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Show STREKE AT THE ROOT Everywhere the people are crying ouet against the burden of taxation. Property taxes have rizen both as to valuation and rate of levy almost to a point of confiscation. There is a cause for every effect, and as for burdensome taxation it is not difficult to locate the cause. Furthermore Fur-thermore the people have the remedy rem-edy in their own hands clean out the parasitic faddist. In dealing with social, political and eseentlally economic affairs we have listened to the schemer, the dreamer, the exploiter, the faddist, with the result that our statutes are cluttered with laws which eventuate in heavy taxes with few, if any compensating com-pensating benefits. We have the "social worker," the "housing commission," child's welfare wel-fare bureau," minimum wage board' so called "health boards," and a dozen doz-en and one such incubi drawing fat salaries and giving pink teas at the taxpayer's expense. Years ago we got along without such social interlopers and people were Just as good, children were just as much loved and cared for by their parents, just as well housed, had no more sickness, and lived just as long and just as happy. We have the direct primary, the initiative and referendum, and the recall, making the taxpayer bear the expense of two elections where we used to get along with one. Years ago we used to nominate candidates in town meetings, caucuses caucus-es or conventions and the candidates nominated were as good if not better bet-ter intellectually and morally than under the present primary. Delegates Delegat-es chosen to nominate candidates for their respective parties recognized, first, that party success depended on good candidates; and ;econd. that there was afixed responsibility, respon-sibility, and that no man could vote to nominate a bad man and retain public respect and confidence; where as now voters go blindly to the polls and vote for candidates they do not know and never heard of. The old plan cost the taxpayers nothing. Under Un-der the new plan the expense to the taxpayers is frequently from $3 to $4. for every vote cast. It is time for plain talk, time for heroic thought and action. We can not lessen the burdens of the taxpayer, tax-payer, we can not even prevent them from increasing, by mere complaint, i We must take ax in hand and strike at the roots of the cause. , A |