Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-10-14
HAMILToN'S CLAIM FOR VOTES


70 es in Iowa this year are based
pom a negative platform entirely.
lie complains about taxes, and indi-
rcctly says, elect me governor and
| will W re Out your taxes On
the same principle the Democratic
party assured the country that if
was given power in the nation,
the high cost of living would be
greatly reduced But what has been
the result? Instead of there being
g reduction the reverse is true, and
The cost of living has steadily
advanced. So much for pre-
election promises. Now what can
John T. Hamilton do to
wipe out taxes? The tax for Capt.
tol Extension is now fixed, and in
no way can Hamilton do one thing
to lessen, or change it in any way.
Will he veto Appropriation bills car
rying for the state schools? Will
he veto bills carrying appropria-
tons for the Board of Control which
has the care, control, and financ-
ing of the State Penal and Charita-
lie Institutions? VIII he veto
bills providing funds for an epilep-
tic farm? Will he go into the coun-
ties and labor with Boards of Su-
pervisors to cut down county reve-
nue.? Will he go into the several
School Districts and urge the school
boards to lessen the school levies?
If he will not do this, what in the
name of common sense will he do
to make good his yelled promises?
Hamilton complains that the mo-
neys paid out by the state during
the biennial period ending June
30th, 1914, exceeds the expendi-
lures of the two year period imme-
diately preceding which ended June
Goth, 1912, by $1,S33,605. He likes
to juggle large sums, for it mis-
leads the voters so they may not
see the actual facts.
Of this sum of $1,S33,605, which
Hamilton says the state has spent
$1,135,616 was received into tho
state funds from automobile licen-
ses; S44,654.66 came from hunters
licenses. All this is a payment into
the state by people who pay it for
a privilege. 1t is not tax forced
upon them by Republican State
Administration. Besides this is not
a general tax at ALL 1t is only a
tax paid by those who care to in
dulge in the privilege of hunting,
or Of motoring. Those of us who
do not own a motor vehicle or go
do not pay one cent of the
sums above mentioned. Furthermore
every dollar of this money is re dis
tribUte& by the state out among the
counties for improving the roads,
or for protecting game.
What viii John T. Hamilton do
that will lessen this tax? VIII
Hamilton urge the repeal of the
laws providing for better schools in
Iowa?
AS matter of fact about one
sixteenth of the total paid as taxes
is for state taxes; the other fifteen
s.xteenths are for local purposes. Is
a Republican state admin 'stration
respo s'b'e for the local levies?
At no time has Mr.. Hamilton or
his press bureau come out fairly and
squarely and stated SPECIFICALLY
in what respects, he, Hamilton, if !
elected, will reduce taxes. His
is one of innuendo, and
negation. He proposes nothing con
structiye. He keeps himself perfect
ly safe, for, in case he should be
and then failed.--as he GER
tainly must-to reduce the taxes in
a single instance, and his mislead
and deceived supporters should call
him to account, as they would have
a right to do, he could say, Il new
er promised You anything in parti-
cular; | am doing ALL l CAN Do
to keep my promise. YOU SHOULD
HAVE KNOWN ] CAN DO MOTH
ING TO REDUCE YOUR TAXES." IT
AS we said in the beginning of
this article, in what respects will
Hamilton go on record as pledging
himself to lower taxes, or reduce
state expenditures?
If he cannot do so, then is he and
his press bureau not making cam
paign on false platform? Are they
not trying to deceive the voters in
o,Jo. yot tbap, n Uota spaip CT