West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-02-24
REPORT ON STATE DEVELOP
MENT.
BY the Tax Commission
CONTINUED from last ISSUE.
AN AGENCY NEEDED. TO PUBLISH THE
FACTS
FACTS.


FACTS.
There is a character of informa-
ton which ought to be spread be
fore the people but which seems to
be sedulously suppressed. Few per-
sons have had occasion to consider
this matter. The average citizen,
engrossed with personal affairs, sell
dom travels outside his daily duties
to investigate subjects of public
nature which equally concern every
other member of society and it is
mere accident when publicity is CIV
en- to any matter which some private
interest wishes to conceal. We have
reached an age when vast capital
easily combines and we frequently
find a systematic organization of the
best mental powerin the community
in some special direction to promote
enterprises whereby few individu
ais will quickly gather enormous
private fortunes, but which enter
prises are extremely detrimental to
, the general welfare 1t is well known
to such persons as have considered
this subject, that combinations are
formed to prosecute in this State
enterprises of vast profit which are
illegal, which hinder the prosperity
of our people and which are under
taken only because those who prose
cute them expect to be able to con-
ceaI the facts from the general pub
lie.
1t is evidently necessary, there
fore, to create some instrumentality
which will collect and publish the
facts about such enterprises and
schemes as hinder the prosperity of
our people. Be it observed, that we
recommend nothing except publ
cation of the facts, and be it also
observed, that publicity will be a
perfect protection against illegal en-
terprises. But powerful influences
will be exerted to defeat this prop0-
sition because those who profit by a
concealment of the facts will spend
enough money to manufacture an
adverse public opinion, and it sell
dom happens that intelligent legis-
lation can be obtained abouta purely
public matter when large private in
terests wish to prevent it.
The following quotations, from the
writer in another pamphlet, will EN-
phasize these suggestions and tend
to bring them fairly home TO the
understanding of our people.
"The great body of society are un-
acquainted with the situation and
neither influence elections nor con.
troll the selection of public men.
The Press prospers best when it de-
ceives the people and earns money
by advocating measures which in
jure the State. Vast private inter
ests thrive on a diseased condition
of the body polite and while many
are concerned to suppress the facts
nobody is concerned to publish the
truth. Our politicians are afraid
to do what is right and independent
honesty fails where time-serving hy-
pocrisy succeeds. Our public men
are suspected, distrusted and re-
garded with contempt and politics
have reached that low ebb when the
man who is most respected by his
neighbors has the least influence.
The honest brains of the community
are lost to the State and the least
deserving often monopolize the hon
ors of official life"
"We now come to observe the man
ner in which these men control pub
lie opinion. If correct principles
are silenced and the press is used to
propagate false doctrines, the peo-
pie are easily voted contrary to their
true interests. In ordinary cases,
| accurate thinkers publish clear-cut
| views on both sides of a public ques-
ton; these views first reach the law
yers, doctors and men Of business,
and finally work their way among
the semi-intelligent. Hence, in or
binary cases, sound principles, not
being cOunteracted by meretricious
influences, will be espoused by can
didates, and will be moulded into
laws. But the facts about our rail
! roads and the primary principles
/! which are being violated, cannot be
presented to the people. There is a
general feeling that something is
wrong, but voters have not sufficient
information to act intelligently. 1t
is profitable for newspaper to print
what these corporations wish pub
lished, and to suppress what they
wish kept from the people; precisely
as in despotism, an editor pros
pers by not disputing the divine
right OF kings. In truth to argue
against vulgar fallacy, which is
advocated by men of wealth and
power, is as unpalatable to the aver
age editor as to the ordinary politi-
clan, and hence it results that the
monstrous pretensions of these cor
porations are CLOSED over by spe-
cious plausibilities, while correct
views are practically excluded from
the public ear. Again: The press
being negative on this subject, the
evil is infinitely greater than appears
nnon the surface. because a pollti-