West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-05-18
Stole His Thunder.
REEDsyuLE, May g, 1905.

kEEDaEiiLE, May 8, 1905.
To the Editor Of TIE ARGUS.
Ever since the Assessor paid me friendly
visit have contemplated writing TO you and
telling you tina, you was righ, aud we were
wrong on the new tax laws. I notice, how
ever, that ~ Republican Who Never Seek
ed an Office" writing from Masontown, has
stolen my thunder" so | will have to con
tent myself by saying that the writer from
Masontown has expressed my sentiment in
more forceful and elegant language than
could have done in regard to the new tax
laws.
During the campaign | was impressed
probably I was bias,J) with the idea tina,
you was exaggerating the iniquities of the
tax laws f'r political effect. was equally
convinced that the Journal was "putiing his
best foot forward" TO hold Us Republicans
in line TO "yo,e the Republican ticket from
President TO constable 4" Then the Leader
"bu,,ed in" in condemnation Of the new
tax laws, and we were told by the Journal
and our party leaders that we must pay no
attention 10 what the Leader said as il was
'run by Lee Shaw, who was chronic
kicker" Well | know Mr.. Shaw and
know he does great deal of kicking when
our party does things that he believes is not
right. am frank to say that was in a
quandary. There was a doubt in my mind
as TO which of the newspapers was really
representing the new tax laws correctly, so
nuf 81 -. 4
party the benefit Of the doubt. did so and
! voted the ticket as the Journal told us from
president to constable" am sorry now
/ did. 1 am free to say now that there is no
further doubt in my mind as TO how the new
tax laws will operate. There is saying
that "what the eyes see your heart must
believe" Well my eyes have seen how my
farm and buildings have been assessed and
my heart must believe that THE ARGUS and
Leader did no, misrepresent the new tax
laws. would not say that the Journal mis-
represented them, but will say that it was
az least mistaken, for the assessment in our
community proves that the tax laws are four
times worse than The ARGUS and Leader
OF taxation upon the farmers and the middle
class of taxpayers. Everything they own IS
taxed to death by the new tax laws. The
question is how are we 10 get rid of those
new tax laws ? Keep on trusting the Re-
publican party that inflicted them upon us {?
This would not be the judgement of sane
and unprejudieed man.
Well, all have to say is that the Journal
and the Republican leaders need make no
further appeal to me to "voie the ticket
straight from President to constable" Here
| after ! am going to do a little voting in the
interest Of myself and family. am going
TO lay aside my political prejudice and vote
with my eyes open. l have been politically
| blind too long. Nor am the only Repub-
/ lcan in Valley district that has had his eyes
opened by the tax laws. and wherever the
Assessor calls and assesses the farms and
dwellings and lots you can just set it down
that he IS going to open the eyes of the poor
people and the Journal cannot close them
again. Too long, oh. too long, have we
farmers listened to the cry of the Journal
and the party leaders to ''stick to the party"
We can only console ourselves with the
thought that 1--WE are not too old to learn"
We are going to do little investigating
hereafter before we vote.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, wan, to say,
keep up the good work Of exposing the new
tax laws. We farmers up in Valley are
with you. A FARMER.