
much in evidence in dry cities that
were petitioning for a local option
vote last spring. 1t is only further
evidence that where the dry policy is
tried the saloon revenue argument is
dlscredlted, the more substantial
business men invariably being in
favor OF the dry policy. These non
taxpaying wet people have no
moral right to ask the dry townships
to help pay the expenses caused by
the saloons of the county.
LITTLE REVENUE FROM SALOON
LICENSES TO THE FARMER.
). In South Dakota this is pre-
eminently unfair, in view of the fact
that six tenths of the license money OF
an incorporated city or town is re-
tanned by the town or city while four
tenths only goes to the county. The
farmer creates nine tenths of all the
wealth of the state. pays three fourths
OF all the taxes and yet receives only
four tenths OF the revenue that comes
from the saloon. The total wealth of
South Dakota is 1927 900. 900. Only
S35, ,OOO.O 900 are in town lots and Struc-
lures within the Incorporated limits of
towns and cities, while S2O2. 900. 900.
are in farms and structures outside of
the incorporated towns and cities
/ Thus the farmer is being taxed unfair
ly for institutions he does not want.
but is powerless to prevent himself
from it being forced upon him.
THE COUNTY THE RECOGNIZED UNIT
FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
! I. For the main purpose of local
! government the enforcement of the
criminal law. the protection of life
4 liberty and property and the collec-
! tion of taxes. the county is the well
recognized unit. The political parties
OF the state recognize the county as a
proper unit Each county SENDS
delegates to conventions has it, owl
/ campaign committee, and j. Il uni
itself. =
>. THE people Of the whole county
are interested in the moral welfare O.
the whole county and have Il right tc
he heard on all questions 4 affecting
/ the moral welfare. The citizens Of a
township have right TO lee heard on
the question OF whether their county
seat shall support sources of crime
and misery TO society. because be i, a
part OF the society affected.
AN AID TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.
&. "A county law will increase the
law enforcement machinery available
to suppress the sales Of liquor il
dry territory OF course We have
a right now to call upon the sheri f
and states attorney to punish violatOrs
OF the municipal or township option
law. but the common practice Is tt
pass that matter over to the muni
cipal officers. The county law. how