The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-06-04
A WORD OF WARNING.

G@Dc1 NOL- kl-E L->1l L--S1cs - N1AS-
from the Leavenworth Echo. We have
refrained from publishing much that
has been going the rounds OF the press
relative 10 the non-partisan league
because in politics. many are prone TO
exaggerate. when the truth would be
just as effective, and much has been
written by those who had no first
hand knowledge OF conditions in North
Dakota. where the non-partisan party
has been in power. AMI where the
blighting influence Of the laws pro-
mulgated have been felt Bn. he state
ment below is authentic and made oy
a man who lived for years in North
Dakota and on account Of the opPress-
i've conditions in that state mad 10
come to Washington 10 build up bus
mess in new community. The article
was written. by one Of the editors of
the Echo who had bitter experience IN
North Dakota before coming further
west. and the statements therein made
can be depended upon as facts from the
records and personal experierea. IL
would be well for every vo-e- To read
this statement calmly ana without
prejudice. and then use every effort
in his power TO prevent the same auto
cratic organization from obtaining a
foothold in the state of Washington:
The fight against the sncroachment
Of the so-called non-par:,scn league
is one that arouses all the energies #
the publishers OF The Echo. We came
from North Dakota. the birthplace and
roost Of the foul sponsors IF his
would be defiler of American homes
and institutions. We know frs hand
that this organization has ergendered
the greatest hatred known ~ America
since the days OF slavery; that It's
main argument is 10 set class against
elasS-array farmer against ali others;
that IL has treoeled taxation on farm
lands; that il has given the rottsCesI
political administration ever known in
that state; and that farmers have been
despoiled of untold thousands OF dol
lars through subsidiary schemes. We
know first hand that there has been no
legislation which has brought about
relief-that there has been no relief
from the complaints. real or imagln-
AIRY. set up as an excuse for the organ
izariOn OF the league We know that the
state owns no grain elevators. hence
no method OF handling The formers
grain for his betterment- We atTit
that the state has one small flour mill
capable perhaps of grinding Hour
enough for one small county. but the
product OF this mill is sold at prices
higher than flour can be purchased
at any other mill in the state. and still
the mill is run AT loss. We know first
hand that there has been absolutely no
general benefit to the state or its peo
pie from or through the non-partisan
league. But on the other hand, its
damage TO the state may be measured
in millions of dollars
Knowing these truths. We say Be-
ware OF the so-called non-partisan |
league. Let the state OF Washington
avoid making the colossal mistake
made by North Dakota.
So-ealled non-partisan league or /
ganizers have been working in the We
natehee valley and already have delud- |
ed several farmers into paying an SIS
membership fee. The advance OF this |
unholy organization ought TO be stop |
ped right now Already are heard the
outcries Of hatred which it has engen-
derei. Its adherenls have lost no time
in attempting TO terrorize those who
NAV oppose it The Echo has so soon
received q visit from one who thought
that we needed TO be warned; one who
sought to put the fear of Townley In
our hearts and prevent US from an ex-
preston of the truth so indelibly writ
ten in North Dakota
The truth is that North Dakota has
been damaged beyond measure by this
league. Unjust and discriminatory laws
have been enacted under its regime
Interest rates on farm loans have gone
up from five and one-half and six per
cent TO seven and even nine per cent
Money has become scarce in the state
although crops have been fair and
prices Of produce high. Thousands Of
people have moved out of the state and
thousands have been kept out because
Of the league.
Another truth is that taxes have
doubled, trebeled and Quadrupled. The
league enlarged the scope OF the law
Of eminent domain. making it possible
for the state TO take over any or all
real property for state purposes, which
means that when the proper time
comes all real property with its i'm
proyements will be taken over by the
state In the meantime, those engineer
ing matters-TownIey and Mills-have
decided that an easy way to bring
about public sentiment to the support
OF this scheme. is to tax real property
to death. Taxes have always been high
enough in North Dakota Prior TO 1919
however. the assessed valuation Of
land in the county in which We resided
never has been above eight or
nine dollars per acre. In 1919
the average value per acre for that
county was OVER FORTY-FIvE DOL
LARS PER ACRE. Prior to 1919 the
state tax levy had been for several
years i.3 mills In 1919 it was reduced
to about 33 mills Now get your pencil
and figure what the state taxes on loo
acres Of land would be at 50 per acre
Then figure what it would be at s45
per acre. The fact is that this does not
begin to indicate the whole increase
in taxes in 1919. II shows that the state
tax on land was just about quadrupled-
In fact there was such an uproar about
il all over the state that the legislature
in special session enacted a measure
TO return % per cent Of the state tax.
which leaves taxes for state purposes
treble the amount prior TO 1919.
A third truth is: During the special