The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-12-26
states richest agricultural and dairy
section. AS Northeastern Minneso-

states richest agricultural and dairy
section. AS Northeastern Minneso-
ia is now the states most valuable
asset as a taxpayer, so it will con-
tinue through the generations yet to
come. And the time is rapidly APP
preaching when the north half of
the state will have the balance of
power in population as it now, has in
wealth. In manufacturing, industry,
commerce, agriculture and dairying
the north half of Minnesota will stand
conspicuous as one of the richest re-
gions within the confines of our
country. The present and future
potentialities of this section is by
no means the most forceful argu-
ment to be presented in the contro-
lversy. Iron mining today is a great
industry of the state Under just
taxing system the operators who go
into the market with their products
constitute the very life of the in
dustry 1t is the small operator, the
individual iron ore landowner, the
prospector, the pioneer spirit, that
makes possible the present prosper
ity that certain elements regard with
envy and through adverse legislation
would destroy, and thus hand over
one of the country's most essential
necessities to the care and keeping
of the worlds greatest industrial or
ganization-the United States Steel
corporation. Through the elimina-
ton of independent ore producers
the iron industry would inevitably
pass to the control of one, or pos
sibly two, worldwide organizations
whose business methods would con-
troll the ore until it is ready for del
livery in manufactured form to the
consumer. The consumer would pay,
the tax-and more. Yet the great
est hardship that would result is not
the injustice to the small operator
and the individual owner of iron
lands, nor to the Consumer, nor to
the iron range localities where min
ing is carried on. Monopoly of the
industry would substantially curtail'
the output, stultify development and
practically paralyze the activities
now prevailing throughout the
ranges. The. tens of thousands Of
employees of the mines, consumers of
Minnesota agricultural products,
would be substantially reduced be-
cause of abandoned activities. The
vast millions of wealth buried in the
earth would remain dormant until
such time as the big corporations
might see fit to disturb it. 1t would
become the greatest boarding game
ever played, compared with which
the country's experience at the pres
ent time with tie combined coal
barons would be an Insignificant in
cident. The states revenues would
be reduced by many millions an
nully and the real aim of the ton
mage, takers would prove to be
calamity of far reaching disastrous
consequences to Minnesota as
whole.
These are facts, known to every
student of the tonnage tax problem.
We of the north know that if ton
mage tax would be good thing for
Southern Minnesota it would equal
ly be a good thing for Northern Min
nesota. The only difference lies in
the fact that the people of this sec
ton have given serious thought to
the problem with knowledge of the
actual existing conditions. The
people of Southern Minnesota have
been given false view of this half
of the state by the political dema-
gogue.
All that is required to correct the
erroneous impressions that have been
created is an educational campaign
setting forth the truth of the situa-
ton in an intelligent and straight
forward manner that cannot be sue
cessfully controverted. The voters
of no section of the state will know
ingly lend theinr Endorsement to any
scheme that would destroy the great
est single asset to Minnesota. In
the southern part of the state will be
found as much intelligence and as
much integrity among the great COM
mon folks as in any section any
where. They can readily understand
wherein lies their own interests when
the truth is shown them. So long as
they remain in ignorance of the facts
and are fed on political falsehoods
with no refutation to guide them,
just so long will men be elected to
the legislature pledged to exploit
Northern Minnesota through double
tax on iron ore. It is the duty of the
people of this section to inaugurate
such a campaign and give to the
voters of the state every opportunity
to know the danger of incumbering
any class of property with double
especially as it would effect the
iron ore industry. If we fail to do
this at the proper time--and the prop
er time is not during the heat of a
political campaign--then we must ex-
pect to suffer the consequences
Grand Rapids Herald Review.