The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-09-12
flAYS THE STEEL TRUST
FRANK E. ELLSWORTH WADES
INTO THE CORPORATION
OUTLINES AWPROCRAM
Iron Ore Tax To Pay Soldiers
Bonuses; Put People In
Politics

Tonnage tax on iron ore as an in.
sue in the coming special session of
the legislature was brought to the
front by Franklin F. Ellsworth, mem
Der of the national house of repre-
sentatives and candidate for the re-
publican nomination for governor.
Passing tonnage tax law is a
necessity, Representative Ellsworth
declared in statement issued today,
to obtain revenue to make effective
the legislative program OF food con-
troll, forest fire protection and SOL
der bonus
eff We cannot pass this law with
the steel trust in politics." he said.
then we must put the steel trust
out of politics. If this coming legis-
lature does not commence the job. it
will be commenced at the next cleo
ton"
The statement follows:
april 26 last, following the ad-
jounment of the legislature. / an
nounced my candidacy for governor
At that time / called attention to
political conditions in the state, to
the entire lack of any responsible
party organization, and to the con-
sequent complete domination over
the affairs of the state by certain
interests.
State Insurance Is Favored.
81 stated that if elected governor
I would exert every power vested in
the executive office to procure the
enactment of tonnage tax on iron
ore, and also that favored state in
surance for workmen's compensation
a budget system, and other import
ant measures, all of which the legis-
lature had considered and refused to
I pass.
I'm the past month the Governor
has called special session, and in
his call he outlines a very compre-
hensive program of legislation, rang
ing all the way from protection
against flood and fire to modification
of the election laws. The following
also is proposed:
Ratification of the proposed wo-
man suffrage amendment, about
which there seems to be little con-
tention-
WAR veterans" bonus, which is
due to our returned fighters from the
citizens hateful state.
'The establishment of budget
system.
Regulation of living costs.
! Would Require Months.
1c
measures would require several
months continuous session. More
over some of them involve such great
inceases in state expenditures as
compel immediate attention to the
raising of revenue? The state must
raise this money.
81 believe that the added burden
Of taxation should be horne, in large
measure, at least, by the vast natural
resources which are being constantly
and rapidly depleted.
at should be raised bv ~-,~
tax on iron ore. But it ~" = .ai-
ed, or the program, = II protection
against fire and food and the wal
veterans bonus will fail to become
effective.
Millions are to be added to the
states expenditures, and with every
year and day and hour bringing the
vast natural resources of the state
nearer to exhaustion, it seems to me
that Minnesota should claim her own
and safeguard. to the citizens of the
state, through a tax on iron ore. the
millions which are rightfullly hers.
Hurry Up, Says Ellsworth.
'Let us conserve now while the
water is going over the wheel. 1t
is not so important to tamper with
our election laws as to prevent the
steel trust tampering with our poll
tics. It is not so much how we elect
men as what the men elected do or
fail to do.
Minnesota is entitled to the rev.
enue from her natural resources. She
is entitled to it now. If this law can
not be passed with the steel trust
in politics, then we must put the
steel trust out of politics. If this
coming legislature does not COM
mence the job. 1t must and will be
commenced at the next election.
LET us make the slogan for the
next campaign: Let the steel trust
get out of politics, let the people gel
in Let the steel trust stay out oil
politics. Let the people stay in"