The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-03-01

Kenosha, through Walter H. Afford,
president Of the city council and vice
president of the Nash Motors company
told the members of the legislature on
Wednesday afternoon just why indus
tries of Kenosha protested against the
proposed new tax laws which would
increase the burden of taxation on the
industries of the state.
He pointed out in an unanswerable
manner, the desire for industrial eX-
pansion in Wisconsin and the reasons
that such plans were not being car
ried out He pointed out clearly the
danger of the Wisconsin Legislature
driving industry from the state and
drew close parallels between the tax
burdens of this and other great manu-
featuring states. His address was "a
feature of the hearing on the tax bills
before the legislative committees.
Shows Conditions in Kenosha.
Mr.. Afford said:
81 represent the Nash Motors COM
oany and other manufacturing inter
ests of Kenosha. | am here because
of our vital interest and alarm in the
trend that legislation has taken in the
state of Wisconsin. We assume that
these hearings are for the purpose Of
bringing out discussion of the effect
that such legislation will have on the
general welfare of the state.
The principal productive activities Of
the state are its agriculture, mining,
timber and manufacturing. Anything
affecting the one must effect all. Wis
consin offers many natural advantages
to industry: An ideal climate, we'll de-
veloped transportation facilities both
by rail and water, and backed up by q
great agricultural section capable of
producing a major portion of COM
modities necessary to sustain large
working force.
Wisconsin's Opportunity.
With these advantages, Wisconsin
should become one of the greatest in
lustrial states in the Union. We con-
tend that this industrial development
will be of great benefit to the state
as a whole, and particularly to agri-
culture, because it affords large home
market for farm products. The state
has made progress in industrial de-
velopment, but not nearly to the ex-
tent that it should have. It's retarded
development, we believe, is due to q
certain extent to the lack of knowledge
on the part Of manufacturing inte--
ests throughout the country as to the
natural advantages which the state has
but to greater extent upon the in
security which they feel confrontS
them in Wisconsin. Capital is very
much like an individual. 1t establishes
is home where, first, it is secure, anC
second, where it can receive a fail
return for it's employment.
KenOsha as an Example.
Is the industrial development Of
Wisconsin of benefit to the state as 6
whole, and to agriculture will take
as an example the city of Kenosha
which is truly an industrial city. Ke.
nosha has population of $4,000 With
the industries removed from Kenosha
a city of 5000 population would be ar
adequate trading center for the sur.
rounding agricultural section. 1t Is
therefore logical to conclude that the
additional $4,000, who are there as s
result of industry, have added home
market for the surrounding farm pro
ducts that they would not otherwise
have. These additional $4,000 people
are consumers of farm products, but
produce no food or other farm pro
ducts If they were not there these
surplus farm products would have tt
lind market outside of the state anC
in competition with the farm products
Of the states in which they were of
tered for sale. Freight, and the loss
through deterioration must be de
Quoted from the proceeds of such fam
products shipped out of the state
Homegrown products have the frs
call in the market and command ,
higher price. A home market alsC
makes it possible for the small farmeI
% bring his produce to town and sci
IN the open market, whereas much O.
lis surplus would go to waste on tn,
RIM. for reason of the fact that h,