The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-10-10
Ottumwa, Iowa, Sept. IS, 1901,
Hon. j. j. Mcmahon,
Toledo.
Hon. j. A. Green,
Stone City.
Hon. d. w. Hamilton,
Notification Commit,ce

Hon. ID. W. Hamilton,
Sgourney.
Notification Committee.
Sirs:-l am in receipt of your commune
cation of the 3lst day of August, 1901,
Informing me of my nomination for Gov
ernor by the Democratic State Conven-
ton, held at Des Moines on August Dist,
last. have deferred giving formal &C.
ceptance thereto during the period when
our country was bowed down in grief at
the cruel assassination of the nations
chief magistrate, and until such time as
we are compelled TO again take up the
affairs of life and government, at. the
close OF the sad and final obseq uies at
the grave Of William Mckinley.
The platform adopted at that conven-
ton declares thatthe present campaign
should be confined to state issues, and
by such declaration has eliminated from
this campaign all national questions
upon which there may be some differ
ence' of opinion. National questions
are rapidly changing and what year or
/ two may bring forth is not to be at this
time fully ascertained and therefore l
can only urge that all persons who be-
lieve in the fundamental principles. Of
democracy join with us in the state
campaign this year and become active
factors in helping to formulate party
policy of the future so that full and
complete expression of the rank and
file of the party may be reflected in our
platforms.
Confident of the wisdom of laying
aside for this campaign, the principles
enunciated in the Kansas City platform
OF 1900, earnestly appeal to the voters
OF iowa for support of the Democratic
candidates upon the wise and broad
platform which was adopted at Des
Moines.
There is nothing in the administration
:, of government affairs which viii do
\ more to promote. good feeling among all
citizens, and allay turmoil and strife,
: than to compel the equal contribution
81 each person, according to his means,
ITO the support of the government. To
know that ones neighbor, possessing
more property. is paying less taxes,
inarouses the tax payer to a feeling Of re-
resentment and some times of great bit
) terness. There is no question but what
} fhe expense of government, state and
n national, does not rest upon all persons
\ alike. In this campaign our party be-
1 comes the aggressor in the matter of
|, state taxation, the same as we have in
the past. contended against the unequal
tribute levied upon the people under
our national tariff laws. National tax.
'ation has been based by the Republican
party, upon the theory that taxation
could be of benefit to some individuals
Pr some corporations, when as matter
? bf fact, taxation, pure and simple, is a..
ways burden and never should be used
for the benefit Of anything except the
tax levying power and authority. A
system of taxation which admits of the
formation of trusts and combines SO
that Americas products are sold higher
at home than the same products are
sold abroad has always been opposed
by the democratic party. The demo-
cratic party's course upon taxation
questions has been consistent and it is
now the party through which the peo-
pie of Iowa must expect and can expect
just assessment and taxation laws and q
fearless execution of the same. The
functions of government should not be
used to promote the welfare Of the in
,dividual except as one of many, and
when such powers are claimed it is not
strange that those who are unfortunate
or unsuccessful should place the respon-
sibility upon government for their own
condition and with the consequent de-
termination to oppose government as
the source OF the inequalities, which we
know exist.
Unequal Taxation.
Unequal and unjust assessment and
taxation exist in Iowa. Corporations
escape their just proportion Of the pub.
: 3
licsburden. This should not be allowed
Our laws should be SO formulated as tc
offer no means by which the corpora
ton or individual of large means car
avoid their just proportion of necessary
contribution to the public revenue. II
will not Go to place real property of tn,
state and railroad properties in tn,
same class, as being easily discovere,
and listed for taxation, and then t.
argue that large percentage of the per
sonal property of the state does no
come to the knowledge of the assesso
and that therefore. it is right and prope
for railroads alone to have their burden
lessened to an amount sufficient t
equalize the same with the amount O