The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-04-23
Press Comment

Kenmare Journal: The presidential
primary landslide in Illinois and Penn
sylvania has put a damper on the Taft
and LaFollette champions and should
set our senatorial acrobat and political
turncoat to thinking as to whether he
will be able to prevent the nomination
OF the only man qualified for the ex-
adted Office Of president of the United
States, or whether he will be able to
force upon the convention a man, who
is all right in his capacity as senator
Of Wisconsin, altogether too much of a
pigmy to be a presidential possibility.
The Illinois and Pennsylvania pri-
maries have also put to shame the bur-
lesque soapbox primaries engineered
by the LaFollette managers and dem
ocrats for the distinct purpose OF dis
crediting the Roosevelt sentiment in
the country and thereby play into the
hands Of the Taft followers.
The whole LaFollette attempt at pri-
maries was a slap in the face to the
people Of North Dakota and to further
the aspiration of political leadership
IL not vice presidential nomination OF
Senator Gronna.
The writer admits the ability Of Mr..
Gronna, but he is not big enough to
put himself up as a national leader, or
attempt to dictate a presidential nom-
ination.
Beach Chronicle: In 1907 the legis-
lature of North Dakota passed a law
providing that all coal and minerals
underlying lands owned by other par
g.. zIz-l5 = o-aaooaI eonI taXnH the
same as the surface. That is, the own
ers of Ignite coal and coal mines
should be assessed the same as the
surface. If you have purchased a
piece Of land from the railroad COM
pany and was given only a surface IT,
tie the railroad company should pay
Its share of the taxes on that piece OF
land,
Under the management Of affairs In
Billings county this has not been done
land the farmer who buys h land
and is given only q surface title pays
both the taxes on the land and the coal
as well.
II he coal is not worth anything it
should be given to the purchaser hen
he buys the land, but If the coal Is
valuable and the railroad company re-
| tains it, then the company should pay
the taxes-under the law-and not the
farmer.
why should the farmer q the
taxes on the coal which the company
does not give the farmer title 90?
There is not a case in Billings coun-
ty where the coal has been assessed
under this section OF our law. is II
possible that the states attorney does
not know that the law exists-and has
never advised the commissioners? It
should be investigated before another
assessment is taken.
II the farmer hold only 9 surface
| title, the owner of the underlying coal
or mineral should be made to pay a
part OF the taxes on that description,
II the coal is not worth anything II
should be given to the farmer, who is
willing to pay the taxes on it-~ard
who has paid them heretofore.
The time has arrived when the care
less manner OF assessment OF Billings
county property should be stopped
and the laws complied with. And
there are other Irregularities. Next
week we shall take UP the double road
assessment which has been w~rongftily
levied against farmers living in organ
lied townships.
Bismarck Prison Reflector: North