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About The Sanders County Independent-Ledger (Thompson Falls, Mont.) 1918-1959 | View This Issue
The Sanders County Independent-Ledger (Thompson Falls, Mont.), 04 Sept. 1918, located at <http://montananewspapers.org/lccn/sn86075282/1918-09-04/ed-1/seq-2/>, image provided by MONTANA NEWSPAPERS, Montana Historical Society, Helena, Montana.
PAGE TWO lea ON Itte PS Se tri Pre SI IIle Olt lee lot MI ma Po THE • SANDERS COUNTY INDEPENDIE3fT-UIDGER Ns la Oa Pa lea Ole THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 1911 Ns as The Sanders County Independent -Ledger Published Weekly on Thursdays TICOMPII011 Talus, ISONSO.N.• The Sanders County Ledger, Inc. C. Austin, Pres. J. J. Clyde, Sec. JOSEIr 1. LYDS. StStar awl atasAtar Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1906, at the postoffice at Thompson Falls, Montana, under the Act of Con - tress of March 3, 1879. .2.00 MILS YZA1 STRICTLY IN ADVANCE The date on your label indicates the time to which your subscription is paid. Renewals should be sent in at least two weeks before expiration in order to in- sure receiving the paper regularly. THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 4, 1918 Pa Mii Na 11111 SO OS SR PRI los WILL MAKE BETTER CITIZENS After the war is over many prob- lems of an important and intricate nature will arise in the re -adjustment of things that will call for great wis- dom and calm judgment on the part of the people' of. this country as well as of the people of the world at large, It is a mance for congratulation, and a comforting thought; that so large a part of our young manhood who are today fighting for a greater freedom in the world, are at the same time receiving a training and educa- tion that will aid in fitting them for the solution of these problems. The boys that are now On the fighting line and preparing to go to the front will be active forces after the war is over in the settlement of the economic problems of the near future and their experiences and op- portunities for observation will then prove valuable assets to the country. Their contact with a world and people heretofore unknown to them cannot fail to broaden their minds open up new channels of thought, steady their judgment . and ThrigIrten their intellects. In many ways they will gnin a new perspective of things' that will be profitable to them :old useful to their country which they arc now so loyally serving. When it is remenibered that the great majority of the lads who are now .at tlie — front or preparing to go to the front, are young men of lim- ited experience—whose experience in life has been confined to compara- tively small localities—it is not dif- ficult to imagine what a tremendous effect their present experiences will have in moulding their characters and prefaring them . for useful future careers. They are young men of keen intellect, full of vigor and in every way the flower of the land, and with the opportunity they will have for observation in the next two years, they may be safely relied upon to return home . prepared to meet and solve the problems with which the world will he confronted in a '‘ViSe and just manner. PZ REGISTRATION DAY Registration Day, 'S'eptember 12th, is the day we older -fellows join hands with the younger fellows who have already been made subject to the call of the nation. The exten- sion of the draft ages is a final step toward mustering the entire resourc- es in man -power into the great strug_ gle to perpetuate democratic institu- tions, and may be taken as an indica- tion of the earnestness with which this country proposes to see the mat- ter to a successful and speedy con- clusion. We have seen the • efficiency with which it has been possible to form and train a great army by a scientific selection of the men best fitted by circumstances and physical ability for fighting, within the limits set under the original law : We' Ure now going to extend the law to cover -practically every man who is able to bear arms, and while many will never have to go into active service, the machinery will be ready for any conceivable emergency, and if necessary the same selection can be made on very short notice to form a great army of in- dustrial workers to support the ones who are doing the fighting. Secretary Baker has covered the subject of the new registration very concisely 1 in the following statement: \Since the beginning of our gov- ernment, it has been the law of this country that every able-bodied male citizen and declarant between 18 and 45 is subject to be summoned to its defense. The occasions have hap- pily been rare when such sum- mons has had to be