Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1904-10-31

| And that is not all OF the hard
ships the law in regard to mer-
chants will work on us. We will
be forced to pay higher prices
for what we buy to enable, the
merchant to pay the extra taxes
the new law imposes on him.
Thus you see that this most iniq-
uitous tax with its many greedy
fingers grasps the laboring man
on all sides, never loosening their
greedy hold while penny re-
mains. Then to lay on the last
straw that is to break our back
the Dawson law, the law that the
bosses try to make us believe, was
framed for our especial benefit,
provides that we shall pay 10 per
cent interest on all taxes not paid
on January l of each year. Such
provision is sure to work hard
ship on the farmer who cannot
get good prices before March or
| April. but who will be bound to
sell his products or pay this ex-
cessive interest. Then after we
have listed our properties and
come down to our little bank ac-
count which must vanish on a de-
creasing series, and we have been
most solemnly sworn before God
to the exact correctness OF each
item. and if we have not given
in the whole amount or have fail
ed to give true list OF our prop
ertv then in addition to our taxes
we shall forfeit 20 per cent OF
the value Of the property not CIV
en- in to the assessor. The Pros
ecuting Attorney having the
power to force the collection OF
the same and he shall receive $40,
which is to be taxed against us
if we have thus become a default
ing taxpayer. Then after lmpos-
ing all these hardships on us the
paid bosses and their hirellngs
have the hardihood to ask us to
support the very men who have
fastened on us and are pledged
to perpetuate, this most unjust
law. I have been a Republican
all of my life. | supported Daw-
son in the primary. | believed IN
the reform he promised us. He
was to place the taxes on coal, oil
and gas, and all large corpora,
tons. He was to create a law
that would lift the burden from
the working man and landholder.
The law has been passed and any
many who is not an absolute fool
must see that we, the real estate
holders who are Republicans, are
expected to support the very men
who have saddled us with the
bulk of all our taxes. What does
Dawson and his clique care if ev-
cry Republican farmer is ruined?
They have set out to win by fall
styling every part Of the law.
And they expect to win by with
holding it as it stands Oh the
statutes from the Republican vo-
ter until after the election. The
true test of the case is this: The
Democrats publish the law. and it
is their winning card. rs they
jeeringly point to its harsh pro
visions, which they know they
must bear equally with us. But
they will have the consolation OF
knowing that the enforcement OF
this same law will be the death
blow to the Republican party in
West Virginia. - Now, Mr.. Ed
tor, while | will not bring an I'M
welcome notoriety on m old
friend by disclosing his name,
still l am sure there are many
good Republicans in the State
who wholly sympathize with him
in his views of the new law, and
who feel that its enforcement will
be the handwriting on the wall
that while it spells ruins to the
laboring classes generally, must
spell death to the Republican par
tv c.. C.. F.
Wolf Pen, October %, 1904.
40