Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-09-17
West Virginia Editorial Association.

The meeting OF the west virginia
Editorial Association at Charleston
last week was a pleasant and benef-
cial gathering of the newspaper men
of the State. The sessions began
Wednesday evening, with President
]. Slidell Brown, Of Kingwood, in the
chair.
Thursday the feature of the meet
ing was an address upon the report of
the tax commission by Hon. VIM. P.
Hubbard, of Wheeling. Mr.. Hub
bard is strong supporter of the tax
reform plan, and was a member of the
commission that framed the report.
He made a strong presentation Of the
matter from his standpoint, and had
an array Of facts and figures that
could not but impress those who heard
him. He showed very plainly that
it was easy to raise revenues sutf-
cient to run the State by indirect tax
alton, and this, too, without doing in
Justice to any class or any interest.
He thoroughly believes in taxing the
output Of coal, oil and gas, and showed
that these industries are not to be
classed with manufactures which turn
raw products into merchandise by the
employment of labor and by the es-
Enlistment of plants that add to the
value of the State by increasing its
taxable basis. The coal and oil and
gas operations are taking the riches
from the State and turning the profits
into the Golfers of rich corporations
composed chiefly Of non-residents'
Mr.. Hubbard paid his respects to the
signers Of the circular that was recent
ly put before the people in the inter
est of the corporations that desire to
avoid taxation.
Hon. Owen Mckinney, Of Fan
mont, replied to Mr.. Hubbard, taking
the ground that these interests ought
to be fostered rather than taxed. lie
said that capital was very timid, and
it would be injudicious to pass any
measures that would impose restric-
tons upon them.
The discussion Of these matters was
interesting and profitable, and was
listened to with marked attention by
the editors and others. Governor
White, who was present, made a few
pertinent Interruptions to bring out
fully various points, but declined to
make speech.
A number OF papers were read by
the members Of the association, and
all the necessary routine business was
transacted. The next meeting will be
held at Point Pleasant June II, 10
and 16, 1904, and from there the
members will go to the st. Louis Ex-
position, so as to be present on West
Virginia day, June goth. The fol-
lowing officers were elected for the en-
suing year:
President-W. L. Mansfield Wayne
Court House.
ersburg.
Corresponding Secretary--Ormon Ran
dolph BurnSvile.
Recording Secretary-H. G. Johnson,
Elkins.
Treasurer-Thomas II. Dennis. Lew
isburg.
Historian. s. Brown, Kingwood.
Orator-O. S. Mckinney, Fairmont.
Poet-Harry l.. Snyder. Shepherds
town.
The people of Charleston were very
hospitable to the visiting editors and
showed them every courtesy. Mem
bers of the administration entertained
them socially and made every hour of
the time pass pleasantly. Thursday
night Governor and Mrs. White gave
a reception at the executive mansion
which was largely attended. The ed
itors and their friends, besides many
Charleston folks, were delightfully."- en-
tertained by the Governor and his
charming family and by a number Of
the ladies and gentlemen Of the city
who assisted. 1t was pleasant cpl
sode to all who were privileged to be
present. The editor of the REGISTER
acknowledges especial courtesles from
the Governor and bis family, whose
friendship we have long priced and
whose hospitality we have often en-
joyed.
Friday afternoon a number of the
editors were entertained by Mr.. Chaq.
Ward and his son, Mr.. Edwin Ward,
who took them on trip up the beau
tiful Kauawha river on their fast steam
yacht, "The Unique, a boat owned
and invented by the Messrs. Ward.
1t is a novelty in boat construction,
aud every piece of machinery is an
invention of the Wards. The boat at