Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-10-07

THIS compare Win tne record ol Puon
can rule in West Virginia? We look back
over their record, we find plenty Of test
osths and registration laws and official
scandals and we &, on and on and still
there stares ne in the face from every page,
the history of maladministration and cor
ruption never plralled in West Virginia
bsfore, and amid all this mass we find one
little good thing, which they point to az
their monument. The Republican prty
passed the State school law. and SO they
did. We give them their dues,
but in what an imperfect and
crude condition did they leave the State
school system, only to b. perfected and
built up, until its bsnifcsnt influences are
felt in every home in the land, BY the
hands OF Democratic officials.
REPUBLICAN INEFFIcIENCY.
Lst US refer to that school law little
further. In 1867 under Q Republican State
administration, there was expended from
the general school fund, $167, 600; in 1870,
the last year of Republican control there
was expended from this fund 1926, 600.
Then there came o change. Republican
ism went out and Democracy came in;
and what was the result. In 1887, or the
LAST year from which we have official sta
tistics, there was expended for the benefit
Of the school children of this State, almost
tTics a. much as any Republican ad-
ministration ever laid ont. Over $402, =
OCO was thus laid out. But this is
not all. In the last year Of Republican
rule there was expended for all purposes
in this State ssh, 600. In 1887, there was
laid out for all purposes over 81 ,OS7, 900.
But YOU ask me how was the Democratic
party able to do this? Did il lay heavier
taxes? Mo- one cent. Economy, honesty
and intelligent business methods were the
great factors that enabled Democratic
administration to expend twice as much
money for the benefit of our people with
out increasing the rate or levying one dol
lar of unnecessary taxation. On the con-
trsry, will slow You that the rate OF tax
alton for State purposes has been less since
the Democratic party csms in power. Inthe
seven years, from 1863 to 1870. the average
levy for State purposes was SO cents and a
fraction on the 500. Since 1870 the
average has been 81 cents, making differ
ence Of 5 cents on the 500. Now my
friends, what has this saved to you?
What does 5 cents on the 500 for seven
teen years mean? II means that over
81, 099, 900 has BEEN kept in your pockets,
and not fooliahly and recklessly expended
by careless or dishonest public servants
You are that much the gamer and for that
you are indebted to
AN HONEST DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION.
We look over the State and we see its
public institutions all we'll cared for, their
efficiency incrta and their service eco
nomically administered. We see the ordi-
nary expense, of government all promptly
met, and the extraordinary expenses prop.
erIy provided for. This is the record Of
Democratic rule in West Virginia, and il
has made that record with lower rate Of
taxation than that imposed By thtir Re
publican predecessor. For this the Demo
cratic putty asks and deserves continu.
ance in power.
Judge Fleming then turned to national
issues and discussed the tariff question at
length. You must bear in mind, he said
that our State and County governments
are supported by direct tax, averaging
probably 81 so on the 500. That tax ia
equally distributed. 1t is q tax on veal h.
But how is it with the Federal govern
ment and Federal taxation? Does wealth
support it, and what is its rate? My
friends, all our Federal expenses, our PEN
sion rolls or salaried officials, our public
buildings, our nationsl impro vements,
are oil supported. not by tax upon the
nations wealth, but by a tax upon the
nations consumers. It's rate is not a
mere 81. so on the 500, but it is forced
up to the enormous figure Of $47.10 on
the 500.
Let me impress upon you thai one fact,
that the wealth Of this country does not
pay one cent to support the federal govern
ment. The richest man in your city doe s
not contribute more to defray national ex-
penses than his poorest employee, unless
il Be that he consumes more. In other
words unless it be that he wears more
clothes and eats more food than his poor
neighbor. Cheers The poorer man
pays lust as much as the rich man, and
this too without regard to his ability or
without receiving one tithe Of the benefits
and protection. Cheers.
TARIFF INEQUALITIES.
Not only fellow Democrats are these
taxes too high, but they are unjust. They
are unfairly and unevenly laid. We find
that the necessaries of life which every
man must use are put at the highest
figure, while the miliionaire's luxuries
clme in practically free. Let me read you
q comparative list We find that horse
shoe nails are taxe1 rs per cent. Dis-
monds are taxed only 10. Thread lace is
taxed 80 per cent; spool cotton, which
every one must use, is put at 81. The
finest carpets come in at 40 per cent, while
the coarse once, which you and must use,
my friends, are taxed ~ par cent. Beet Eng
lish broadcloth, costing in the factory $3 80
per yard, is dutiable at IS per cent and ad
valorem rate CT 40 per cent, making q
total advslorem rate of 80 per cent. How
ia it with cotton warp reversible? 1t costs
at the ffcsory As cents yard, but it bears
o duty OF $50 per cent I'D valo.em. Under
our tariff system, the man who wears the
fine broadcloths can wear it, my friends,
under q tax of only 80 per cent, while
nine-tenths of rs who wear the common
goods ere compelled TO wear them under Q
tax Of $50 per cent. These are the in
equslities that the Mills bill will wipe
out. These are the ipjustices it removes.
II proposes to cut down this burdensome
and NJ just taxation 70 fair and equitable
level, and further proposes 10 make the
luxuries of the rich bsar their equal
burden with the recessaries of the poor.
Now about tie cry Of fres trade. They
say that reduction from AZ pr centto AZ
per cant in our tariff duties i, free trade.
They say that p;stilerce and famine and
want and ever other re evil will follow
in it's wake Now gentlemen know in
their secret hearts they do not be 1--we that
the Demo. IA ic party IS free tIa1e rarty.
II does no. prof,s So il in lis platf;rm. IL
It never las done so. II has never his
sdvocaxd il and it never will.
THE pEMOCRAT TIC PARTY STANDS FOB PRO-
FICTION.
It stands wbers Henry Clsy s'ood. say
now that I am opposed to free trade, that
no man is o better protectiopiss than am,
within the limits If the Law. / au favor
n