The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-03-26
DO TAXES MEAN DEATH ?

duction into Office that they
have taken upon their shoulders
no light burden. They will be the
sole representatives of the interests
of a community of 5000 souls
possessing wealth exceeding
million dollars. More than this,
they will find that our city's laws
are all new, and many of them
untried; hence, it will devolve
upon them to rectify whatever
mistakes their predecessors made
while laboring earnestly and most
faithfully to form out of the worse
than chaos which confronted them
last July a government worthy of
a people whose enterprise and sta
bility are the constant wonder of
the American nation. To say that
the city's pioneer Legislators made
no mistakes in all their work would
be to brand them as infallible and
possessed of none of the intirml-
ties to which we are taught all
] humanity is heir. That their errors
were no more frequent is all to
their credit, as is also the univer-
sal conviction that these errors
were certainly not of the heart.
Many Of these have been rectifed,
and others will be before the ex-
piraticn of the present administra-
ton. The new city legislature
will not be hampered by the boom
erang antics of questionable do
ings and selfish jobbery of a cor
rupt gang of public lOoters. 1t
can take up the work just where
the present council leaves off, and
its hands will not be soiled by the
contact. With such trusty guide
as nine months of fruitful ex-
perience, which has created pre-
cedents by which the straight and
narrow path to public favor is
beaten, the old council can do
much of service to its successor.
The one great problem to be
solved in the next year or two is
that of taxation. That there must
be taxes in order to have a gov
ernment cannot be denied; there
fore, we conclude that the tax
question is the one vital issue in
the career of a town or nation
But taxes may work ruin quite as
effectually as they may give life.
4 pull-back sentiment which scowls
at the mention of more than q
semblance of taxation is quite as
: apt to work complete and early
ruin as the unbridled, over am
: bilious promoter who cannot see
: anything in a town that isn't en-
cased IL bonds and other forms OF
promises to pay. Both these ele-
ments are represented in ArdmOre' s
population, and both will work in
season and out of season from this
day until election day to gain an
advantage for their respective
sides. The battle will be fierce,
and three -cornered. Conservatism
will be the third factor. And un-
less the signs that have served sc
we'll in the past fail utterly, we
are sure to have a victory for the
broader and safer course. Men
will be chosen who will take things
as they find them and go to work
with a will to shape up ways and
means for the carrying into effect
the measures which the people in
? no uncertain tones have demanded.
| What will it cost ? What shall
| be the tax rate ? Shall We cripple
the city's enterprise by the prac-
tice of false economy. or will VT
have bankrupt community and {
worse than bankrupt city govern
ment by the levying of an exorbi
tant tax rate ? Or shall we be wiSt
in our day and strike the happy
medium This is best. 1t il
safe. 1t is sure to advance oul
town; and the advancement vii