Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-17
REPUBLICAN SHAKE-UP
CAMPAIGN OF EDUCA-
TON ON IN WEST VIRGINIA.
State Organization to Go Right After
the Voters for the Balance
Of Canvass.
Special From a STAFF Correspondent.

Special From STAFF Correspondent.
PARKERSBURG, w. Va, October 10
The republican state organization of West
Virginia has received n shake-up and prom
ises have been made that the coming week
shall witness a vigorous campaign OF edu-
cation on the state tax law which was
passed by an extra session of the legislature
last summer and which goes into erect IN
1905 Republicans of this state admit tnat
the campaign with this tax law as the sin-
gle local issue was precipitated on them by
the democrats with such vigor that it has
made profound impression throughout the
state. They claim that they have necessar-
lily been slow in getting their campaign OF
education under way in order to counteract
It, but today express confidence that they
will stem the democratic tide that has been
very much in evidence during the past two
weeks.
Comparison Of Conditions.
Conservative republicans here compare
the Roadway that the democrats have made
in the past two weeks on the state tax Is
sue to the condition that prevailed over the
country a month before election day in
1896, when the free silver propaganda had
reached it's height and was only stemmed
by a vigorous campaign of education
The essential feature of this tax law is
the assessment of all property in the state
at it's real value. This applies to coal land
worth from 500 to $500 an acre and as
sessed at from S to IS an acre 1t applies
to railroad, telegraph, telephone and other
classes of corporations that will pay
larger tax and to some residences that are
assessed at one-fifth of their value, ana TO
timber and oil property. 1t also applies 10
farm lands and small homes that are said
now to be assessed at about 60 per cent OF
their value.
Campaign Of Misrepresentation.
The democratic campaign has been
pressed vigorously for three weeks. based,
as republicans declare, on misrepresenta-
ton. All over the state farmers have been
told that their taxes would be doubled next
year under this law. They have been told
that the corporations would pay less than
formerly. The interesting fact in connec-
ton with this democratic propaganda is
that some of the great corporations and
owners of timber. coal and oil lands are
the ones that are joining hands with the
democrats for the repeal of the law. The
general counsel of the Fairmont Coal and
Coke Company, employing eleven thousand
men, has presided over a meeting favoring
the repeal of the law, and the owners of
the property have shown active interest
in telling the farmers that they will have
to pay more taxes.
What the Law Really Contemplates.
This tax law does not contemplate the
raising of more money for the state, but
merely to readjust the assessment of prop
erty so that all property shall be taxed at
its real value, including some property that
has wholly escaped taxation, the rate of
taxation to be reduced in three years from
80 to cents per hundred dollars of valua-
ton.
When this propaganda was begun by the
democrats their republican opponents
merely laughed at them. The propaganda
mt no
came evident to every one that the demo-
cratic state ticket was gaining in strength
to such an extent that the election of Daw-
son, republican candidate for governor
seemed in jeopardy. Before that the repub-
licans were indulging in sweet dreams of
confidence.
State Good for Roosevelt.
Among conservative democrats there has
never been a time when the state has not
seemed good for Roosevelt and Fairbanks
But 1t has been realized that emphasizing
this state issue so that 1t would overshadow
all others the result would be to reduce the
majority OF the national ticket and to
greatly affect the congressional elections in
the state. With that purpose in view the
local issue has been pressed
During the past two or three days the
state organization has been STRENGTHENING
its organization. 1t has increased it's bu-
reau of speakers until they are able to nut
thirty-three speakers in the ffty-fve coun-
ties of the state during the coming week.
and each of these speakers will devote his
attention to the tax ISSUE
In addition to that there will be other
speakers provided by county committees
who will talk tax. Dawson, who is charged
with duplicity In the manner of passing
.iS tax law. is speaking at length almost
daily. Republicans, having heard the prom
Use OF the state committee to push cam
pa1gn of education during the coming week
VIII watch It's fulfllment with intense in
terest.
Inc coming week will be notable one in
the west Virginia campaign. Bryan will
begin talking Friday. and on Saturday VIII
son VIII speak In the state. Fairbanks will
again talk here, and Speaker Cannon will
speak SIX times, having opened his cam
palgn In the state at Huntington Saturday