The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-09-21
Talbot Assails Governors Honesty
;: SAYS MANY PROMISES VIOLATED ::
Tells Inside Story in Bismarck Talk

SGGO 1IG0
Speech BY c. G. TALBOT
Tonight I wish to address the voter
of North Dakota on some Of the vita
issues confronting the people Of thu
state.
At the special election to be hele
on the 22nd day Of this month yot
will be called upon to approve or dis
approve the several measures which
will appear upon the ballot. In my
opinion the most important OF these
and the most far-reaching in its pos.
sibilities for evil is the sales tax bill
passed by the last session OF the leg
islature and later referred by petition
When this proposed method Of tax
alton first became an issue in North
Dakota made short and concise
statement of the attitude OF the
Farmers Union towards the measure
I confined myself to the simple as
sertion that the Farmers Union had
been in principle opposed to this form
of raising revenue ever since 1t first
originated In the industrial East and
I further expressed myself as hoping
that there the matter would rest as
far as either the Farmers Union or I
were concerned. Now, to my surprise,
find that the governor OF the state is
using my name in his public campaign
to force across this measure: that he
is attempting to indict me on the
charge OF being indifferent or oppos-
ed to the welfare of the public schools,
and that he has even gone to the ex-
tent of intimating that the response
bility is mine to devise means Tor the
financing and maintenance OF these
schools.
Prerogative of Citizenship
It has long been assumed that one
OF the perogatives OF citizenship IN
this country is that of free and frank
discussion of all matters Of public in
terest and general welfare. 1t has re-
NAMED for the governor of this state
to intimate that 1t Is high crime for
any individual or group Of individuals
to entertain an opinion on public
measure If that opinion happens to
run counter to the ambitions or de-
sires of those who may, for the time.
be the holders Of public office. I have
no wish to challenge the honesty OF
the governor in his advocacy Of the
sales tax and by the same token I
feel that he has no right, official or
otherwise, to cast reflections on my
attitude of opposition to it.
do not maintain that wisdom will,
OF necessity, die with me, but do as
sert that my attitude on this measure
is based upon certain facts and on
circumstances which are matters of
record and the failure of the governor
to make public these facts forces me
to take this opportunity to place be-
fore the voters Of this state my posi-
ton in the matter of the sales tax.
During the last session of the legiS-
lature q conference as held at the gov
ernorS mansion at which were present
Congressman Lemke. Minnie D. Craig,
the speaker Of the house; Ex-Gover-
nor Maddox, and Senators BroStuen,
Eurkhart, Marshall. Greene, Erickson
and Bonzer, as we'll as the speaker
on this occasion. This meeting was
held in the afternoon. the exact date
having now escaped my memory but
it Is not material to this subject. This
meeting was called for the purpose Of
devising means Of financing the state
for the biennial period and the dis
cusSion lasted well into the evening.
The solution proposed by Congress-
man Lemke, Walter Maddox and my
self involved Voluntary Sales Tax
combined with the issuance Of State
Scrip to the amount of 100000 per
month which, in savings and taxes,
would amount to $4,80O,OOO per bien-
MUM. It was proposed that 81 .2OO.-
10000 be transferred to the State
Bond and Sinking Fund Account, this
money to be transferred from the Mo-
tor Vehicle fund. Other legislation
would provide for one-half mill levy
which would raise 100000. to which
was to be added $5OO.00o obtained as a
loan from the funds of the Hail In
Surance Department. The total Of
these items would be over $4,000, 900
with which to meet the requirements
OF the interest and sinking fund &C
count of $1,9O0.OO0.OO.
Could Fall Back on Levy
In addition to this, We could still
fall back on the state levy on the basis
OF 2.66 mills which. on the ratio aver
age Of $50 of taxes paid last year,
would raise $l.333.Oo0. If all Of this
proposed legislation passed there
would be available for the Interest
and Sinking Fund $4,000.
Fearing that some portion of the
proposed legislation might fail of pass
age. the governor asked what portion
OF the money refunded on purchases
OF gasoline was credited to purchases
OF fuel for agricultural purposes. On
being informed that it amounted to
some $650,000, he stated that mas
much as agriculture had been bene-
fitted by the forty millions Of dollars
loaned to farmers through the farm
loan department Of the Bank Of North
Dakota 1t would not be unfair to ask
the farmers to stand proportionate
share Of the payments into the Inter-
est and Sinking Fund account. He
then asked, as personal favor, II
would appear before the caucus and
explain this proposal to it. Out Of my
desire to cooperate with the admin
dstration In whatever appeared to be
for the benefit Of the state I per-
mitted myself to be persuaded to take
this course of action.
Bear In mind that we felt that we
were facing critical situation in our
state finances and that the uppermost
thought In the minds Of everyone
present was how best to meet the diff
fjculties which faced us at the mo-
ment without having to resort to q
general sales tax.
My part Of the agreement was car
ried out to the letter. The governor
was present at the caucus and II my
proposal did not meet with his APP
prevail he maintained q most studied
silence on the subject.
Transfer Approved-KilIed
The measure for the transfer OF
Gasoline Refunds was approved BY
49, nase~1ee q ~ a hS1Y nvsn1an<Js,ls>S, &I@1