Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1886-10-26
To the Voters Of Jefferson
County.

On the I'd day of November next,
you will be called upon to select Del
egates to the Legislature of the State,
and Col. r. p. Chew and myself
have been selected at the Democratic
primary election as the regularly
nominated candidates of that party
for the offices named. Owing to the
pressure of professional engagements,
/ can not expect to see many of You
in person., and for that reason, ]
adopt this method of soliciting your
suffrages.
In the outset, I desire TO express
my profound sense of gratitude for
the uniform kindness which / have
experienced at your hands. 1 make
no claim upon you, except n unaf-
fected, earnest desire to subserve
your highest interests, and to pro-
mote your prosperity and welfare
This desire, and a sincere effort to
realize it, are the only returns which
lean make to the kind and indulgent
community among whom l was born
and have spent the best years of my
life, and who have treated me, in all
| social, business and public relations
with a consideration and indulgence
perhaps extended to few, if any,
other of its members.
Important legislation I believe to
be necessary for the State, and par
ticularly for this County, which is
the third largest taxpayer in the State.
What we need is an economical adj
ministration of the government, and
a moderate and equitable system OF
Taxation. A representation that can
defeat wild schemes of extravaganza,
securely guard the public treasury,
and ~equalize the burdens of govern
ment, so that none shall be oppressed
and all remain prosperous and on
tented, is of more value than one that
seeks to originate new and expert
mental Legislation.
When we reflect that our real cs-
tate pays eighty-nine per cent. of all
our taxes, and that its assessed value
increased thirty per cent. in ten
years, while the returned value of
personally decreased three per cent.
in q similar period, we a but wish
that some more effectual method OF
assessing personality could b edevised,
and put into practice.
Railroads, and other corporations.
also, should be put upon the same
footing exactly as all other persons,
in regard to taxation. This the con-
stitution imperatively demands, and
yet its provisions in this respect are
constantly cvaded.
Unjust determinations against our
own people in the rates of transporta-
ton and travel, should be restrained
and regulated by appropriate legisla-
ton.
One of our main lines of railroad,
(thc Shenandoah Valley, from pres
ent indications, will soon be exposed
for sale at public auction. Do our
present laws sufficiently guard us
against its possible purchase and alb
sorption by competing lines? We
have subscribed largely, and incurred
an onerous debt to secure competi-
ton, and additional legislation may
be needed to prevent the defeat of our
purpose and investments by such alb
sorption or purchase.
These and other public questions
will come before your next Legisla-
ture, and should you again honor me
by your suffrages, L will endeavor,
within the limited space allotted by
the constitution for the Legislative
session, to give these matters thought
full and energetic attention. In the
event of my reelection, my %constit-
uents may rest assured of one thing,
and that is, that my only aim shall be
to subserve their true interests, I'M
swerved from the path of duty either
by the prospect of my advance
ment, or the determined opposition
which 1 have always encountered from
monopoly, and corporate power.
Very Respectfully,
DAN'L 3. LUCAS.