The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-09-09
GO SLOW, ASKS
HELLSTR0M IN
DEBT ANALYSIS
Prominent North Dakota States
man Would Carefully Con-
slider Amendment
CLEARS WAY FOR FRAUD
Removal of Debt Limit Would
Leave Chance for LoOting
of Commonwealth
CLEARS WAY FOR FRAUD


served as warden OF the state peni-
Tertiary under Governor John Burke; !;
and who served under Gov
ernOr Frazier for one year as secre-
tary of the council of defense at a
time when this body was making a
record for the success OF its patriotic
activities. and who is now candidate
on the Eureigh county democratic
ticket for representative for this dis.
trict. has addressed to the voters of
his district the following letter in
which he analyZes some of the amend
mendS which the league is submitting
at the November election for adoption
by the North Dakota electorate:
Mr. Voter:
Have you made up your mind how
you will vote on the proposed amend
ments to the constitution?
1st. Do you know that as our consti-
tuition now stands we are limited to a
bonded debt of 5000, 100000, and if you
vote in favor of the amendments pro-
posed you will vote to increase the
debt limit to $4,000, 100000. an increase
at the ratio of $50 for $kO0? Question.
What is this for? Who will it bene.
fit?
End. DO you know that state bond
is a first mortgage lien on every farm
home? All property. all earnings. be
it days labor or other source of in
come, everything and everybody in
the state will stand pledged to pay the
bonds
Would you give any political boss
who may control the press and other
machinery for molding public opinion
power of attorney to put first
mortgage lien on you and all that you
possess! Ii you vote to amend the
state constitution you are doing this
very thing, and more. You will extend
the mortgage to enslave your children
and their children for generations to
come. The debt limit in our constitu-
ton is the most sacred guarantee OF
liberty; it stands as barrier against
folly and greed and corruption. 1t
says to the charlatan or the fool:
Thus far shalt thou go. but no far
.ther."
3rd. Do you know that if you vote
yor this amendment you will absolute
1y remove all the debt limitation
against counties. cities and all sub
divisions less than the state itself?
4th. DO you know that this will de-
stroy all private credit? Because If
there is no restriction. no limit to
public bonds, then your property
stands subject to sale and seizure to
pay public debts unlimited which
leaves you no equity even your earn
ings become subject to seizure so
long as you remain within the borders
of the state This is the most far
reaching question that can possibly
come before any people. Stop youl
work and read. think and understand.
The question is: Do you want to con-
tinue to do business in your own name
or let some one else control you? ="
What will it profit you to destrONr
autocracy and free the world? If you
forge chains of bonds unlimited with
which to shackle yourselves and your
posterity? Shall we give to profess
sional political bosses the power to
despoil our state and the thousands of
happy somes? This state is a great
corporation and you are a stockholder.
You and your family are the corporate
property. The constitution is your
guarantee OF liberty. Without it's pro.
tecting restrictions anarchy will over
take and destroy you. The restriction:
against incurring public debts is the
most essential safeguard in the con.
stitutiOn. Without it the protection
to liberty, life and property becomes
a hollow mockery. The experience
that the older states had was the
guiding influence that caused the
makers of our constitution to fix the
debt limit just high enough to allow
public improvements to be undertaken
on a reasonable basis. 1t has stood
the test so far. Beware of any policy
that opens the door to folly and fraud.
Let we'll enough alone. 10 remove the
debt limit means confiscation Of all
property by the tax route. DO you
know that if you vote for these
it wilebe possible to tax one
class and exempt another. Do you
know anyone big enough to be trusted
with such power?
Our bonding limit is high enough to
but no high enough to open the doors
to the looter and exploiter, as was the
of the older states who
paid the price in fraudulent bond is
sues voted on to the people by hired
thugs and bond election manipulate
Ors.
A notable incident is St. Clair coun-
ty, Missouri About fifty years ago
a huge bond issue was voted on the
people through fraud and laanipula-
ton. No value was exchanged for the
bonds. Through fraud and collusion
the bonds were delivered to the bond
holder in exchange for worthless
stock, the people became aroused and
in their attempt to avenge themselves
they elected county commissioners
who refused to make tax levy to
pay interest or principal which re-
suited in the bondholders bringing
suit in the federal court against the
county. This fight is still going on:
the county afficers are evading serv-
ice of process from the us. courts
and for more than forty years have
CONTINUED on Page Four.)