Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-05-07
EAST is WEST
(Great Falls Tribune)


only b,lwark of defense of the less popu-
lous states in the federal government. If the
founders of the constitution had not devised
his system of equal representation In the up
per branch of congress, the states that are
dominant in people and wealth would ar
bitrarilv dominate the nation. Our situation
in the west is bad enough as it is, but if some
of the fasteners could lave their way our
economic and political slavery would be abb
solute.
The Tribune regrets that space denies
publication Of the long speech made by
Congressman Beck Of Philadelphia before
the Union League club Of that city. His as
sault on federal financial aid to the proper
states in excess of what these states pay to
the federal treasury, made possible by the
basis of senatorial representation, illustrates
what we believe to be the attitude OF the
weather. states which not only control the
business and industry Of the nation but as
pire to control it in every other way. He
complains Of a socialistic tendency by the
general government.
We quote from his address to show the
eastern point of view:
Let me first take Idaho. In 1880, its
entire payment Of federal taxes of all kinds
was $500, 900. 1t, however, drew direct
from the federal treasury $l,3l5,OOO thus
drawing from the other states, principally
New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois, Isl
percent more than it paid in. Montana con-
tributed a total of $2,6l0,000, but drew
from the federal treasury SO, l07,0 900 or ll9
percent. New Mexico paid in $924,O00 and
drew out $~l,7l2,000, or 1872 percent. Wy
oming paid in $4,000 and drew out ST.
400, 900 or 3l9 percent
By contract let us take the three
weather. states. New York paid in 1928
600, 900 and drew out 1921, 900, or less
than | percent; Pennsylvania paid in
$3.50, 000, 900 and drew out 81, 1000, 900, OIL
about 3 percent; Illinois paid in $247, 000,
900 and drew out $4,000, 900, or less than
z percent.
Beck also complains that Is of the
states with one-fourth Of the national popu
lation control the senate in number. Another
outcry he makes is that these states are {
factor in establishing tariffs.
A tree draws it's life, not from thu
trunk but from the roots. The roots in turf
take their nourishment from the soil into
which they reach. A community is sustained
ordinarily by its commercial territory. Doe
the east then contend that it is self-ufficien
in itself2 That it's great cities could exist o
themselves? That it's manufactures coul,
survive without markets. That it's commerc
is Independent?
What has made the east wealthy an
p%opulousp Perhaps the question can b
answered most strikingly by recalling a cal
toon used in a political campaign years age
1t showed a COW being fed in the west an
being MIXED in New York. That is about tn
situation. The industrial and commerce;
east has been made possible by the rest {
the country. They want to control our ra,
products, manufacture them and sell ther
back to us. They want tariffs to prote'
their manufacturers but no tariffs on 0,
raw products.
And then the east, having profited b
the output of the poorer states, objects gr
ing back to the poorer states, what they d
serve to have, either in financial aid for d
velopment OF in political representation.
fact, they would like to establish the Han
iltonian principle that government shou
be controlled by economic expediency, IL
principle that was contested by Thomas Re
ferson and his successors in political though
If the tree draws it's strength from Il
roots, and the roots are nurtured by the ,
tality of the soil, then the fruit does not b
long entirely to the tree.