Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1920-10-22
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
STRESSES TONNAGE TAX
Laurence Hodgson Discusses State
Issues From Democratic Stand
point

'I feel that some candidate ought
to talk on issues in this state" said
Laurence Hodgson, democratic NOM
inee for governor in his talk at the
Strand last Saturday, "since, accord
ing to the arguments put forth by
my opponents, the main issue in Min
nesota this years seems to be the
terrible condition of affairs in
Russia"
Following his introduction, Mr..
Hodgson plunged into a discussion
of the tonnage tax, urging the i'm
mediate enactment of such tax, and
stating that Minnesota would never
have political peace until the ton
mage tax law had been placed on
the statute books. He argued that
the timber, the water-pOwer, and the
iron ore of Minnesota constituted
the natural wealth of the state which
had been given by God for the use
Of all the people. The forests he
said, were gones with nothing left
to show for them except the bloated
bonds of plunderers, which added not
one iota to the state treasury; the
water-power had been developed in
hands of corporations; and unless
some provision is made, the wealth
contained in the mine will also have
been removed from the state. The
mines, he stated, were owned for the
most part by people living outside
the state and the purpose of the tax
per cent in the state treasury for
the people for whom it was intend
ed
He defined the tax as tax imposed
every penny had been paid out in
royalty and wages, that is on the
unearned profits.
1t is estimated, he said, that the
iron industry in the state can be
carried on for not more than forty
or fifty years, and at the end of that
time it will be necessary to build up
the iron range section of the state,
to restore the devastation made"
He asserted that part of the financial
burden should rest upon those who
had created the ruin," and that the
amount created by an establishment
of the tonnage tax would be half a
billion dollars. He presented figures
not over but under taxed, and con-
cluded his remarks on the tax by
stating that he would do anything
in his power to bring the law in
question into being.
He vigorously upheld the principle
of "home rule" which he called the
essence of democracy" stating thai
a democratic people had the right
to make their own mistakes instead
of paying other people to make then
for them, and expressed himself az
opposing any form of state utilit!
commission which put into the hand!
of state officials the handling O.
problems affecting the smaller units
of the community.
He went on to discussion of so
cial service problems, urging more
stringent child labor laws, and al
appropriation to make possible th'
carrying out of the mothers pension
act which was passed four years ago
II am the one man in the stat
who does not give advice to farm
ers," stated the speaker, introducing
his opinions in the matter of agri
cultural legislation in the state. H
recommended measures which woult
g. aid the development of dairying il
Minnesota, state aid for farmers VIII
wished to develop farm lands in tn
northern part of the state, and great
er representation of the farmer il
the state politics,
In conclusion, he remarked tha
while it was possible to club peopl
! into submission for short time,
was not possible to settle affairs pei
manently in this way, and that tn
present unrest was cause not by rad
, icalism but by feeling of injustic
, and unhappiness among large clas
!, of people. A keener sense of con
radeship and justice and a govern
ment based on a more human an
personal spirit, were the keys to tt
! solving of the situation, he state
Mr.. Hodgson was preceded by J.
! Mcdonnell of Waverly, democrat
candidate for lieutenant governo
. The men were introduced by Jam
- B.. Ormond, in characteristical
eloquent tribute.