The Raymer enterprise., 1919-12-11
LEADER ADMITS
TAX INCREASED

IL seems that we are not the only
cfles to fail in finding the informa.
tion we would like on the North Da-
Eota tax situation by reading tht
Colorado Leader
"A Mr.. Stimson of Las Animas
Colorado, evidently felt the same al
we did and addressed the following
letter to the editor OF the Leader:
Vance Monroe. Denver, Colo:
Dear Sir.--As | have known
you for years, feel privileged
70 ask you any question that
comes to me, and | would like
10 be sure of the truth
Regarding the tax situation In
North Dakota. Big Business
has told us that the tax rate nm
b der Nonpartisan rule was ruin.
ous We want an answer we
ran use in argument. Please
publish your reply. so the people
may all know the truth.
Yours very truly.
ZACHARIAH STIMSON.
Thus requested for information by
one with the child like faith In the
ability and disposition of the Leader
editor "to aswer any question that
comes to me-" the editor proceeded
to swallow the bait. hook and line.
Thru three columns or more Of la
borious effort he tells OF how the farm.
ers OF North Dakota and League "are
facing blizzard of falseho0ds, "a
Winding cloud Of lies and misrepre-
sentations concerning taxes, the in
crease in taxes and the cause Of this
increase. .
The article goes into the record OF
increased values in Towner county
and the increased state tax, accuses
an | V A organization OF trying to
conceal the worthy hail tax and sol
dier's compensation tax in its state
ment of the total, and then proceeds
to eliminate these two items, and
then finds that In Towner county, Il
qAQte the Leaders words:
This is 227 per cent higher
state tax this year than last
year, instead of BAT per cent
higher as the v A claims. This
is two and a quarter times as
big a tax, or little more than
double last years
The Leader then goes on TO say
that the tax distribution was fair II
all counties, and says.
State taxes for all purposes
were increased practically two
and half times over last year,
so that the Towner county farm
is not paying too much"
Are we to understand that only
the items which the Leader wishes
TO eliminate from consideration are
worthy, and that the Nonpartisan
program has multiplied the taxes that
are unworthy by only "a little more
than double" two and a quarter
times" or two and half times
whichever of his numerous state
ments he elects to stand upon?
However, we should not complain,
for at last we have the admission by
the Leader that state taxes in North
Dakota have increased as much or
more than has been claimed b. those
he has maligned and attempted to
ridicule. II shows who the liar is.
The Nonpartisan program may
have some good points, but 1t needs
70 get rid OF its dishonest editors be-
fore its publications will carry much
weight.
II seems to be well established
that the Nonpartisan program has
called for big tax increase in North
Dakota. That standing alone proves
nothing as to the wisdom Of their
program. II may be worth many
times its cost. Time will tell. We,
in common with others, will watch
results with interest; but we In CON-
mon with others have learned by
now that we cannot look to the Lea
dor for auy raIfa hln tn nforv,att,,,