The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-03-29
lsE Spreading Over y 5sta lie 81 Nv est
Vlralnla-Lead aiding len III AXE lti X

w Sss NV, MI VA ---s I'D
VI From, Letters. verlastinsIy Il Right.
and VIII VIM -' Vetxei aklng ~
lup 70 4 Realization 81 Issue. "a
Since the discussion OF tax reform.
was begun In the columns Of n the
Ms!organtoWn Chronicle !by George I'll
Baker, each mail brings to him many:
letters Endorsing the; position he has,
taken, from a fewso which liberty Is,
taken ( to make extracts y isSst a II
Hon. Alpheus Garrison, Seex-s Senator
Of this State, writes as follows N
Hon. George !. Baker Morgan.
town, W.. Va Dear sir:-1 have ex,
amined your article on the tax ques.
tlonS and am well pleased with your
views on the matter 1t Is as clear to,
mo that coal, oil and gas should gbe.
taxed as well as other property IL
coal, oil and gas are not real estate
thenSit Is personal; ~ not personal
thensit Is real estate. The constitu.
ton Of West Virginia provides that
all real and personal property shall
he 5taxed equally, then3why not these
articles be taxed as well as horses,
cattle sheep, etc. See constitution
Of West Virginia, page I, article 10
says, taxation shall be equal and&uni.
form throughout the State aud SSall
property both real and personal,
shall be taxed In proportion /. to It's
value To- bo ascertalned as directed
|by$laW,Setct ] ana believer that the
constitution .is our first law or the
guide by which all laws are made
No law should beHpassed 10 conflict
withs$the constitution Of the State:
Therefore law to exempt coal, Y OIL
gas, ETC. from taxation isSa violation
Of the constitution Of the State. Be-,
fore a;laws to exempt them a change ,of'
|$he constitution would be required
Y am sure you would not
want TO put burden on your nelghborI
Of which YOU are Snot5w Wiling 10 bear;
your share, Mother. do, We want to
bear more than our share Of equal
taxation. Yours, "a. Garrison. Y
8sAnotlierl letter from which We take
some extracts, is written BY one OF
| the leading citizens Of q The J; Kana@ha.
valley by Hon. Q. D. Hill OK KendallaS
w. Va, who says, among other.
things, as follows: George G. Baker
ESQ MorgantoWn, Va. MY Dear.
sir:-I have just read, With d great
deal satisfaction your letter re-.
Gently published jim the Charleston
Daily Mail, inawhlchi YOU ably and,
fearlessly discuss the taxing 90 the oil
and gas interests OF this State And
I fully concur In your opinion, Eand i
l write to congratulate iyol 5on the bold
stand You take against these cold.
b,llosoded corporate Interests and sinsbet
halfgof justice and aof the i common
people OF West Virginia. N.
q do not know your politics, but
knowing as u do that statesmen put
principle above party, hope you Will
pardon what U am about 10 Say, but!
you are made out Of the kind sof ma.
terial out ofiwhich statesmen and pa;
triots are made, and some; day IEhope!
to see you governor Of the State Of
West Virginia. = aSss re- re-:
gretN ito say II, but craftsmanship IL,
Iasthing ofsthe past IN West Virginia
and II the common people, sirrespecs.
tive 5ofSparty, do not arise to the needs
Of the hour and elect better men I as
their Representatives In the govern.
ment and then after they are elected
see that they; do their sworn duty,
the rights Of the people, as guaran.l
teed to them by the constitution, win.
be ground to powder and Sall of lib
erty Will be lost. The times call fol-
honoorEand statesmanship that puts!
strong brave fearless brainy, 3m n1,,i
ilmrbued With those high principles 81
principle and honest public service;
above abe partisan politics, and puts the
man above the dollar in tho admits
t traitor Of the goyernmen The hon.
est est ma; mantle true statesman & and
pattrriNot t-shrinks from the rotten polits
|fcal method which it8is nee ess siisrj, toS
adopt 70 secure an election 10 public
Office t,ls and in consequen w VI II seq
none rs Of 9 them in the modern egisla.
t I've halls. In closing Sish S YOU the
nth success, and desire to insure
you5that8 if Iscan be- of any use Is YOU
Twill only be- too glad help You i'll
anyway ! can. Asking pardon for
4 taking up your valuable time and
thanking youth advance. etc, q am am.
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