Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-12-03
Is Bloom Fool or KnQue:?

The Devils Lake Journal, in it's issue Of the 22nd
inst, under a Bismarck date line publishes an article
on its front page headed, Business Administration"
which, for false conclusions from incorrect premises,
self and sublime impudence, easily takes
first place among the many similar but less complete
gems, which, from time to time, are given forth by
the doughty colonel whose name blooms peren-
tally from the top of the Journals editorial page.
Alas. that it could not have been produced prior to
the late successful" meeting of the Ananias club,
there to be perpetuated in letters of gold and treas
ured as one of the most representative possessions
of that peculiar body.
The article in question is evidently intended as
q boost for the state tax commission and a knock
for the present state administration. That it en-
deav0rs to accomplish this result by misrepresenta-
ton and %falsehood is merely an incident, eminently
in keeping with the traditions Of Democratic journal
ism in North Dakota and especially of that part of
such journalism as breaks out internationally from
that dean of falsiters-Bloom of Devils Lake.
Probably the most impudent juggling of figures
and unfair imputing of motives is that portion of the
article in question which deals with the alleged de.
crease in valuation of street railway properties.
Here an error in the mileage of Grand Forks for
1912 is made the basis of an insinuation that the re-
sulting smaller valuation in 1913 when the error was
corrected) was accomplished because Governor Han
ma and his friends own the street railways" to quote
the SANDER verbatim.
The facts are these-facts which anyone animated
by a spirit of fair play could well have ascertained
by the application of the same diligence in arriving
at the truth as has been exerted in manufacturing
and circulating a cowardly inuendo: In 1912, by
some means still Unexplained, the mileage of street
railways in Grand Forks, while correctly given by
the company at $50 miles, was extended as being
6!97 miles. The total assessed valuation for the state
In 1912-which, of course, included this error-thus
reached the sum of $50. 57O. In 1913 the mileage was
correctly stated and was so extended, and the state
total shows $61,16o. The Grand Forks mileage error
amounted to exactly s1,41O. Now, if Chief Liar Bloom
and his little echoes at the state capitol will take
out their little pencils and set their little punches OF
gray matter to work on a little sum Of simple addi-
ton they will find that $1,41O added to $61,16O makes
Just exactly the sum of $62,570. They can then
reverse the sum and subtract from $62,570 the sum
Of $1,41O, and they will find that the result is s61,160.
This reverse action is suggested merely to protect
the gentlemen from their own innate disposition to
misrepresent and is what little children in the first
grade call proving the sum.
So it will appear, in effect, that there was no
change at all made in the assessed valuation of street
railways in 191S-the thunder of the Devils Lake lie
factory falls fat-and Bloom, ct al, stand convicted
Of unfair criticism plus malicious intent and woeful
ignorance.
That the statemen emanating from such sources
should be taken with q very large handful Of the
proverbial salt is amply demonstrated by the fore
going specific instance. Hence it is no surprise to
md that credit for the very handsome gains made in
other classes Of property Is unblushingly given to the
tn commission, although that interesting body had
no seat on the state board Of equalization, no voice
e: its deliberations and no influence with Its members.
Real property was raised from $l9s,073,743 In 1912 to
9306,131,7s7 IN 1918. How strenuously the tax COM
mission, unrepresented on the state board sans
STANDING, ANS influence. sans authority, must have
sve.ted blood 70 secure this six million dollar raise.
4.Mg.@Ns9 $3.50 aHv@-