Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1921-01-13
GIVES STORY
OF LEAGUES
!, y QUEER ACTS
e. A. Simpson Tells
How Dakota Was
MIXED by Schemes

The following letter from G. A
Simpson, nov Of Bisbee, North Da
kata, formerly farmer in Dickin.
son county, viii give our readers 6
drst hand view Of what the Non
Partisan League has done to North
Dakota as seen by level headed, re-
liable farmer who has gone through
It:
Editor Reflector: Townley will get
you II you don't watch out.
1t has come to my attention,
through Twin City papers, that A.
@. Townley, of North Dakota Nom
Partisan League notoriety, has shift
ed his scene Of action from our state
to your state; and furthermore, to
your particular locality. Along with
this, 1t Is announced, that he has
+ severed his connection, as dictator
. Of the League in North Dakota, to
take up his work, where his person.
al services are more necessary for
propagating his essentially socialistic
schemes.
Now as to a few instances, in
which the Non Partisan League, un-
der Mr.. Townley's leadership, has
worked in behalf Of the farmers
welfare. Here is an instance Of the
operation of the new schedule of tax
alton on farm lands. This applies
to the same piece Of land, as taxed
In year 1918 and in 1919, the lat
ter year being the first Of the Town
ley regime in taxation. In 1918, this
land was assessed at 1901 and taxed
for state purposes at 4.3 mills; in
1919, it was assessed at $4,916 and
taxed for state purposes at 2.9S
mills. THE amount of local taxes in
each instance was approximately the
same; in the first year the school tax
was slightly higher and in the Sec
ond year, the township tax was
slightly higher. In addition, there
was a fiat tax, Of 3 cents per acre
for hail insurance purposes, whether
you elected to take the insurance or
not; IL you elected to take the in
surance an additional tax Of % cents |
per acre was levied; hail insurance
was not accepted on this land. The
total tax for 1918, was $65.02, in
1919 $96.62. This Is only a very
ordinary instance, as It applies to one
OF my own pieces Of land. Many
quarters Of land had an increase Of
100 per cent or more due to in
creased, state taxes and juggling Of
the assessed valuations.
AS to the Juggling of the valua-
Is 70 fncfo a |
In the Bisbee Special School District,
In which I reside, railroads, and
similar public corporations, prior to
1918, paid approximately 32 per
cent Of the total school taxes raised
By the district board; in 1919, they
paid approximately 81 per cent Of
The school taxes. Yet Mr.. Townley
and his followers will have you be-
ieve that they are working for the
welfare Of the farmers. In the above
the balance of the school
AK was paid in by land situated in
he district.
Industrial Acts Failures
A word as to their industrial ac-
iyities. In the summer Of 1919 the
tate Industrial commission purchas-
d a small mill, in a small town, 9
brake, N. d., and launched forth in
he -four milling business. A little G
ater, League papers and propagan- !
lists went out over the state assert !
ng that this ''little milp' had made 8
z, 800 in profits in 20 days, at the 9
anne time paying the farmer more D
or his wheat and selling -four at a
,wer price to the consumer, than o
ompetitors. A little later in the b
ear, certain firm advertised for +