The Bismarck tribune., 1933-02-27
WANTS REAL ACTION
Werner, N. D.,
Feb. 70, 1888.

Feb. 20, 1888.
Editor, Tribune:
What u the reason the state leg-
1slature voted against giving the
farmer the legal right to strike?
The question Of the right Of tho
farmer to call on the governor for
troops to aid and abet the strike was
raised and that part might be abused,
but We are going to strike whether
you give US your legal consent or
not and In doing 20, - the law
stands now, We would be outside the
law and the governor would be
obliged to send the troops out-and
crowd Of angry farmers is hard to
quiet.
Some guardsman may Be called to
help drive his own father and moth
er off the old homestead where he
was raised and schooled.
I don't believe that half Of those
representatives know what we are up
against. Come, let US reason to-
gether.
This state has no water power, no
gas, no oil wells and no resources
but Ignite coal and that has no out
of-state market to speak Of. Thank
the Lord for that Ignite coal but It
doesn't help pay taxes to any appre-
ciable extent. Now we are divided
into little groups Of 100 to 100 farm
erS ana rancherS and We want q
town, postoffice. elevators, stores,
ETC.. and railroads within reasonable
distance II we can afford them. II
We can't afford these towns they will
have to 60, as did more than halt OF
our banks.
Now We want these towns and
businesses but In order to keep them
we must have their support.
As We give our local merchant our
trade. our financial support, 20 We
now demand that he vote and work
for our interest or he viii 60 to the
wall.
Keep this In mind. The state and
nation, counties, school districts, etc.,
are IN debt through bonds. warrants,
anticipation certificates, etc., besides
the real estate and chattel MORTGAGES
that We farmers have been compelled
IN most cases to put against our
farms. Now that total amounts to
more than the present valuation Of
the state and all that's on or in It.
Don't take my word for that but get
the dope and use your pencil.
Now the next fact. No taxes are
paid but from earnings that come
from the farm and range. The rail-
roads charge their taxes back, rs do
the butcher, baker and the CANDLE
stick maker.
II there were farmers somewhere
who had hard cash and could be in
duced to take over these farms and
pay up the taxes, alright. Kick these
old has-besns off and put on young
men, but the same condition exists
the world around and II you kick us
off We must be fed and clothed.
Go. way back to the laws Of
Moses from which our present bank
Tuptcy laws originate and you will
find 1t IS and always has been ex-
pedtent to leave family . chance to
earn living rather than make them
= charge on the state.
Now we can't pay those taxes. We
can't pay that interest and II you
expect to set there like q bunch OF
dummies and wait for the q. 8. gov.
ernment to fix up everything, you are
not big enough for the seat you fill.
Any laws that the next administra-
tion may put in would help. no doubt,
II we were not covered 50 with In.
debtedness. But the present law Is
founded on property rights and this
state must. at this session Of the leg
1Slature, change our laws to give US
several years to work out our saliva
ton or be prepared to declare the
state and its branches insolvent, and
repudiate those debts, as the foreign |
countries are doing. Our foreign
debts are large but the allied debts
to US are larger. Now they are 60
ing to offer two billion in settlement
OF 20 billion and 1t looks as though
some such settlement will be made. |
That throws that debt back on the
American people. A little of that
Will be borne by the rich but they |
are holding tax-exempt securities |
and otherwise cover up. The bulk
must Be paid, no matter whether It's
. gas tax, sales tax, amusement tax, |
or how. The farm first. the ranch.
the mines. the oil fields. And We
ask this session to back US In |
the coming fight to save our homes
and ranches. II you don't we win |
have to call . special election this
summer ana We may have to change
the present Australian system Of vot-
Ing 50 we have to sign our ballots.
Yes. we can change that. We are
going to know soon who Is driving
Us into bankruptcy.
The outgoing administration sent
put an audit just before election.
That showed this state to be sitting
pretty. It did not get as many
votes q was expected, and now the
half has never yet been told. The
Bank Of N. p. owes 4O-odd million
and Is 100000 In default on interest
alone.
Now we demand some laws for our
protection or We will hold our cattle
and hogs. load the old shotgun up
With one barrel full Of hard and the
other soft wheat and tell our credt-
tors to come and get either kind they
Wt6h. IT SeelT1G fnnlish IN vvrikA tho