The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1914-03-06
Vigorous Protest of Rock County
Taxpayers.

There is no installing the temper of
more than 500 taxpayers of Rock
county who gathered in a mass conven-
ton at the court house in GAINESVILLE
Saturday afternoon to discuss taxation
affairs. 1t was gathering Of serious
minded men, mostly farmers, non-partl-
san and non-factional in character drawn
there for the purpose of discussing and
celebrating upon some plan to prevent
extravaganza in state affairs. John
Paul, a leading democrat of Milton,
was made chairman and A. M. Church,
a progressive, chosen secretary. Atty.
Chas E. Pierce told of an investlga-
ton into the different departments of
state and of the discovery of some
things the people ought to know about
and a remedy would be sure to follow.
''Your remedy is to select men to the
legislature who will stand for economy
and a business administration without
regard to politics.
T. c.. Richmond of Madison also adj
dressed the meeting, who said in part:
"a few years ago we had In WlscOn-
sin something like democracy. Our
people could, and did, build their own
roads, run their own schools, assess
taxes, manage their own business,
make their own contracts.
CHOW all this is changed.
''The people are no longer trusted to
manage their own affairs. They are
not permitted to make their own as
sessments. to levy their own taxes, to
seek and get employment when and
where they wish, to establish, manage
and extend public utilities, to employ
labor, to make contracts as to wages =
in short, to manage and direct their
own business as free, intelligent, self
respecting people ought to do. Labor
ers are all under guardianship. En-
plOyers are all under suspicion. Real
democracy is gone. Bureaucracy has
taken its place, and the spies, inGuis-
itors, agents, inspectors, representa-
tives, of these bureaus are abroad in
the land, almost as numerous, and Oc-
casionally as offensive, as the frogs Of
Egypt.
"The fact is, the people have lost
their power, and now they are rapidly
losing their property by high taxation.
When the commissions control in so
many fields of industrial activity, what
becomes of the theory that we are a
elf-governing people? When from 20
to so per cent of the net income from
property is taken in taxes, what can
we say as to the rights of property?
''Will you men of Rock county do
something that will be heard all over
Wisconsin? This state is waiting to
hear from Rock county. Will you
adopt a set of resolutions that will ring
true to this cause of economy and anti
extravaganza"
The following resolutions were adopt
ed by a unanimous vote, calling upon
the people of Wisconsin, regardless of
previous party affiliations, to unite for
the purpose of restoring democracy in
Wisconsin; to oppose the establishment
of more commissions; to abolish those
now eXistant that are useless; to
limit and restrain the powers of others
to the end that waste and extravaganza
may be eliminated. Enormous taxes
were protested against.
Be it resolved further, That the
chairman appoint committee consist
ing of one citizen and taxpayer from
each town and ward in each city in this
county, who are authorized to act with
other citizens elsewhere in the state
seeking to end the public extravaganza
which has debauched the state, OPP
pressed its industry, burdened its farm
ers and home owners and filled our
statehouse with batallions of useless
office-holders, who harass industry and
terrOrize thrift