The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1904-10-26
I'm OPEN LETTER.
Hon. Geo. B. Gerau, Republican
Candidate for the Senate Writes
it.
WHY BE CANNOT SUPPORT
DAWSON.

His supports-A Strong Commu-
nication.
Hon. Geo. 3, Gerau has strong
views on the subject of the new
tax laws. He was a candidate for
the state senate in the Republican
primary last spring and made his
canvass of the county on the plat
form of tax reform. His views of
the subject have not changed He
still believes that the bills as franz
ed by the tax commission are right
but he is thoroughly disguised
with the measures which passed
the legislature at the special ses
sion.
He has determined to refuse to
support Mr.. Dawson and to give
his vote and influence to Mr.. Corn.
! we'll for governor. The reasons
which have impelled him to this
step are given in the following
well written letter:
Morgantown, Dot. Is
To the Editor of the New Domin.
ion:
1 was, as you know, a candidate
in the recent primaries in Monon-
gala county for the nomination
for state senator on the Republican
ticket in the Eleventh senatorial
district. You may also remember
that 1 made my campaign largely
on the tax reform issue. / was
then. and still am, in favor of
revision of our tax laws SO that
the burdens of taxation might be
more evenly and justly distributed.
In my campaign, which was princi-
pally among the farmers, l led
them to believe, as l then believed,
that the new tax laws which my
party proposed would alleviate
their burdens. [ favored the nomi
nation of MIR. Dawson for governor
believing that he was champion
ing the cause of the laboring class
es. find that have been deceiv-
ed. and believe my farmer friends
in this county, as well as the farm
ers throughout the state. have been
deceived also, They have asked
for bread and Dawson and his cote
RE have given them stone To
see suoh infamy psrpetrated out
RACES my sense of justice and COM
mands me to come forward pub
licly as an advocate of the peoples
rights and denounce the atrooious
measures which have been passed
by the extraordinary session of the
legislature under the CLOAK of tax
reform. 1 love my party; love
its principles but L cannot stand
by and see those in charge of the
party transform it into highway
robber without raising my voice
in protest in behalf of the laboring
class of people.
Mr. Dawson promised license
tax upon the production of coal,
oil and gas; Mr.. Dawson promised
tax on the gross income of rail-
roads, but when this extraordinary
session of the legislature was call
ed he stood by like a coward and
traitor and saw tax reform, as pro-
posed by the commission, throttled
by striking out license taxes on
GOAL, oil and gas, the taxes on the
gross income OF railroads and other
reforms which he had declared es-
sentiel - the welfare of the people,
ana upon which issues he secured
bls nomination from the people.
He had heard the voice of the
corporations and obeyed. And
too, / had hoped that Mr.. Dawson
would allow a bill to be passed by
wbioh the princely fees he receives
as statutory attorney for non-resi-
dent corporations might be turned
into the state treasury. am now
surprised and ohagrined to know
that Mr.. Dawson personally ap-
peared on the floor of the house
and hal this- bill defeated. Al
special session of the legislature
was called at a cost to the people
OF the state of about $4,000, and
what Was. accomplished? Nothing
but the placing on our statue books
of a MISS of crude and unjust laws
beg to call your attention to
few of these bills. One bill that
seems to have received but little
attention ia the bill taxing dealers
in fire arms 500 annually. While
this bill will benefit the large deal.
ers it will unquestionably work
hardship on hundreds of small
merchants who keep these articles
for sale to accommodate their GUS
TONERS and who scarcely sell SlOOl
worth of goods year.
The worst feature about Mr.. |
Dawson is that he led the people !
of the state to believe that taxes on
real estate would be reduced when
in reality it is now apparent that
they are going to be increased
When this commission was ap
pointed its object was to discover
ways and means of raising addition
al revenue by taxing the transport
ing and producing interests of the
state and relieving in certain de-
gree the farmers. But these trans
porting end producing interests
have escaped and the burden of
additional revenue has been sad
died onto the farmers and owners