The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1932-01-29
Friday, January 20. 1882.
ORGANIZE FOR A REAL
TAX STRUGGLE

4kxA O41AOOO44
N enc way or another, the capitalist class ID
nuahing it's taxpayers associations in order TO
atam the rising tide of struggle Of the toilng
Farm masses against outrageous taxes In an ar
tiele in the Dakota Farmer, B. W. Baer, South
Dakota Director Of Taxes unconsciousy shows
last how Wall Street thru such agents as himself
II trying to force the farmers to continue to bear
the great burden Of taxes that now weighs upon
them and on their families
After pointing to the greatly increased expen-
dtures of the state and how it presses the
farmers, Baer continues
"This brought realization that if the
average taxpayers were to be rescued
from excessive government costs they
must develop In themselves the will to
reduce COSTS That they must be willing
10 deny themselves things they would like
to have and should have but which they
could not afford.
"The only way to reduce taxes is to re-
duce costs Of government. One way to
curb the cost 10 3 realization that we may
dispense with some Of the activities Of
government that require the expenditure
Of tax money"
The argument of this agent Of Wall Street il:
you farmers want taxes reduced Very well the
best way to reduce them is to reduce the amount
spent on your needs in the budget things you
"would like TO have and should have" The ex-
penditure that he wants to curb are not those for
the state militia which is used against the work
ers and farmers, not the expenditures that are
made directly for the capitalist class, but those
expenditures which are of some benefit TO the
farmers.
In order to accomplish this reduction in taxes,
Baer recommends the taxpayers associations.
'The taxpayers' associations were
ganized primarily to study the facts and
determine the answer. Most of the re-
suits which have been accomplished in
: this way have come through organiza-
ton, and that organization is necessary
where large numbers are involved. The
taxpayers must organize to make himself
effective and give expression to his pow
ers and ideas This organization, how
ever, must not be class organization
representing selfish particular inter
ests. The tax problem is problem Of
small home owner quite much it is
the large property interests, and no tax
organization program will be successful
without working in the interests and
supported by the great mass of taxpay-
ers."
Baer points out to the farmers that they mus
organize in order to achieve what they shoul
have in the way of tax reduction. But "THI
ORGANIZATION MUST NOT BE CLASS OR
GANIZATION REPRESENTING Selfish o.
PARTICULAR INTERESTS" The "small hon
owner" and the large property interests" ar
equally interested in the tax problem. "No ia
organization program will be successful withoI
working in the interests and supported by Il
great mass of taxpayers"
This is the program of Wall Street. This is Il
program of the tax collectors. This program
designed to prevent the farmers from realizir
that their interests are not the same as those
the large property interests but are dametrical
opposed to them, not only in taxes but in evel
phase of economic and political activity The
'1arge property interests" are part of the exploi
ing Glass; the small and middle farmers are pa
of the exploited Their interests are not t
same. Baer wants the farmers to forget that tn
are a CLASS different from the large proper
interests. He is trying to prevent the farme
from struggling in the only way in which tn
viii accomplish anything-as part Of the explo
ed, as small and middle farmers as toiling far
ers-and against the rich. the exploiters, the II
bers. He wants to make the farmers forget IL
they as toiing farmers, have particular int
ests," that in opposition to the interests
the "large property interests"
M HE is TRYING TO PREVENT, TO ST.
# THE CLASS STRUGGLE OF THE TOILI1
FARM MASSES TOGETHER WITH THE To
Frs OF THE CITIES AGAINST THE f
M PLOTTERS
We agree with Baer that 'no tax organizat
program will be successful without working
the interests and supported by the great mass
taxpayers" But, working in the interests
supported by the great mass of taxpay
against the small group Of rich farmers me
monopolies, ETC., who live thru the misery and
poles, railroad owners, public utilities, maj
oppression of the toiling farm masses. Aga
this crew must struggle for tax reductions
directed as well as the struggle along the w
line. Make the rich pay, this must be our fiji
ing slogan in the tax struggle
Turnout this whole article runs the demand
non-class conscious taxpayers associations