Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-02-21


tural portions of our. state, they
never dreamed that these holdings
would ever command the present
price of between s1O0 and 5000 an
acre. Little by little. the railroads
came, towns we're built up, more
acreage put under cultivation. AS
we look back, we find that the main
trouble with this country was that
We did not understand 1t.
Constitution Retarding Influence
OF COURSE. there have. been a few
retaTding Influences, in. spite of. tho
fact that South Dakota has de-
vsIoped faster than most any other
state in the union. And in my
opinion one OF these retarding In
~huences has oeen our old state ON
stitution. 1t said the state could
not engage in the construction OF
good roads, or carry out other pro-
jects of internal development. by
prohibiting all internal Improvement.
Now no legislation or administration
can make laws for state develop
ment when the state constitution
forbids, so the legislature of South
Dakota has been submitting to the
voters amendments to the constitu-
ton to open up the way for state
development. A number of such
amendments have been adopted by
majority vote of the people Of the
state. But it is the present pro-
posals that l wish to talk to you
now about.
Recalls "Tax Dodgers Effort.
This amendment has been sub
mitted to the voters three times and
three times beaten by a heavy vote.
Do you recall the postcards that
appeared everywhere about three
days before the last election? They
appealed to you to join the Tax
payers League and vote mo" on
taxation reform. Where do you sup
pose those post cards originated!
Whom do you think was Interested
enough In defeating the taxation
reform amendment to spend money
for those cards and have them dis
trihuted? Why didn't the heads OF
this so-called taxpayers. league sign
their names. tell who they were?
Thsy would have been more truth
full had they called It the Tax bod
gers League.
But the voters will have an
other chance to adopt the taxation
reform amendment next fall, and II
I understand the temper OF the peo-
pie, 1t will carry by a big majority.
Water Power Development.
South Dakota IL N OF the few
states in the, union where natural
water power has not been developed.
We have water power on the Mis-
souri, river. I have been persuaded
through, tina Investigations and re-
ports of DosneyR Robinson, state his
torian, that the water power along
the Missouri river can be developed
to supply electrical light and power
to many towns, and farm house,
cheaper than 1t Is now obtained. !
believe this project should have the
support of every voter. II you are
interested and want more informa-
ton you can write to Doane Robin
son 4or q booklet he. Has prepared
on the various, power sites. * .sina.
Cement Manufacturing Proposal
You are asked by the legislature
II you. want the state of South Da-
kota to 60 in to the cement manu-
featuring business. We have abund-
ance OF raw materials in many
parts OF the state It is true the
state might make, q profit. in, this
business. But suppose It were ope-
rated at cost. Look at the example
of the twinef plantsat the state p1ni-
tontiaru IT, haar aavaGA. ;rni1lfO0a. NJ,
dollars 10 the farmers of South Da-
kota in the cost OF twine by lower
ing the market. II the istdte can &C.
seomRish .tlis sin the cement busi-
ness 1t will be Mse4l yyorth while,
Right. here want to answer the
statement, made ;fr9qu6ftly. that
certain parties attenaptedsblt' failed
to secure an, aunrotriaAion fer che
laFging the tvine plant; y is time.
they. did. 4 i'fecommeided,; nSwever.
!tkat ithes txlaSi grllnt 10 run night
and day instead Of Just daytime