, 1923-02-27
School Laws and Taxes

To readers who have followed this
series of articles 1t must be apparent
that the subject 10 OF vital Importance
to u state n to every man, woman
and child therein. The oil wealth of
Wyoming Is so great that the rent
OF these oil lands IL turned into the
state treasury and the school treas.
ury n used for the schools and the
state will pay all expenses without
a dollar oftax levy for state OF school
purposes. It will give US the finest
schools in the world and the best
stnte institutions, and the very small
tax levy will attract capital and peo-
pie from outside glad to go to a state
where taxation is not c~onflscation,
but where public wealth is used for
the people.
But IL we sit back and allow this
oil entail to be piled up in the big
banks as 1t is proposed TO do. taxes
will be heavier than ever, there will
be more abandoned farms. more local
banks closed, more merchants closed
out by the sheriff, The line is drawn
and each one must take his place in
the ranks. The fight is on. 1t is just
as much for the high schools al Man.
vile M Lusk and all over the state
as for the little country school OF SIX
scholars. II Is Just as much for the
business man in town as for the
farmer on h prairie, We must all
stand or fall together. For over thir-
ty years the state and school land
boards have been selling school land
and renting the same-putting the
money from sales into the permanent
fund-into the banks largely. And
last year the total income from sur
face renting was 1851. 1914. The
income from the interest from all
that has accumulated in the perma.
nent fund for owe thirty years was
only Sios,1ss.64. making a total for
the schools for their use of $780,.
SSs.7s. while the oil royalties and
rentals on these lands for the same
year were over one million dollars
more, or 81, s6s,221.s1 all of which
went to the permanent fund, and not
a dollar can be used by the people of
the state. This is our money and
we are going 10 have II. But It will
be a long and bitter fight. Instltu-
tons hat get hold OF millions are
not going to let go without a struggle.
In the talk at meetings held n
year ago by taxpayers we missed the
mark. We were all barking up the
wrong tree. We had the wrong pig
by the ear when we went after the
county officers and some petty at,
fairs. Discharge a clerk or a deputy
and save a little salary, and let a
million or two royalties be side
tracked at Cheyenne. I wonder IL we
people of Wyoming are ht for self
government, and I am one OF them.
My remedy is first inform the peo-
pie OF the facts. Then vote for no
man for tho legislature who Will not
work with all his might for the pas
sage of laws to give the people that
oil rent money for their use right
now. All we ever will get out of the
permanent fund loaned at 2 per cent
Is Insignificant. Vote for no man for
governor, secretary OF state, treasurer
or superintendent Of schools who will
not stand with the people on that
rent deal. The state land boards that
control millions OF dollars Of public
money and property are mighty i'm
portAnt. Are they for the people or
for the big banks?
In my opinion the so.ealled primary
election law is q farce, and the people
win be n long ways ahead when we
ohOPA NAI NaANhS anu C1HNNlAAAOh ~ .
tenn. II will give us 4 chance 10 or
ganiEs. to get together. TO demand
our rights al q people.
In closing I wan TO most heartily
thank those newspapers which have
given space 10 these articles. with.
out their help this writer would have
been powerIssI. There 10 a warning
right here 70 those papers which are
looking for g~ustenance to official
patronage and who proceed on the
principle that thrift will follow fawn.
ing" Articles from my pen will be
no help In that line. Reminds me
OF a sign that used TO be in q saloon:
IT your family needs tho money
don't print these articles.
The Newspaper boys nre all right.
They are the best friends the people
have. and right here this writer will
work for a Law 10 give every paper in
Wyoming n little piece OF these oil
millions. The session laws should be
published IL Svery paper in the state