issued. We face the need now. \Over 10,000,000 of our men of fighting age have already registered for selection for service. Out of this number, -many have been chosen, trained and sent to battle across the sea, while others are in training or on the way. They have made us very proud of them, these splendid sol- diers, and some of them have .dready *given their lives for us. We shall not fail to support them and to reinforce them. \The remaining 13,000,000 are now called upon to register for selection. The only purpose of this extension of the Selective Service Law is to bring a speedier end to the war and to insure a safer world for ouf child- ren. \Since the enemy has compelled the arbitrament of force, force let it be, force overwhelming. The regis- tration , -of the entire man -power of the United States will be our unmis- takable pledge to humanity that dem- ocracy is to be the regime of the future.\ iss THE FOURTH LIBERTY LOAN The\ campaign\ for the Fourth Lib- erty Loan begins September 28 and closes October 19. While the amount - has not yet been announced, it is generally conceded it will be for a larger amount than any of the pre- ceding loans. The American people' therefore are called upon to raise a larger sum of money . in a shorter length of time than ever before. There is need, therefore, for prompt action—prompt and efficient vsiork arid prompt and liberal subscriptions. We have a great inspiration for a great effort. The news from the bat- tle front inspires every American heart, not only with pride and pa- triotism, but with a great incentive to do his or her part. There is no shirking, no shifting of the individual burden, no selfishness by American soldiers in France; there should be none here, We are both supporting the same country and the same cause —our army in one way, ourselves in another. Cheirs is the harder part, but we can, at least, do our part as promptly and loyally and efficiently as they do theirs. les CLAIMED TO BE LIAR. Many people have been surprised at the unusual man power shown by Germany in the present conflict of arms, and have been led to believe the population of that country was greater than the world had thought, The following statement is made to the Washington Post by an ex-tat- tache who spent several years in Ber- lin's diplomatic court. The state- ment is found in an article on the ,)ersonal side of General von Hinden- burg given by the writer. He says: \My first meeting with Hindenburg took place at a dinner party at the foreign office in Berlin His ac - acknowledgment of the introduction was anything but polite. First he grinned, and when lie had swallowed what was in his mouth, was about to say something to me. Then he apparently changed his mind, grinned at MC once more, and went on with the business dr eating. \After dinner, I strolled into the antiroom of the foreign office where brandy, whiskey, accrated waters and cigars were provided for the guests. There I encountered - von Hinden- burg, seated at a small table by him- self, enjoying a whiskey -and-soda and a cigar. I motioned to the emp- ty seat opposite him. He nodded and I sat down, \'What was it you were going to say at dinner, General?' I asked. 'It must have been something amusing. I felt sure by the look in your eyes, that I would like to have heard it.' \'Well the fact is,' he said final- ly, 'I was going to tell you that whenever I am introduced to a diplo- matist, I, always feel that I have add- ed another liar to my acquaintance.' After further conversation, the writer asked him: \'Who is the biggest liar of whom you know?' \'I artir von Hindenburg fairly roared his reply. Then he repeated, pounding his chest, 'I am, I am.' \'The author of a lie is a liar, even if he does not utter the lie. Is not that good theology?' he demanded \'Is it possible to ask what is the nature of the lie?' I asked, \'It is not!' Von Hindenburg eared malignantly at me. \It was not until three years later the peculiarly malicious nature of the lie which so amused thc German fighter became apparent.