Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1903-11-10
Hon. Wiillam campbell.
Our ye,tator Talks Taxes and Politics n
Charleston.


Charleston.
From the Charleston Gazette. Oct. 29.]
Hon. William Campbell. the Senator
from Jefferson. arrived in this city last
evening on a business mission, and was
soon mixing with political and personal
friends about the hotel lobby Being
from an agricultural section, the Senator's
views on the tax commission report and
other matters were sought by a Gazette
man. In reply to questions he said
The agriculturists of the State know
that they are being robbed under the ex-
isting system of taxation. and they are
going to insist on a more equitable dis
tribution of the cost of State government.
. AS an illustration of the discrepancies
in assessing farming and coal producing
counties, take my own county and this,
Jefferson has no coal. oil, gas. or timber
yet the average assessment OF its lands
per acre with buildings, is over eighteen
dollars, while here in Kanawha the rich
est mineral county in the State. it is bare
ly SIX.
We believe that there should be an
immediate reassessment of all lands, un-
der proper safeguards. and an annual re-
assessment thereafter. How relief will
be cotton remains to be seen, but we will
get it. The tax commission offers some
good bills, which should be enacted into
law, and some that are, to say the least,
|impracticable. The Democratic members
of the legislature with whom / have talk
ed are not obstructionists and are ready,
in patriotic manner, to join hands with
all sincere tax reformcrs, even if Of oppo
site politics land we are glad to welcome
the recent eminent converts to the JEFF
fersonian doctrine of Equal opportuni-
ties for all, special privileges for none
| While we are willing to concede sin
certify of purpose to some of the leading
Republican advocates of tax reform per-
haps we should not take those sudden
spasms of civic virtue too seriously in all
instances. but remember with Antonio,
that the devil can cite Scripture for his
purpose 1t is decided change of front
for those who have been milking the cor
porations for the Republican campaign
fund tor years. to come out on the side
of the people.
Personally believe that adequate re-
lief will never be afforded the taxpayers
OF the State until the Democratic party
is put in control; but we will not play
peanut politics for political advantage.
The people demand relief, no matter
whence it comes.
In the eastern panhandle we are TAX
ing great interest in the result of the
Maryland election. The President, be-
lleving that Republican success will be
a vindication of his race equality theories,
has established new precedent of feder-
al interference in State elections, and is
lending all the power of the administra.
ton to bring about the election Of Nc
Comas and his Force Bill friends. War.
field, German, Rayner and the other
Democratic leaders have declared fol-
white supremacy, and will carry the
State. In his Highland speech last
week Mr.. German took the position that
any State is in danger of negro domino
ton where the inferior race holds the
balance of power, and referred especially
to West Virginia in that connection,
Il have noticed in FaYette county over
FIVE thousand tax-delinquents have been
returned this year, and that over three
| hundred indictments were brought by its
last grand jury, and am info. med that al
least nine-tenths of these paupers and
criminals are negroes. Yet this vicious
element absolutely controls the election
of our congressman. judges and members
of the legislature.
Il hope our next platform will declare
for the repeal OF the fourteenth and fif-
teenth amendments. Then we can ac.
cord to the Industrious. intelligent negro
his political rights.
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