Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-20

out the free vigilant clarifying. cleans
ing power Of public opinion, there
never has been. and there never will
into ~extravagance. venality, corrup-
ton, and civic ~debauchery.
This is the peoples war, they must
suffer and die, they must toll and pay
Its taxes, and to challenge the right OF
such men and women to discuss the
wisdom or the Justice Of its policies as
they affect us as q people Isl intoler-
able.
Distinction Between Talk and Treason.
IT a man defies the laws Of his
country he should promptly be pun
tshed, not by government procla1na-
tons, but by the courts. When a man
Is guilty of sedition he should be dealt
with speedily and condignly under the
law. If a man is guilty of treason,
there is no punishment too severe for
him. But all this has nothing whatev-
er to do with the rights Of those who
have made this country what It is
and who will preserved it If it is to be
preserved from the entertainments of
military power and foreign domina-
ton to meet and discuss the great
questions which pertain so vitality to
their welfare.
There is no single feature Of this
war more vital or more far reaching
in effect upon our people than the
question of financing the war. If we
fail to act with foresight and courage
in respect to, this question. not only
shall we endanger the success of the
war. but we shall work ~incalculable
injustice to a great body of the Amer
lean people after the war shall be
closed. Il
This is a question which you and
all Of us have a right to discuss, and
the good faith of men who discuss it
cannot be impeached by oblique in
situations as to their loyalty. If the
bill which has passed congress is to
be the final word with reference to
our financial affairs during this war,
and II the policy outlined in that bill
is to continue, it will be, in the judg-
ment of many wise and patriotic peo-
pie. unfortunate for US now. and a
calamity for us hereafter. Whether
the people who SO believe are right or
wrong, Is the, question which is sub
mitted to this court of last resort-a
hundred million free and intelligent
people.
High Taxation Fundamentals.
There are a few underlying or fun
damental principles upon which those
who insist upon a high rate of taxation
rely.
81. Bonds bring about initiation,
increase prices and aggravate more
and more the distress or hardships of
the great body of the people.
90 After the war those bonds and
their interest charges will be paid
almost entirely by taxes on consump-
ton. War profits will be gone, the
burden thereby falling upon those who
now suffer particularly from high
prices. The bond system has q, strong
tendency to make the same class who
fight the war pay for the war. The
amount of bonds issued, therefore,
possible figure.
80. Taxes should be laid according
to ability to pay.
"a. A few should not be permitted
to profit greatly by the var at the ex-
pense of the many.
"5. Then, by the most practicable
method possible. prices which are dis
tinctly war profits should be marked
off, segregated and taxed to the limit.
insofar as human ingenuity can de-
wise, a scheme to effectuate it, war
should be made to pay for a
CO.. In all taxing schemes or plans,
we should keep steadily in mind the
productive efficiency of our industrial
institutions. Il
81. Neither passion nor prejudice
nor class hatred nor the redistribution
of wealth nor selfishness nor greed
should have any place in war finance.
The problem is singly and solely one
OF meeting the demands of the gov
,ernment7in a way best calculated to
serveEthsSpresent efficiency andrto PRO
tect, so far as possible. the moral well
being Of the American people.
Gronna Takes the Floor.
After it had been announced that
Senator A.. j. Gronna could not come
to the conference because he was
detained at the sick bed of his father,
the North Dakota senator suddenly
was quite the nero of the hour. He
spoke last night on Wheat and the
World War" Senator GGronna was
given a round Of applause when he
was introduced which would indicate
the true sentiments of the audience
and ~articularly those of the delegates
who had been sent to the conference.
The principal portions of his talk
were as follows: X
when the food bill was before the
agricultural committee Of the senate
steel. iron, copper and all other pfod-
, ucts were placed in 1t for regulation
we "a IA AiiSAdoSo' Nv pOOE OlO
John D., might have had to go hungry
so we had to take oil out. We had
powder in the bill, but the DUPONT
Powder company, with its $8O,OO0.00C
of war profits had to be taken out
What I cannot understand is why the
farming industry should be the only
one singled out for this sacrifice OF
war. ..
Has nj Quarrel With Hoover.
Il have no quarrel with Hoover, bu,
I have the right to express my opinion
and no one is going to deny me tina,
right. If the food bill act was to be
beneficial to the farmers, why would
not it be Justice to have an advisor,
council of farmers on food regura.
tons? All other industries are rep.
resented on the advisory council by
big business.
IF this organization must disrup,
parties to. accomplish its purpose, Their
let parties be disrupted. This mus,
be an organization for liberty and 70,
the freedom of the common people
When w tried to provide for the
wives and children of those who are
going to France to fight, ongre re.
fused. 1t is perfectly proper for the
captains of industry to make billion.
out of war profits, but when we talk.
ed OF taking away part Of the ten O,
eleven billions Of excess war profit,
from h big busi0ess interests "
u ny> - 49, -HE1 ~ d. IL. ~ =&~