\ After relating numerous\ inadents and impressions of this later meet- ing, the writer adds: \I asked von Hindenburg, 'General do you still persist in characterizing yourself as the biggest liar?' \'Yes Why?' It was inevitable that the grin should break out again \ !Sheer curiosity, General * \'Yes I am the biggest liar and my lie is so well established that ithe world would not believe me if I de- nied it.' \'It was suggested to me by a German who told a similar lie to the great Caesar when he overran Fti- Tppe. The story mita that a certain fterinanic tribe had beim subjugated by the Romans and, becaite of their stubborn defense that had cost -many Roman lives, were required to pay an enormous tribute, based upon the population of the tribe. \'This German chief was a diplo- matist as well as a Sghter. IIe thought quickly and before Caesar had sent out his officials to take the tribal census, fast -running couriers had carried a message that caused the tribespeople to migrate in great numbers. Thus, the census -takers CHAMPION carried back to taesar a report that showed the number of only about one-half of the real population. \'Sonic day Germany's enemies will say, 'Ah, she has bitten off more thans he can chew,' and they will not understand why Germany can chew on so big a cud. They will discover that we are stronger than we really are when it is too late.'\ The above would indicate that at the suggestion of von Hindenburg the actual population of Germany has Mr years been falsiffi.d for the pur- pose of deceiving theworld as to the real man -power. Pa 1 4 1 That the baby -killing Huns are squealer, when they gltt a dose of their own medicine is evidenced in the attempt of the Rhine cities to have the German government try to arrange with the Allies to have open towns made immune from air attack. The frightfulness with which they have waged war upon women and children bars them from any right to appeal, and they may as well under- stand that until they lay down their arms and accept what the Allies see fit to give them, no mercy will be shown them, That Milwaukee sergeant and his squad of 14 men who got lost in the capture of Jauvigny and strayed into the German lines where he captured two Hun captains and' 30 men, seem- ed have a persuasive way, for when the Hun officers questioned his auth- ority, the 30 prisoners were marched into American headquarters, but the officers are still where he met them, unless their remains have been re- moved. It does not do to argue matters with the Yanks when they give the order to hike. Ite German crops are reported to be heavier than last year. That may ac- count for the seeming haste of the Huns to get back home. There may be a shortage of harvest hands. At that, unless they increase their speed —and it must be admited that they are sure going some now—there will be few of them that will ever reach Hunstown this side of Hades. la The recent primary has again dem- onstrated the weakness of the law in many respects and shown that it COMCS far from securing for the peo- ple the things they desire. It is an expensive system and its results show that the standard of officials has by no—means been raised under its workings. set• In Director General McAdoo', or- der to railroad employes, without re- gard to station, to keep out of poli- tic . s, we have a practical application of the president's dictum that poli- tics be adjourned. Twenty y..ass' imprisonment and a twenty thousand dollar fine, such as was meted out to the big leaders of the I. W. \V., is only a just penalty for their particularly serious mis- deeds. Pe in That an attempt was made to as- sassinate Nikolai Leninc, the Bol- sheviki premier of Russia, is undis- puted, but the result of the attempt is shrouded in doubt. Psi Mt The banners of the laboring men carried in New York on Labor Day were inscribed: \Win the War For Freedom,\ showing that the heart of our organized labor is in., the right place. IM The rounding up of more than 10,- 000 suspected draft evaders in and around New York indicates that the strong arm of Uncle Sam is reaching out in earnest for slackers. rta If it was fated that Lenine should be assassinated for the good of Rus- sia, why should fate have so delayed her hand? • - loa General Hell, who was recently as- signed to the western front by the Hun command, has seemingly raised —his name—with the Hun forces. 1/111 His Satanic Majesty smiles glee- fully•at the predicament he finds his Hun rivals in deviltry situated in northern France. IN SI kVith fat steers selling for $19 a hundred in Chicago, choice steaks are a luxury the average person cannot indulge frequently. A number of our citizens have been finding dead and mutilated chickens on their premises and missing others sel which no traces were left. For a tiine their wat some mystery as to the Identify of the vandals, but that problem was solved when owls were caught red-handed in their depredk lions. They have been very bold in their operations, even entering chick - m• houses where the only means of entrance was a small opening left for the chickens to make their exit tta ir the yard in the morning. War has been declared on the winged thieves and already a number of them have paid the penalty of their depre- dations with their lives. OPPOSES MORTGAGE EX- EMPTION. Two