The people's voice., 1958-10-10
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
By GRETCHEN G. BILLINGS

If they want to get real concerned
about what history tells us, they
should pay attention to land policy.
Concentration of land in the hands
of the few has caused the downfall
of many countries. 1t brought about
eventual revolution in Russia and
China. and | don't know anything in
history that tells us it can't do it
here.
Republicans have made an issue
out of the graduated land tax-and
| tied it to the tails of the Democrats
which is nothing more than political
chicanery. Because | don't think the
Democrats have yet garnered unto
themselves the courage to look at
that issue squarely.
| have tried to find out something
about what graduated land tax is,
but mostly | get the answer that it
is too complicated to go into. G.
Be that as it may, the emergence of
such a tax proposal indicates to me
there is a need to re-evaluate our
land tax problem in terms of the
trend that puts land in the hands of
a very few people.
X
In Montana we are faced with
larger and larger land owners, most
of them from out of state, who come
in and tear down all the buildings
and leave the land by itself for tax
purposes.
Is graduated land tax an answer?
The Republicans want to talk about
it, so why not discuss land tax? Why
not talk about the problems that raise
this issue? Our solution may not be
the graduated land tax that Republi-
cans want to make a political issue
out of, but we may be able to figure
out some way to make it possible for
the small farmer to get fairer shake
against the absentee land owners who
are gradually getting more and more
Of Montana's acres, and using them
as tax deductions.
X
However, I'd wager that whatever
and tax program might be presented
20 curtail the emergence of land bar
ons and benefit the small farmers,
he Nutters and Jones would be
against it and condemn it.
+
Well shucks, there it is-the basic
of the gentlemen, property
before people. And that is the decision
We have to make as voters-I guess
are we for property or people.
1t is clear cut issue this cam
'aign, if there is no other.
1t is the forever issue since the
'eglnning of time, and Republicans
re giving the voters better chance
It facing it squarely this time with
he vocal Nutter as chairman and the
ather confused Mr.. Jones as con-
resslonal candidate. One thing stands
ut IN the maze of his unfactual ut
erances and that is his defense of
roperty before people.
This then allows somewhat of a
etter choice than we usually get.
nd is refreshing deviation from
ne time worn Mother, God and Coun-
ry campaigns of our recent past.
1t is true we only get a glimpse of
ne philosophy through the curtain of
onfusion, but in political campaigns.
fter many years, one becomes thank
ul for small f vors.
Mrs. John Bonner and Mrs. 10
hlele are entertaining at coffee
our on Monday the 18th of October
or Democratic state and local candi-
ates and office holders, at the Bon
er residence at 8O1 Stewart in Hell
na, Mrs. Thiele has told me.
10 says this coffee hour is in the
'rm of an open house for Demo-
ats and will prove the healing of
i old wounds within the Democratic
INKS. She says it is going to be the
biggest Democratic coffee hour ever
ven'', and told me to make it known
at everyone is invited.