The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-04-21
ESCAPE THEIR FEES
CLAIM OF F. S. REGAIN
MILLION DOLLAR q o M s
PAYS NEXT TO NOTHING
Railroad Magnate In Minnesota
Did Not Separate Himself
From Enough Cash To Make
Showing On What Wealth
Should Be Assessed, Said
Speechmaker.


Speechmaker.
Citizens of this state, as we'll as
other states, would fall over dead
if they knew how they have been
duped and are continuing to be
duped in the matter OF paying
taxes. No taxpayer ought to pay
over one per cent taxes. rms
statement was made by Frank >.
Regan, who with Arthur e. Whitney
of Columbus, Ohio were the first
speakers of the Flying Squadron to
appear in Mankato.
The first meeting was held yes
terday afternoon, and in the even
ing the speakers again appeared
Mayor w A. Beach introduced the
first speaker of the afternoon. Glenn
Shoemaker pleased the audience
with a beautiful selection.
Facts were revealed showing how
much taxes people must pay, while
others pay none, which surprised
the audience so much that they &C
tually gaSped at some OF the state
ments made by Mr.. Regain. Mr..
Regain explained that many people
say that the rise in taxes is due TO
prohibition, but TO offset this ne
showed how the big breweries own
ed in this country had had their
taxes cancelled and paid not one,
cent in many of the large cities. ~
Pecited Some Figures.
Mr.. Regan told how the publisher
of a Chicago newspaper had built
million dollar home on Lake Shore
Drive, and when his property was
assessed he paid taxes on one thou
sand dollars. He also told how he.
Mr.. Regain, had paid an exorbitant
tax on his four thousand dollar
home. Another instance was that OF
a railroad magnate in Minnesota
His property was estimated at
the wish of certain st. Paul busl,
ness men, Mr.. Regain investigated
and found that Mr.. Hills property
was valued at least at $4,000, 900.
To make his statements more con
vincing Mr.. Regain stated that he
ould defy any men in this state or
any state in the union 10 find one
flaw in his figures. 1t may easily
be seen that a city could be run on
taxes which the railroad magnate
should have paid. but instead OF
on their way letting taxes pile up
and paying them uncomplainingly.
while an investigation and an ex
PLANTATION might have been secured
and the Sinking taxpayer would
have to pay what he was supposed.
Breweries In Chicago.
There were eighty tN 0 breweries
in Chicago and fortytwo of these
were owned by English Lords. The
others were owned by Germans.
During the last year preceding pro
propert" in Chicago was cancelled,
which meant that no taxes vera.
paid upon them. Mr.. Reean stated
that the English and German Lords
make the money in America while
the Americans pay the taxes.
The example of the state of Ohio
vas cited. This city pays only one
per cent tax and out of this all
public expenses are paid. Cincinnati. i.
one of the wettest cities before pro-
hibition. paid s1.65 per capita. taxes.
while Kansas, that had been dry
since 1881, paid tax of ten cents
per capita.
How Illinois Is Waking Up.
Mr. Regain stated that the state
of Illinois has walked up to the fact
of the dipping that they have been
under, and that is the reason why
their governor, lieutenant governor
and other state officials are being
brought to Justice, and he continued
that the people would not rest easy
until everything had beer examined.
In closing, Mr.. Regain said: THE
people are the ones to blame. They
do not care enough whether they
pay the taxes or not. If they would
insist upo denomination of property
in many instances, and insist that
everyone pay the taxes he ought to
the poor and middle class of people
would not suffer from exorbitant
taxes, the way they have in the
past"
Spoke For Law Enforcement.
Arthur E. Whitney the other
speaker for law enforcement and
civic righteousness, made an elo
quent appeal to the patriotism of the
citizens OF this country. He especi-
senator who stood before the sen
ate and after spending two hours
ridiculing the eighteenth amendmenf
he read parody on America" that
would put any child to shame. II
was take OF on prohibition, but was
one of the most despicable things
that anyone ever did. Mr.. whitney
stated that the ex-soldiers of the
country are asking that something
be done, and if the public does not.
they will The soldiers fought for
their country, they did what they
could, but now, three years after the
war there are many things that
have not been settled Statesmen
meet and argue and debate, but the
voice of the soldier is not heard.
He is dead letter. On behalf OF
these six million men, who would
have gone gladly to their death for
America, Mr.. Whitney pleaded for
justice and asked that the soldiers
be given a representation.
Two speakers appeared at the
Orpheum theatre this afternoon and
this evening, and two will also
speak there tomorrow afternoon
and evening.
The purpose of the Flying Squad
ron is to enforce laws, not the eigh-
teenth amendment only, but all
laws that are disobeyed. by arous-
ing public sentiment, which II strong
enough could easily see that all laws
were obeyed.