years ago the voters of Mon- tana, by a vote of 34,542, defeated a proposed amendment to our state constitution, which would have ex- empted evidences of debt, or in other words, mortgages, from taxation. I think that should have indicted to our state legislature what the sen- timent of the people was in regard to the proposition, and it should have heeded their voice as expressed at the polls, but today we are again confronted by the same proposition to be adopted or defeated at the election in November. Shall we give it our approbation and make it a part of our state organic law, or shall we defeat it? In my judgment, it should again be defeated. The proposition is wrong. No property that has pro- ductive capacity and is used to that end should be exempt from taxation. Speaking broadly and in a general sense, all real estate and tangible per- sonal property, such as livestock, should be taxed uniformly. Money at interest should be taxed according to what it earns. The present reve- nue provisions of our state constitu- tion do not permit it to be so taxed. Consequently, that instrument should be so amended as to impose a graduated scale of taxation on money at interest and on money de- posited in checking accounts in banks, That is, money drawing a low 'rate of interest should pay a low rate of tax, while money drawing a high rate of interest should pay a ...1 higher rate of tax. An amendment of this character is the one we should have and not one to let money that is eerning money go scott free. Let us not by suffrages incorporate into our state organic law a pro- vision which must place on the money borrowers and lesslwell-to-do classes a burden the money lenders should carry. Is it not quite enough for the mon- ey borrower to pay 'the — money lend- er his principal and interest without paying a part of the taxes he should assume? I am not a borrower of money. So far I have lent no money in the state. But I could do so in a small way, so that considered, from the standpoint of dollars and cents, it should be to my advantage to have the proposed amendment adopt- ed, as I could get a higher rate of interest here than elsewhere, but it isn't Tight. My idea of a proper schedule of taxation for inoney at interest is as follows: That drawing 4 per cent or less, to be exempt (this approaches a parity with Uncle Sam's policy); that drawing less than 5 per cent, 2.5 mills on the dollar; that drawing 5 per cent and not exceeding 6 per cent, 5 mills on the dotter; that draw- ing in excess of 6 per cent and not exceeding 7 per cent, 7.5 mills on the dollar; that drawing in excess of 7 per cent and not excee'ding 8 per cent, 10 mills on the dollar; that drawing in excess of 8 per cent, a charge that would reduce the interest to 6 per cent. Whether money deposited in bAs as a checking account and not draw- ing interest should be taxed is a problem I have not been able to solve to my satisfaction. There are considerations pro and con. It is generally a part of the depositors equipment to do business with, the same as his horses, wagons, store- rooms or factory, which articles and structures are justly taxed, but some- times the checking account is in part borrowed capital. It would be a hardship to tax that inanition of it. To attempt to differentiate between he borrowed part and the part not borrowed would be too cumbersome to be practicable. What I have stated is a considera- tion in favor of exemption. Money deposited at interest in banks should undoubtedly ke taxed, and to exempt the checking account might be a temptation to switch the other ac- count to it at a convenient time to avoid taxation. Viewing the ques- tion from all angles, according to what appears to me to be good judg- ment, I would tax the checking ac- count at 3 mills on the dollar, based on the aggregate amount of the ac- count for the period of deposit, be it a year or less. Depoiits that have been at interest for the minimum unit of time for which the banks will pay * interest should pay a tax provided the inter- est is in excess of 4 per cent. - This tax, as well as the tax on the check- ing account, the banker should be required to retain and pay at the end of the tax year. This is a pay- ment at the source of income. It is not a novelty in this state or nation. Corporations in this state employing labor pay the poll 'taxes of its em- ployes in this way and the United States collects the income tax on div- idends paid by corporations in this way. The banker should be paid a reasonable compensation _for his trouble. Under our present laws,sbanics pay taxes only on their stock and real es- tate, but a great part of their income conies from loaning. deposits. On