The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1916-06-22

OAh J.
Independent market for grain in the
Northwest than anything else are:
"First-National inspection and
grading Of grain.
""Second-A federal law which shall
prevent the buying and selling of
grain, and other produce, where the
actual delivery is not contemplated.
II do not understand why congress
has sat with its arms folded during
the past few years and refused to
pass these two provisions.
II do not believe state inspection
will get very far, and do not think it
will accomplish what its supporters
think it will.
Exenpting Farm improvements
North Dakota is almost purely an
agricultural state, and agriculture, ut
least for q great many years, will be
the principal industry on which the
development Of this state will depend.
That being true, l would like to hold
out some kind Of encouragement or
inducement to have the population
cease moving to towns or villages.
The per cent. Of our population living
in cities and villages in North Da-
kota Is against the per centage iv-
ing on farms is increasing every year.
In other words, people are leaving
the farms and moving to the towns.
"Anyone who knows North Dakota
will agree that . continuation Of this
movement will stop the development
Of this state. therefore believe in
exempting farm improvements from
taxation. When q man builds on .
farm or otherwise improves It, he
knows ct the very outset that he is
penalized for making such improve
ments, and my plan is to exempt
these improvements and have all
other taxes levied IN the same man
ner that is employed today. This will
encourage building up the rural COM
munities Of the state, and will there.
fore encourage the greater develop
ment Of this agricultural state.
"The Henry George pan would
not work in . rural state like North
Dakota. Henry George did not un-
derstand conditions outside Of . large
congested city, and no doubt would
himself be opposed to his plan as up
piled to the Northwest.
On State Ownersjsip
"The Nonparisan League hes de
elared in its platform that it is in fa
vor Of stats terminal s.svators, pack
iag 1lAnes. Assr mills, etc. Frsu
this rather ambiguous statement it j.
dihicult to dstermine just what posi-
ton the league has taken in refer
ence to the public utilities question
Generally speaking, l am opposet
to the state Of North Dakota goinl
into secu.ative business enterprises
Should the state build packing plant.
and flour mills with funds raised from
the taxpayers, what assurance woult
the taxpayers have that Through ,
political machine) in the building ant
operating Of such enterprises ther,
would be efficiency, business judg
ment, economy exercised? Would tn.
! more natural presumption be that pol
itics instead Of competency would con
troll not only in the building, but il
the operation Of such enterprises
Furthermore, should one administra
tion honestly and faithfully admins
ter the affairs Of such concerns what
4, assurance would there be that tn.
next change in administration woult
continue the work in the same man
er as the former administration? /
is more natural to assume that ,
] change in administration with the bit
4 terness of campaigns, criticism, hon
est and dishonest, would be rehecte.
in every department even to .he pack
ing plants and -four mills. Do tn,
/ people of North Dakota want to spent
their money to build up more polit
| icAl machines?
II am \ firm believer in packing
plants in North Dakota, in -four mills
ETC., but just rs firmly believe tina
these should be built and operated OF
the cooperative plan.
Continued on page two
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