Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-01
PHILLIPS ACCEPTS
Ottumwa Man Says He Will Make
the Race for Governor.
REPUDIATES KANSAS CITY PLATFORM

Says He Will Adhere Closely to State
lssues-Equal Taxation and New
Liquor Laws Are Strongly Advocat-
ed-Gives His Views of Affairs.
Thomas J. Phillips, democratic can
dldate for governor of Iowa has made
public his letter of acceptance. 1t is
addressed to the notification commit
tee of his party, and is lengthy af-
fair. About the only point made in
the letter is that wherein the candi-
date repudiates the principles of the
Kansas City platform. He confines
himself to saying that his campaign
will be made on state issues only. The
letter in full is as follows:
"Ottumwa, Iowa, Sept %, 19O1.-J.
J. Mcmahon, Toledo; j. A. Green,
Stone City; d. w. Hamilton, Sigour-
ney, Notification Committee-Sirs: l
am in receipt of your communication
of August 81, 1901 Informing me of my
nomination for governor by the demo-
cratic state convention held in Des
Moines on August q last. have, de.
ferred giving formal acceptance there
to during the period when our coun-
try was bowed down in grief at the
cruel assassination of the nations
chief magistrate and until such time
as we are again compelled to take up
the affairs of life and government at
the close of the sad and final obse-
quleS at the grave of William McKin-
ley.
"The platform adopted at that con-
vention declares that the present cam
paign should be confined to state is
sues, and by such declaration has
eliminated from this campaign all ma
tional questions upon which there
may be some difference of opinion
National questions are rapidly chang
ing and what year or two may bring
forth is not to be at this time fully as
certained, and therefore can only
urge that all persons who believe in
racy join with us in the state cam.
paign this year and become active fac.
tors 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.
Regulates National Issues.
Confident of the wisdom of laying
aside for this campaign the principles
enunciated in the Kansas City plat.
form of 1900 I earnestly appeal to the
voters of Iowa for support of the dem
ocratic candidates upon the wise and
broad platform which Vas adopted at
Des Moines.
There is nothing in the administra-
ton of government affairs which will
do more to promote good feeling
among all citizens and allay turmoil
and strife than to compel the equal
contribution of each person, according
to his means, to the support of the
government. To know that ones
|neighbor, possessing more property, is
paying less taxes arouses the taXpay-
er to feeling of resentment and
sometimes of great bitterness.
There is no question that the ex-
pense of government, state and ma
tional, does not rest upon all persons
alike. In this campaign our party be-
comes the aggressor in the matter Of
state taxation, the same as we have
in the past commended against the IN
equal tribute levied upon the people
under out national tariff laws Ma
tional taxation has been based by the
republican party upon the theory that
taxation could be of benefit to some
individuals or some corporations when
as a matter Of fact taxation, pure and
simple, is always a burden and never
should be used for the benefit of any
lfhino nvpnnf 10 ioo
and authority.
"a system of taxation which admits
Of the formation of trusts and COM
| bines so that Americas products are
| sold higher at home than the same
products are sold abroad has always
been opposed by the democratic par
| ty.
"The democratic party's course up
on taxation questions has been con
sistent and it is now the party through
which the people of Iowa must expect
and can expect justassessmenta and tax
ton laws and a fearless execution of
the same. The functions of govern
ment should not be used to promote
the welfare. of the individual except ss
| one of many, and when such powers
are claimed it is not strange that
those who are unfortunate or I'M
successful should place the RESPONSE
bility upon the government for their
own condition and with the conse-
quent determination to oppose govern.
ment as the source of the inequalities
which we know exist.
Unjust Taxation Is Scored.
Unequal and unjust assessment
and taxation exists in Iowa. Corpora.
lions escape their just proportion Of
the public burden. This should not
| be allowed. Our laws should be so
formulated as to offer no means by
which the corporation or the individ-
ual of large means can avoid the Just
proportion of necessary contribution
to the public revenue 1t will not do
to place real property of the state and
railroad properties in the same class,
as being easily discovered and listed
for taxation, and then to argue that a
large percentage of the personal prop
erty of the state does not come to the
knowledge of the assessor and that
therefore it is right and proper for
| ilrno6c a1N fo h,,,l