a part of these they pay interest; on the checking account, unless the ac- count is very large, they pay none I ant told that mortgages are trans- ferred to banks to evade taxation. This is an abuse. Mortgages held by banks should be taxed the same as mortgages owned by individuals Interest earned by loaning deposits should pay the saint rate of tax on tne net rate of interest earned from such loans as are imposed on inter- est earned by individual lenders. A word about the assessment of money and I will pass to the consid- eration of other phases -of the sub- ject. By the schedule I proposa, it will bear a much sinaller rate of tax- ation than other classes of pfoperty. For this reason it seems to me to be fair to asses slk avidences of debt at par, notwithstanding the fact that as assessors apply the law, other classes of property are assessed at much less than the real value. Land, crops: raw material, livestock, etc., all re- quire labor and attention to make them productive. Not so with mon- ey; it keeps plugging away every day in the year for the lender without bringing any sweat to his brow. Let us consider briefly the earning capacity of money, My article is growing in length; however I shall try to be no more voluminous than a sufficient illustration demands. 7 per cent net is the highest rate of interest the schedule of taxation I suggest provides for. At this rate, money will nearly , double itself in 14 . years; to be exact in that tim,e $1000 principal and interest will amount ti $1980, if no use is made of the ac - ceiling interest. If the interest is loaned as it accrues at 7 per cent, at the end of 14 years the lender will have in all $2460.20, or he can place it in a bank at 5 per cent compound interest which will amount in 14 years to $2254,33. If Ile loans $1000 at a rate that nets him 5 per cent after paying taxes it will amount in ,15 years to $2078.93, that is if he places the interest in the bank at 5 per cent compound intereit Now, doesn't it show a spirit of selfishness on the part of the money lender that deserves to be rebuked to be seeking to be relieved from all taxation on money when he can pay a reasonable tax and still reap such a harvest as the above results dem- onstrate? Shouldn't this iniquitious proposal be consigned to such a crushing de- feat at the 'polls that no legislator will have the hardihood to stand sponscr for it in the next 50 years? Citizens of Montana, male and fe- male, let us so treat it on the 5th day of next November. Let all of us who believe in a fair and square deal for all and not in favoritism and spec- ial privileges for the rich, be there early on that day and send it to per- petual oblivion. I want to consider briefly the ar- guments I have heard advanced in . favor of the proposal. First, double taxation. That is imposing a tax on the mortgaged property and also on the debt. This is only a pretext by which the money lender hopes to im- pose on the public the deception that he has some justification for his po- sition. It doesn't detract on penny from his income. It is as thin as gauze. As the assessors apply the law, neither has the borrower any grievance. I will illuustrate. A man owns a farm worth $2000 on which he, has a loan of $1000. It would probably be asse r Ased at $300 or $400. to exempt the amount of his debt would be to exempt his land entirely from taxation. If it were assessed at its value, $2000, his debt should be exempt, otherwise he would be paying on $1000 of property he did not own. This demonstrates that the money' borrower, and not the money lender is the only. person who could pos- sibly be *!.irt by the money tenders' shibboleth a double taxation. To my mind it is a manifestation of a spirit of brazen effrontery on the part of the money lender to be try- ing to tviist what might be to the hurt of the borrower to his own ben- efit. I remark in passing that the borrower is making no compalint. This is not his fight. He is too busy Making a living and trying to pay off his debt to be concocting meas- ures and lobbying the legislature. The other argunient I have heard advanced is that the mortgages held outside of the state pay no tax, there- fore exempt those held in the state. The remedy for this is to make the outside man pay the same tax as the inside men. A non-resident mortgage holder is in a sense doing boosiness in the state Other outside of state people (for instance insurance com- panies) doing business in the state pay taxes in the state, Let the mort- gage holder do the same. The mort- gagee should be required to set out his name and residence t the instru- ment under the penalty tor non-com- pliance of its passing