The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-04-24
WITH THE EDITORS
STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER

The North Dakota legislature lately closed one
Of the most unique specimens ever held in any
state in the union. Socialism had full sway and
reigned in all its glorys' Freak bills, experimental
bills, bills to reward friends, and bills to punish
their enemies were juggled back and forth be-
tween the caucus and'legislature in almost endless
procession. They were so honest they appropri-
ated 100000 of the public funds and called it an
"emigration fund.- to run political campaign in
neighborng states.
~ The tax bill, while one of the many unjust and
socalistic' measures ought not to be referred
Nothing will educate the credulous blind followers
of Towneyism like the application Of this tax bill.
Vicious class determinations run through the
whole bill. For instance, farmer with one-half
section of land valued at 900 with 81 200 worth
of improvements and an $4,000 debt, is taxed
equally with farmer having one-half section val
ued at $4,000 with $4,000 improvements all paid
is exempt equally with the man owning $500 worth
Of machinery.
Farm elevator corporations pay per cent tax
on net income, and then they double the dose on
your dividends. This is because you belong to a
robber corporation. .~ .
Senate Bill No. III, taxed oil $40 of a cent and
gasoline I cent per gallon. Standard oil (and l
presume other oil companies) promptly placed the
tax on the price of oil and gas; which Standard
Oil says was made necessary by bill No. Al. This
corporation, unlike the elevator, is outside the
state. Standard adds the tax to the price, and old
time elevators get off with straight tax of 3 per
cent. This is the inevitable result Of importing
discredited fanatic from Idaho to write our tax
laws.
The Nonpartisan Leader of March 3, contains
a fashlight picture Of the much heralded caucus
which the boys all signed to stand by, and they
appear to be about all there At the corner of the
desk sits Walter Thomas Mills, looking quite we'll
pleased with himself. He appears to have Just
finished giving the caucus some expert advice.
In description, The Leader says: This isn't
secret caucus. Any farmer, upon being identified,
is allowed in; but we do not invite our enemies"
1t was before the caucus that Townley said there
were just two groups of people in North Dakota,
"the robbed and the robbers" 1t was to support
this caucus controlled by a nondescript group of
socialists of the Townley- Lemke- oylance-M Mac
donaldWalter Mills stripe, that all the Nonparti-
san legislators, excepting Pleasance of Mountrail,
signed to support, thereby compromising the in
terests of their constituents and their rights as
American citizens 1t was at this caucus that the
eight or ten political graft and grab bills origi-
mated. The measures above referred to are no
part of the industrial program voted on at any
election.
North Dakota is known all over the country as
socialist experiment station, and is already dis
credited in confidence and business. Our state
can not afford to let such q record stand. She
must wipe out this shadow on her honor this sum-
mer. or she win occupy the same position in the
sisterhood Of states that Chinatown did to San
Free Press,