Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1901-10-10
POLITICAL REFORM.
Editor News:

and lack Of unsophisticated leadershi
1t becomes us as American citizens t
know who and what we endorse befor
we cast our vote. The old idea of vot
ing for man because he is democra
or republican must play out, and WI
must vote for man because he is a mai
and because he is laboring to brini
about state of affairs that will be Il
the common interest of all. If a maj
has not the interest Of suffering human
ity at heart he is not fit to fill any Office
in the United States of America or any
other country. Gentlemen, there must
be something done. AS long as we art
handicapped by trusts and combines
just so long will we be an unhappy and
suffering people. Just so long as the
law allows a business which makes a
man millionaire in one day, just SC
long the money will remain in the
hands OF a few parties, and just as long
we will have cheap labor and the farm
er will have cheap products, and the
consumer high prices to pay for what he
eats and wears.
say that the present national ad-
ministration could be improved upon.
| Why the administration continues to
cuss and discuss the Philippine Islands,
and let go unbound and unrestrained a
business which is bringing poverty and
hardship to thousands of American cit
liens | cannot understand.
But aside from national affairs the
administration in the State of Tennes-
see is not by far, what it should be.
Tell me that the governor of Tennessee
is a friend to the common cause Of the
citizens of the state when he appoints
to the two most important positions
among miners two men who are enem-
les to an organization of men who are
laboring together to promote the best
interest of themselves and their fami-
lies. refer to the position of air in
spector and the superintency of state
mines.
Tell me that the men who filed the
halls of legislation during the present
administration are friends to the COM
mon cause of humanity when it heaped
upon us an unreasonable road tax
Where is the road tax money going. 1t
certainly is not giving us the kind of
roads we should have. But l presume
everybody sees how ridiculous the pres
ent road law is, so we will proceed to
things of more Importance, the first of
which is the equalization of taxes.
l say we are cursed to death in Ten
nessee with laws, which are not laws
or are favoring some particular
ring or class.
Beside being burdened to death with
taxes we are cursed to death with an
abominable license system. We pay
license on everything we do, and pay
taxes on everything that we possess
and what we are, and what goes with
the tax money? Ask the politicians
and they are mum. Ask some one else
and they are silent. Itreminds me very
much of the fellows new patent churn.
He told his customers that it would
bring milk from water. So the water
was put in the cburn and the churn put
in operation. After churnlng for some
considerable length OF time the opera
tor stepped back and said, Now, gem
tlemen, you see how perfectly it works.
You have it before you inspect it for
yourselves" But said his customers,
Where is the butter?" Said he: Seen.
tlemen, it's gone yonder.
Where's the tax money of the State
of Tennessee and of Marion Countyf
It's gone where the fellows butter
went, It's gone yonder.
Who ever heard Of a mans taxes be
ing equalized down? Citizens of Ma
rion County, were your taxes evei
equalized down? Did you ever go tc
the tax books and find the value of your
property lowered? What right has &
man or body of men who never saw my
property and who know nothing abou
the value of it to say what it is worth
For instance the assessor comes arount
and on oath turn in my property a
S4OO He goes to my neighbor and as
sesses his property at six hundred dol
lars. The books are brought before tn
board of equalization The value of NJ
property is raised to 500 to make
equal with my neighbor's property, an
my neighbor's property is raised
$1,000 to make it equal with somebod
else's property. EquaIized up, don
you see. Say, brother, did you eve
hear of a mans property being equals
led down? No. Neither have l, unles
it was millionaire or railroad CO
poration.
Gentlemen, let us cast our votes fC
better roads at less expense to the cit
zens, and for a better system of tax
tion.
J. NJ. CRENSHAW,
Whitwen, Tenn, Sept. 30, 1901