The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1914-10-29
unfair ATTACK MADE
on THOMPSON
MINOT LEGISLATOR VOTED FOR
TERMINAL ELEVATOR BILL
AND THE RECORDS WILL
PROVE 1T.

In the last weeks issue OF the Icon
oclast, an attack was made on Repre-
sentative A. M. Thompson, which was
a base, false statement created in the
minds of the Socialists for the purpose
Of trying to defeat Mr.. Thompson for
the Legislature and to aid the Social
ist candidate, Mr.. LeSueur, to be
elected. The Iconoclast says that Rep
resentative A. M. Thompson is not q
fit man to represent the farmers of
the Twenty ninth Legislative District
for the reason that he voted against
the bill providing for terminal eleva-
tors for the State of North Dakota. II
appears from the records that House
Bill No. 422, introduced by Represen-
tative Harty Of Bottineau County, pro-
vided for q tax levy to be made Of
one-eighth of one mill on all taxable
property in the State for the years
1914, 1915 and 1916, and the money
raised by said tax TO be placed into the
sinking fund until the amount was suf-
ficient to construct terminal elevators
in either the State of Wisconsin or in
the State Of Minnesota. This bill was
passed by large majority in the Leg
islature and the House Journal shows
that Representative "A. M. Thompson
voted for the Bill. The enthusiastic
friends in favor Of terminal elevators
for North Dakota at first requested
that two mills tax be levied for the
purpose of constructing terminal ele-
vators. It was impossible under the
law to make tax levy in this sum for
terminal elevators in one years ap-
preparation. The Constitution of the
State limits the State levy to four
mills and if two mills of this amount
were to be used for terminal elevators,
it would not leave a sufficient amount
of funds on hand for the purpose Of
carrying on the running expenses Of
the State and State educational, char
liable and penal institutions. In fact,
a bill providing for a tax in that sum
would have been a great burden and
hardship to all the taxpayers of the
State and would have blocked the ma
chinery of government for years to
come.
Another statement that was made
by the Iconoclast was cowardly and
unfair in the extreme. They accused
Representative Thompson Of being
ashamed of his nationality. It is true
and we'll known to the friends of Mr..
Thompson that he is Of Norwegian
parentage, fact of which he has al
ways been proud. It is equally true
that he has not advertised this fact to
the voters Of the Twenty y-ninth Legis-.
lative District for the purpose Of get
ting votes on the strength Of his
Nationality. He has at all times been
too proud Of his Norwegian parentage
to cheaper that race by trying to get
votes on the mere fact that he is q
Norwegian. He has at all times taken
the position that If he is not entitled
to the support Of the voters Of Ward
County on his merits and ability and
as citizen Of the United States Of
America and the State Of North Dako-
ia, then he is not entitled to receive
their support. The voters Of this Leg
islative District and the Norwegian
element particularly, should support
Mr.. Thompson more vigorously
than ever before on account
Of the Independent stand he has taken
on this question.
Because Of Mr.. Thompson's exper-
ience in the Legislature and because
of his ability as Legislator, the vot-
ers should elect him by larger ma
jority than ever before.
y r u s. . II