The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-12-19
LOCAL MAN HEADS
TAX ASSOCIATION
ANTI-TONNAGE TAX MEETING RE-
SUITED IN AN ORGANIZATION
START THE FIGHT AT ONCE
Counties viii be Asked TO COntri-
butte the Funds With Which the
Fight Will be Waged

As representative a gathering as has
ever been brought together in this up
per peninsula was that which assem-
bled at Marquette last Tuesday in re
sponse TO be invitation OF the Crystal
Falls Taxpayers Association TO enter
a protest against the proposal Of the
Grange to impose tonnage tax upon
the minerals Of this peninsula
The meeting was called TO order at
. 80 m. by Thomas gonlin. presi-
dent OF the local association. On
motion Mr. Conlin was chosen tenn
porary chairman and i. G. Wander
boom of Marquette was selected as
temporary secretary
Mr.. Conlin then outline, IN paper
the views OF the local association and
the reason for calling the meeting
ending with tn request that the
assemblags sIft the arguments pre-
sented and if il found sufficient evidence
to warrant the assumption that the
proposed tax is a menace 70 the local
taxpayers that steps be taken TO contest
its adoption into law.
Hon Chase s. Osborn followed Mr..
Coniln in brief talk in which he
stated that he had just di scussed for
several nours with the leading spirits
of the Grange on this subject. He
took up the claim that the mining Of
iron ore or copper takes from the
ground a value which is not returned
and therefore the mining of our
minerals is an exhausting process with
no return.
Mr. Osborn showed that the ton Of
ore taken from the ground is given a
value thereby and lives on tor many
year TO serve mankind IN the various
ways to which it is put
( A general discussion followed In
which Frank G. Vanderboom told of
his experience at Battle Creek where
he fought the tonnage tax movement
in committee and ON the floor of the
Grange.
As a result of the discussion il was
decided by a unanimous vote that the
conditions confronting MS warranted
permanent organization and com
mittee OF eight, consisting OF r. A.
Douglass Of Gogebic. H. Fogelsong Of
Ontonagon, Hon ". !. Galbraith OF
Houghton. l. W. Byeri OF Iron l. Il
Sterliag OF Dickinson, w. A. Smith Of
Keweanaw aud Frank J Russell of
Marquette was appointed TO report out
n plan of organization.
While the committee was ia session
the registering Of the delegates was
gone through with and general
discussion OF the method of initiating
laws was entered into.
The committee soon reported plan
Of organization with list of officers
as follows
President Thos Conlin. iron
Vice President W. A. Smith, Ke-
weenaw
Secretary Treasurer l.. I. Sterling
Dickinson
Executive committee: the officers
above named and r. A. Douglass of
Gogebic, Homer Guuk. Houghton,
John O. Maxey. Baraga, f. H. Van
derboom. Marquette, Chase S. Osborn
Chippewa, + W. Reed, Delta and
the balance al tie executive COM
mittee to be selected b. the com
mitteo itself. the understanding being
that the organization should embrace
the entire upper peninsula.
An adjournment was taken until
90 o'clock in order 20 give the I
executive COMMITTEES chance 20
NEST. The meeting was held and a
iinance committee consisting OF r. 4. J
Sterling, Iron Mountain = A. Hamar,
Houghton and r. II Vanderboom /
OF Marquette was selected with the i
understanding that plan Of financing 4
TO embrace an appeal 70 the several 1
counties OF the mineral district for
funds 70 carry on the contest be a.
dopted The committee thought this
the best method as 10 is intended 20 be |
open and above board with everything. |
The claim that the mining companies |
are financing the Cloverland grange |
has been made by Jas llelme, the
father OF the tonnage tax idea and |
while tho same accusation will un
doubtedly be made against the prescnt
organization by those who would