Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-01-22

While we endorse state taxpay-S
ers' league" says the Judith Basin
Star, published at Hobson, I'VE are not
falling for the one recently organised
at Great Falls for the reason that it
looks like 'frameup' to us. 1t is not
a league that is organized by the tax
payers, but one that was organized and
Is now controlled by aafew men who.
are very prominent and active in poll
tics. These same men, some OF them
have been selected as officers of the
organization, have not at any time
shown any activity in promoting this
movement, but as soon as they saw 1t
was q popular movement among the
taxpayers, grabbed onto the organiza-
ton, and now have full control # 1t"
There is some suspicion gainiug
ground" says the Chinook Opinion
shat some of the leaders in the mani-
fold ramifications Of. state p ,li.ics are
trying to seize upon the movement to
organize the taxpayers of the differ
ent parts of the state with view to
the exigencies of the coming political
campaign. -. There is need Of study
and investigation of tax questions by
the taxpayers, but taxpayers leagues
they can be kept free from the con-
seekers. The extravaganza of the ms
has always been the favorite politics
thunder of the outs but we never got
very much relief as result. The
men promoting the different county
taxpayers organizations need to be IN
their guard that the party leaders in Il
campaign year do not grab their r.
CARNATIONS for party purposes"
90. In fact the story OF MIS-
management, pilfering. and other of
lenses is too long to tell in one vol
ume,' says the KaIipsell Monitor
THE formation of a taxpayers league
will remedy these evils if controlled by
a body Of taxpayers. But If allowed tc
drift into the hands of grafters and
representatives Of privilege. The or
stencil in the nostrils Of decent people.
There liz not a taxpayer in the county
who could not well afford to get into
this league and, if necessary, contrib
ute 10 per cent of his annual tax to its
support 1t would be the cheapest in
surance he can carry"
In commenting upon the action of
the Cascade County Taxpayers asso-
citation, which repudiated the recently
organized state taxpayers league be-
cause Of the "scheming politicians in
it. the Belt Valley Times notes many
names of those taking prominent
part in the Cascade County Taxpayers
association, who might be classed as
politicians. and whose activities in the
near past have demonstrated that they
are willing to ride with any party that
promised results 49,. Politicians of
the approved type are an asset to any
organization and as a matter of fact
are an element hard to exclude. When
enough people want thing, dreams
come true, and politicians of all types
are quick to perceive the trend of the
times"
The Whitetish Pilot approves of the
idea of taxpayers league. and adds:
But such organizations must function
through reason and common sense
methods. If they are organized to
merely be millstones about the necks
of public officials they will fail in
their objects. If they desire to give
sincere and cordial aid to public Of
ficials and advice in expenditures then
they will, in large measure, succeed
in rendering public service. But such
organizations must place theirs cards
on the table ut the start and show the
general public that their aim is to get
| beneficial results and not merely to
retard everything simply in order to
| lower taxes
"Wild and abusive talk will not as
sist in the solution of problems that