Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1904-08-26
THE A. B. c or TAN REFORM

noHiuSc 10 SuheIluf W WSSe W
ginis'
Answer: w. M. O Dawson, secre-
tary OF state OF West virginia. for the
past eight years.
Q. Whom did he defeat for this
nomination.
A. Charles +. Teter OF Philippi.
Q. Upon what issue did he win
this nomination.
A. Upon an issue which he and
his supporters styled tax reform. +"
Q. What were the salient PROPOSE
tious advanced in his 'tax reform"
campaign by which he secured his
nomination.
A. He promised the people to Sc
cure the enactment into laws of the
principal recommendations OF the tax
commission in its report, specifically
advocating among other measures the
following recommendations:
ta) The immediate removal of all
direct state and state school taxes.
(b) A production tax upon the
output OF coal mines aud oil and gas
operations.
(c) A constitutional amendment
making the payment of capitation
taxes condition precedent to voting
(D The general relief of the agri-
cultural interests from dispropor-
tiouate burdens OF taxation.
(e) The increased taxation of the
railroads OF the state, arguing that
they pay much less taxes proportion
ately to the taxes paid in surround
ing states, advancing this proposition
in addition to the proposals OF the
tax commission.
Q. Who contr oiled the Wheeling
convention which nominated Mr..
Dawsen1
A. Mr.. Dawson and his friends.
Q. Did this convention adopt any
platform plank relative to the much
heralded tax reform" movement?
A. Yes; the platform stated the
convention favored the enactment Of
the measures proposed by "a COM
mittee OF eminent citizens. "
@ Who were these eminent citi-
zeus,
A. Messrs. Hubbard. Sturgis 9,
Dayton and Blizzard.
Q. Had the members Of this con-
vention ever seen or heard read the
measures proposed by these eminent
citizensS"
A. OH dear no; these measures
were in the safe keeping of Governor
White and his secretary of state. Mr..
Dawson.
Q Why, then, did the couven ton
endorse these measures which they
had never seem
A. The mem bers of it were told TO
do so aud Repu blicans dearly love to
be bossed
Q. Did the measures proposed by
the committee OF sc eminent citiz ems ;
embodv the same reforms proposed
by the tax commission aud advocated
by Mr.. Dawson while seeking his
nomination.
A. OH dear. no. they were Com
promise measures" guaranteed to
produce harmony in the Republican
party.
Q. If Mr.. Dawson and his friends
controlled the Wheeling convention,
why did he not insist upon the en-
dorsement of the measures advocated
by him in secur ing his nomination.
A. Because he had already Sc
cured the nomination. Mr.. Dawson
believes that platforms and political
promises are only made to get in on,
not TO STAND on.
Q. If he had been sincere in his,
tax reform" professions what would
he have done?
A. Declined the nomination. like
Judge Parker, unless his party sus-
tai ned his political views.
Q. What is the difference between
J adge Parker and Mr.. Dawsons
A. Judge Parker is statesman,
Mr.. Dawson is politician.
Q. Since Mr.. Dawson had held
the best paying Office in the state ever
since the Republican party had come
into power in West Virginia, would
it not have been graceful thing for
him TO have permitted some other Re-
publican to have secured the nomin-
alton for governor
A. Mr.. Dawson said he was afraid