The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-04-06

Germany are taxed less than the peo-
pie of his community, is reported to
have created a profound impression.
In connection with the recital of
these conditions it is well to remem-
Der that the republican party, under
the leadership of President Harding
and the chairman of the appropria-
lions committees in both Houses of
Congress, has undertaken to reduce
the burden of taxation so far as ma
tional revenues are concerned. The
great difficulty, and it is local diff
ficulty as we'll as national, is that
the demand for public expenditures
comes from the same communities
and the same people who demand a
lessening Of taxation. Members of
Congress are overwhelmed with cor
respondence asking for new public
services at the expense Of the FEEDER
al government. 1t must be perfectly
clear to everyone that we cannot
have increased service from the gov
ernment, increased aid for various
public enterprises, increased payment
for all sorts Of purposes, unless we
have also increased revenue, and in
creased revenue inevitably means in
creased taxes. This is true also in To-
cal affairs. The same men who pro-
test against heavier taxes vote for
highway improvements, the issuance
of highway bonds, the creation of
some new local public service and
the establishment fnew local Off
ces. Almost every new activity on
the part of a local state or national
government is undertaken because
there appears to be public demand
for it. 1t follows, therefore, that in
creased taxation is brought about by
public demand, or apparent public de-
mand. The only promising method
by which taxation may be reduced is
to bring about a widespread express
sion of public opinion against new or
extended public undertakings which
are certain to result in increased pub
lie expenditures.
A few years ago the primary cleo
ton law was enacted to supersede
the old time caucus and convention
system of nominating candidates for
state and county offices. In theory
it was the ideal way to nominate can
didates but in practice it has devel-
oped that the additional election
means additional expense to the tax
payers and no better candidates are
nominated. Under the old system in
an election year great rivalry devel-
| oped for election, in the counties, of
the different delegates to the state
convention. A strong man had
to be put up to be elected as dele
gate and when the state convention
met the personnel was composed of
the strongest men, politically, that
could be found in the several coun-
ties. Each political party held it's
own convention and any differences
which had developed among the
members of the party were ironed
out during the convention. Some live
| ly scraps would feature these meet
ings but when the convention really
got down to business and agreed on
a candidate the delegates went home,
forget the quarrels of the convention
and got behind the candidate in a
body. The agreements made in con-
vention were lived up to and every
one worked for the good of the par
ty. The advocates of the primary
election law advanced the argument
that these conventions were controll-
ed by "gang rule'' and that the cleo
torate had very little to say as to
who would be placed on the ticket.
But have they much to say now?
The various political parties still hold
their conventions every election year
! and pick the candidates. Of course,
in theory, all that a man has to do
to get his name on the ticket is to
file a petition with the necessary
number of signatures and he gets
, into the race for the nomination. But
every prospective candidate for a
state office is anxious to receive the
endorsement of one of the political
parties and does not, as rule, allow
his name to appear until he is as
sured that this support will be forth
coming. They announce their candi-
dacy before the convention and the
delegates to the convention have
number Of names to select their
choice from, but sometimes that list
does not contain the name of the man
whom they really want as a candi-
date. There is no set rule for Sc
Letting the delegates to these con-
ventions. Of late years some local