him no title The tax on it should be a first lien on his interest in the property en- cuilibt-red, enforceable at the suit of the county treasurer. The usual ser- vice of summons by publication in cases of non-residents to apply. I hope to have this article printed °in at least one paper of general cir- culation in every county in the state and to circulate generally over the State a petition to present to the state legislature at its next winter session asking it ot submit to a vote a proposition to amend tha state constitution in the manner I have indicated. I also wish to present an initiative measure to tax outside -of - state mortgages as I have indicated. A draft of the petition and initiative law I will try to prepare and have • printed with this article. If not, then later. What I have indicated is certainly in the interest of the plain people of the state, but it will require some unity of action and some money, not a very great amount, but some. I will donate some time and $5.00; I in- vite others who feel like I do about the matter to contribute to their abil- ity and inclination from 25c up. None of the money will be misap- propriated 'and all will be accounted for if you give any. For aught I know, my appeal may fall flat; that is up to the voters of the state. In conclusion, let me say that we should present a petition so numerously signed that the legisla- ture will not dare to ignore us, and the initiative measure should be as strongly supported. ALVAH B. FLOOD, Camas, Mont. The following shows how the mem- bers of the legislature voted on the proposed amendment to the consti- tution: - Senate. Ayes —Armin, Stillwater; Arnold, Gallatin; Brower, Missoula; Burla, Bighorn; Clark, Toole; Clay, Phil- lips; --Dwight, Sanders; Edwards, Rosebud; Ellingson, Sweetgrass; Featherly, Beaverhead; Fishbeck, ' Sheridan; Gallwey, Silverbow; Gnose, Deer Lodge; Haley, Prairie; Heren, Custer; Hogan, Yellowstone; Jones, Meagher; Junod, Madison; Kane, Ravalli; Kinney, Wibeaux; Larson, Teton; hfcCone, Dawson; Meadows, Richland; Mershon, Granite; Morris, Hill; Muffly, Broadwater; Oliver, Fallon; O'Shea, Carbon; Parker, Jefferson; Roberts, Lincoln; Slayton, Musselshell; Smith, Lewis and Clark; Taylor, Blaine; Whiteside, Flathead; Willett, Mineral; Williams, Powell. Absent or not voting—Burling- game, Cascade; Hurd, Valley; Lane, Fergus; Stevens, Choteau, House of Representatives. Ayes—Anderson, 0. A., Fergus; An- drew, Silverbow; Arneson, SIFfet- grass; Ashby, Lewis and Clark; 'Ball, Eilverhow; Baxter, Meagher; Belden; Bent; Bernard, Flatheud; Blake, Deer Lodge; Booth, Cascade; Buell, Mis- soula; I3uell, Gallatin; Buchanan, Yellowstone; Burnworth, Rosebud; Caril, Yellowstone; Clark, Choteau; Connelly, Park; Cotter, Broadwater; Crismas, Carbon; Crowley; Demel, Yellowstone; Dodds, Flathead; Duffy, Silverbow; Saton, Yellows stone; Farmer, Cascade; Gould, Mad- ison; Griffin, Blaine; Grimes, Silver - bow; Gullidge, Prairie; Harbert, Flathead; Harmon, Gallatin; Hatha- way, Ravalli; Hawks, Wibeaux; Hen- derson, Dawson; Henry, Choteau; Higgins, Missoula; Halt, Cascade; Huffaker, Lewis and Clark; Hurd, Stillwater; Musser, Hill; Ingalls, Flathead; Ironside, Silverbow; Jen- sen, Cascade; Johnson, Deer Lodge; Johnston, Ravalli; Kelsey, Custer; Kemmis, Richland; Lanstrum, Lewis and Clark; Larse, Sanders; Lemmon, Deer Lodge; Lewis, Choteau; Lusk, Missoula; McClory, Toole; McDon- ald, Teton; McMahon, Silverbow; McMillan, Sheridan; McQuarrie, Mis- soula; Mason, MissLla; Middleton; Morris, Fallon; Morrow, Musselshell; Murray, Cascade; O'Brien, Silver - bow; Phelps, Valley; Prosser, Lewis, ind Clark; Quaintance, Jefferson; Rainey:, Dawson; Rasmussen, Daw- son; Sand; Scott, Big Horn; Searles, Mineral; Sektnan; Spain, Gallatin; Stimpert, Cascade; Ward, Silverbow; Weil, Lincoln; Wheat, Madison; White, Fergus; Working, Lewis and Clark. Noes—Anderson, Fergus; Davis, Teton; Shaw, Powell. Absent and not voting—Baldwin; Blodgett, Silverbow; Brooks, Park; Deibel, Custer; Eliel, Beaverhead; Fishbaugh, Choteau; Flanigan, Sit- verbow; Fuller, Custer; Jones, Phil- lips; Page, Granite. QM. LOWER FREIGHT RATE SECURED (Continued from page 1) ilege, it should -be granted. The priv- ilege is intended for farmers and stockmen within the drought area and feed dealers within the drought area having distributing facilities and whose stocks are for sale to feeders within the drought area,. \W. L. BEERS\ Kaiser Wilhelm will find little of a comforting nature when he hears Uncle Sam's roll call on September 12th. Some Woman Have That Knack. He—\Where does your wife carry bar 'tree r rer Ws Neighbor— \In t other women's purse. Honest, you'd think she wanted to pay
