Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-12-21
Tax Reform
| nder this head Master Hunt says

| nder TINS heai Master HUNT says
FELLOW patrons. if we expect to secure
An 4 enjoy toe rights guaranteed us by the
consttu IN, we must organize, and act well
our part. 1t is self-evi1ent that in order t.
secure an maintain fair share of pubic
recognition, bear only fair share OF the
pubic burdens, and hold a fair share Of
what the harvest yields, thorough or[a' ia
ton of the industrial classes is absolutely
necessary. 1t is useless for US longer :"
fnd fault with others for the cooditl lns
which surround US. While professiog to
look after our interests, they have simply
looked sitter their own. We have
trustiugIy contded in them, and they have
failed to meet our expectations. We have
no right to complain. We have suffered l.
t., be so, and have even assisted in bringing
about this state of things. The question
now is whether or not these conditions sh Ill
continue In the present Congress we have
only twenty seven members who lay claim
to being farmers, and most of these, doubt
Iass are fal mers only in name. L nder thPs"
circumstances. what right have we 10
expect measures favorable to agriculture /:
A change of base is necessary, and only
heroic action ard thorough organic alton can
"a change for the better be ct
fecteJ But in our effort to effect
a change tor the better. through the
flu, nee of our order, let US exercise wis
iom and prudence in our councils as n
toiy, that our work may bring such accep'-
abis results rs shall bear equitably on ell
classes. We ask 20 class legislation:
fat ue are emphatically opposed 10 such
laws as give undue advantage TO any per-
son, class or section over another. W.
only ask for Just and equitable di-tfibu-
ton Of the public burdens, local, State ant
nstionsl, and that every person protected
bv our Constitution shall be m0de to con
tribute his or her just share toward the
I,uuida,inn Of such burdens. in proportion
to wealth, income and ability to psy.
The question of tax reform has been b.
FIRE our people three years, and before the
Legislature of our State two sessions. From
a wholesale def. at in 1891, to almost a
victory in 1893, has teen the reeulr of ef
forts made through the Grange We feal
that the expense to the State Grarga, in
this direction. has been money well spent.
if the work be properly AMI persstentiy
followed mp. Let us keep this Quest on be-
fore the people Asltate it eontinnallv.
Educate the farmers. and others, still fur
ther upon it. Strive to Interest the indiffer-
ent: get them TO So e and act, If possible,
for their own interest IL is not the far
mers, only. who are Interested in this ques-
ton but the mechanic, the iaborer. and
~reTyIaiy who owns, or is striving to secure
a home of lis own. and whose property is
all exposed TO the assessors view.
We tender our grateful thanks to al
those members of the Legislature Of 1898
who 40 uobly defended tn cause of justice
and right, while the Listing bill was under
consideration. Many of them worked for
the measure. not from any expected bene-
fit that might sccrus TO Themselves. hut b.
cause they knew ii To be inst and right.
Truth. equity, and iu.tlce cannot -uff r
from q full, free, open discussion; a, wit
ness, the results of the three years discu.
siou of the Listing bill. All persons who
oppose the Listing bill show by th-ir acts
that they desire to hold undue advantage
over the medium classes, and an un~illing-
ness to be fair and just
The ultimate outcome of this as well as
many other questions of like interest to us,
res. largely with ourselves. There seems
to be but two courses for US to pursue If
we are bound to remain so indiferentto our
own interests, if we are still willing to re-
gngue.. the burden bearers, the "hewers Of
wood and drawers of water" II we are will
ing TO follow. like the docile mastif in tfst
old sccu stoned track, then let US throw
up the sponge and tameiy submit without
furtl or 90: but if not, then let US rise as
one man, and in our msjesty and might. de-
mand that onr laws henceforth shall deal
out equal rights, and equal justice. and give
to every citizen an equal chance before the
law throughout this State and nation. But
the question how to reach and arouse the
indiff srent to sense Of their responsibility,
to convince them of the great power of or
gauizasion, and their inlpotency while stand
ing aloof, and acting alone, is yet to be
solved.
On tax fefor y, the Grange has taken the
initia i've; has done all the work thus far.
and paid all the bills. The path has been
biazed, and now let US follow it up until the
goal is reached. Stand by your guns, pa
irons. Do not give place. but inch by inch
contest the ground. This order offers goli-
en- opportunities for union and cooperation
among farmers. The Grange has indeed
accomplished much, but nothing compared
vi the possibilities in store could We act
in unison en- all economic questions. What
lesson has been taught us through
our order. and how important to
our ~et-being that we work to se-
cure The full organization Of our
class that We may school ourselves to act
together for mutual good. We have too
much talk. and too little real earnest effort
to much theory and too little practical
truth. II the Grange has Demonstrated one
truth more thsn another it 10 the fact that
farmers are capable, il they viii, Of look
ing after their own sffairs. That they only
need to become interested, throw OF their
native Indifference; organize and 60 to
work in their osn interest; select from
their own class leaders tried and true, and
Continued on 4th psge.l