The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-02-08
GOVERNOR BLAINE COMMENTS.

New York is not IN any way surprising pro-
nouncement. In fact we should have expected
him to have waxed more abusive and to have
uttered more charges of bad faith and more
suggestions of criminal intent on the part OF
Simmons Company.
Governor Blaine always looks through mar
row spectacles. Like the soap box orator who
stands ON the corner and rants against the
hand which feeds him, the Governor is utterly
a failure when it comes to considering big
things. Possibly it would be unfair to expect
much else from the governor. He has always
dealt in little things and the big things of the
state and the big things which go to the max
ing up of the state have always been beyond
the horizon of his vision.
He is so thoroughly emesh0d in politics and
the little things which go to make up politics
that he cannot get over into the field of econ
orny and the big things which go to make up
economies
He shows clearly that he has never learned
that the best possible way to reduce taxation,
is to increase the amount of taxable property
in the state. He evidently has no conception
that the best way to increase taxable property
is to encourage rather than to discourage in
dustry.
1t is easy for the governor to say go thith-
err to q great industry. Undoubtedly his limit
ed manner of thinking would be prompted to
say go thither' to every manufacturing in
dustry in the state.
~ He talks of shifting burdens of taxation but
says nothing of the development of the very
thing on which he would shift the burden. He
chalenges-like a small boy in high school
debating society.
He fails utterly to realize that taxes have
been reduced in Wisconsin in year because
production was reduced. Possibly this i'm
portant idea never occurred to him. He seems
to forget that one industry in Kenosha only
a little while ago paid more in taxes into the
state than all of the individuals corporations
and partnerships residing in forty two counties
of Wisconsin. He does not say just what he
would do with this burden of taxation" if this
industry had gone "thither' year before the
tax was assessed. There seems to be no idea in
the brain of the governor that the great major
ity of the tax paid in Wisconsin is being paid by
such Industries as he would condemn and say
go Thither' to-
The plight of Wisconsin would be sorry in
deed if these industries would take the Cover
nor at his word and 60"
The administration appears to be entirely
void OF any desire for the encouragement of
the hand which feeds it. Not a single bill is
pending which would in any way encourage the
development Of legitimate industry in the state,
but it appears to be the desire of the state to
cast suspicion and ignominy on the name of
many organizations which earn and distribute
money in the state
If these Industries contributed only to the
wealth of few men who pioneered them and
who kept them going there might be some rea-
son for the governor to vent hatred and spleen
upon these men in order to better appeal to the
mob" 1t can be said however that the de-
velopment of these industries develops near
ly all OF the paying power" of the tax payers
OF the state. The tax commission hurries to
shout politics" on the suggestion of the re-
moval of a great industry's financial manage
ment from the state and follows it up by say
ing I'VE will get just as much taxes as ever
from it,. The tax commission will probably be
enlightened later OMIT like the governor fails
utterly to see the contribution that such an or
ganization is making to Kenosha and through
Kenosha to the state. 1t fails utterly to see
that the removal of such an institution means
reduction in the amount. that the butcher the
baker and the candle stick maker are going to
earn and the reduction of their earnings means
reduction in the tax, the state is going to get
from them as we'll as from the men who must
be driven to another state to live on account
of the suspicious and handicaping attitude of
a state administration.
It's popular to have the politicians call other
men thieves" and criminals" 1t is easy for
the state to make laws which are contrary to
all economic advancement and then rail at the
men who protest against the enforcement of
the laws.
It's easy to capitalize discomfort for while
buG there is certain to be a reaction Even the
man who is disconnected must find way to
live, and that way to live is not being brought
about by the actions of men who follow the
trail of the radical who breaks down without
building something better
How much better If would have hnap, bod +bo