Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-08-31
DECIDED CONTRAST
BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC AND REPUs-
lIcAN RULE
In West virginia, in which the Latter is
Shown Up at q Decided Dis
advantage-A fswfaets
and Figures.

and flgufess
There 10 no doubt that it was the de-
sire Of Mr.. Sturgiss when he delivered
and spread broadcast his speech OF Sat
urday night, that it might be heard and
read by ~ many Is possible. 1t was
heard by several and read by as many
more, perhaps, and has now gained
notoriety. but certainly not such a one
as Mr.. Sturgiss intended. The reporter
in his varied persmbulations, picks up a
great deal Of public sentiment at odd
times. and certainly that in relation TO
Mr.. Sturgiss' speech was anything out
complimentary to him. A column
might well be filled with remarks from
Republicans about his "long aud dull
speech" his 'little recitation" his TAX
ing time which might have been put to
some account by Woodford," his "hat-
tering himself that acrowd came to hear
him." ETC.. but there were much more
serious objections. In a body OF con-
seryatiye men, yesterday afternoon. the
meeting was discussed. Said one OF the
gentlemen: q" wonder what Sturglss
meant by standing up there and WILL
fyipg West Virginia so? Does he eX,
pect by that to induce foreign capital and
immigration? Is that his method oil
opening u D the State and developing its
resources? When it must be apparent
to him that he cannot possibly be elect
ed but by Democratic votes, how can
he, himself renegade Democrat, stand
before an intelligent audience and talk
SOP :,
"a man who could stand up and read
"a long as he did, would have the assur-
ance to do a ything else" said another
gentleman present. Seeking out the
first speaker, the reporter asked for some
statistics showing the condition OF West
Virginia under Democratic rule US COM
pared with Republican. He willingly
assented, and asked where to begin.
"The Republicans charge us with not
having reduced taxes and recklessly
managing our money interest. How Is
this?" o,.
"For the wears 1868 and 1864 we
paid forty cents on the hundred dol
lars. These are hardly fair test years.
In 1865 and 1856 thirty cents and 1851
forty cents on the hundred dollars. In
1913 and 1869 we paid thirty cents and
in 1870 when the radical LEGISLATURE
added (5) five cents on the hundred dol
lars for the public building tax it was
then thirty.fve cents on the hundred
dollars, and so remained till 1874 when
the five cents tax was removed by us.
From 1874 TO this time the State tax has
been twenty cents and the school tax
ten cents, making in the aggregate from
then TO 1880 inclusive, but thirty cents
on the hundred dollars valuation on all
our real and personal property Tor all
PURPOSES. In some counties, / have
heard. the school tax, instead OF being
81 90, il only ~ cents. Another fact is,
We did not increase your taxes in 1870,
though We had to pay the debt oil $780,
52S "a, which the radicals without even
the semblance OF law diverted from the
free school fund for the registration aud
other iniquities. This fact is in your
Auditors report"
"There is a charge that We are OPP
posed to education, and that under our
rule the State education is neglected.
THAT is a ridiculous charge, as can
easily prove. Let us briefly make the
comparison, or let us take six years OF
each parties administration and see
who distributed the greatest fund Tor
educational purposesr In 1867, the Re.
publicans apportioned to the general
school fund, for the use OF the free
schools of the State, SOS, IA; in 1865,
SlO6, 926. SS; in 1867, Sl55,0Sl.4i; i'll
1868. 500, 1860; in 1869, Sl3S, 440.43;
in 1870, the year the Radicals mlsap.
propriated or overdrew for regis
trars, machinery and other purposes
S,iO, 52S. 80 the schools got simply S3l,-
OPS go. But let us look at the table the
Democratic party presents. In 1871,
we distributed S247, 53l.O4; in 1872,
sl7S,227l4; in 1873, S249,5l4.22; In
1874, S240,359.35; in 1875, go, 4!9,3S;
in 1876, $2l9,57S.8S. Do you wish to
known the differenceH Here it is! Our
Radical friends distributed in their six
wears s12S,04S.l5. The Democratic par
" in like time Sl,366,9S7. Difference
S6:5S, 63S.S5. So much by way OF con-
trast.
"Now, look how the Democracy is
still watching the strong boys and iair
girls of our State. In 1877 our appor-
tionment was sl95, 1875; in 1878, S25l,-
Ala 50; in 1879 and 1880 the fiscal year,
500, 1882. And now let us take all our
school expenses from 1865 to 1870; the
Republicans paid for teachers l,O2l,-
O5o.54 aud for building Sl,01i,9I9 81,
total S2,O96, O37 SO. We Democrats, with
less rates of taxation, as the books show,
from 1870 to 1875, spent for teachers
50 I3s, 5SS.7S. for buildings 81 ,093, 27l.IO,
total 1921, Sll.4S. Now hurdening
the people less with TAXATION,
We expended generally on free
schools nearly one and quarter mil
lions more than the Republicans in the
same length OF time. The amount to
teachers being about 81, $4,000 in that
time in excess OF what tie Republ ans
paid. From 1865 to 1871 the Republi-
cans spent for teachers and al. purposes
81. lOO. goo in round numbers. From
1871 to 1875, We spent to lift our people
up to the sunland Of education and cul-
ture $4,000, 900 in round numbers. being
a difference in our favor OF nearly s., OOO,-
600, and the books tell US that this is so,
and that We did not increase but dimln'
ished taxation; and that We have from
$50. 900 to l75, 900 more scholars.
"That is very good for that. How
about the charge that West Virginia, as
a part of the "Solid South" repealed
Immigration. You know how Stnrgiss
harped on that. What are the facts in
the case?' =, =.
"Well, in the first place, take the list
OF capitations assessed since 1865, when
for the first time any approach to accu.
racy could be obtained. This simply
means the list OF voters, or, as the law
saws it, of the white and colored male
persons over the age of 81 years. In
1865 they were 2,76l; in 1866, 72,l22,
when many returned to their homes
abandoned in war; in 1867, 1929: in
1865. SO,027: in 1869, 1885; in 1870.
IS, 40; in 1872, s4,Oii; in 1878, 91,4li;
in 1874, lOO,S57; in 1878, l0S, 9i2; in
1876, l05, S5S; in 1876, llO,SSl; in 1878,
ll4,749; in 1879, 7,Si9, and in 1850.