West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-10-12
ONLY A FARMER.
The Fridays Cannot Answer this
Letter with Facts and Argument
10 the EDITOR Of rnK Arnrs.

an ehort TO discover. II I could. one teaSoi
why we farmers should uphold the DawSo,
tax laws. ! must confess that failed {,
hnd It. lie does not evcn ATTEMPT to an
swer the questions which I propounded 1,
him Tor calculation or explanation. n h,
has any argument that he can produce e
sustain his position on the tax question
other than Il is the duty OF all Republi
cans TO stand by their party" he has m,
consent to make IL public I am open foi
conviction but my conviction cannot b,
purchased by the promise OF a piece oil
pie am not. aud never have been. a
p'eman As the dear departed Archie
Campbell told the talented but imperious
aud d'ctatorial Roscoe Conklng in the
Chicago National Convention. II wear m,
sovereignty under my own hat.
In hts delusion on the tax issue my Re
publican friend is chasing the phantom
lie IS pursuing the fleeing shadow on the
wall that he can never hope to overtake
have never uttered a word or written a
line on the Dawson tax laws that I would
not II l could, ind Judgment in the hearts
OF nav farmer brethren. In their prosperity
thrive, aud in their adversely | minglc my
tears with theirs.
have never been an applicant for an
elective or an appointivo public Office in my
life, and my Republican" friend cannot
charge my opposition to the Dawson tax
laws to a case OF sour grapes The Com.
mittee never had a binder and more faith.
tul follower during all these years than
was. Aud must say to their credit that
they seemingly appreciated my loyalty. for
more than once they urged me to announce
myself as candidate for office. pledging
me their support In justice to myself. |
must say that always declined with crate.
| tul thanks. make this statement that my
farmer brethren may understand my posi-.
ton and give me credit with being honest
In my convictions that the Dawson tax laws
will work greater hardship upon the
farmers than any other class OF taxpayers
Now. | want TO ask my Republican"
friend in all candor aud good faith. IL he
can say that he never held public Office aud
would decline one Il offered him by the
Committee Thrice is he armed whose
cause is just" Believing my cause to be
JUST, IL is not necessary for me to resort to
vile language aud personal abuse.
will say to my Republican" friend. It
he is capable OF writing an article that will
appeal TO the sense OF reason and the pride
OF justice guarantee him will take pleas
ure in reading IL. Nothing which he has
written So far would be prescribed by com.
peient judges as food for thought. am
sorry TO say that my friend is not possessed
OF the faculty to clothe his letters In the
humor and wit which so many enjoy, al
though he makes a hercules ATTEMPT
to do so
IL is noticeable that my Republican"
friend has not been able to disproye the
iniquites OF the Dawson tax laws. His
letters are simply a reiteralion and repi.
ution each week. Going on the principle.
| presume. that cold hash" warmed over
will satisfy his clientage
My object is TO state the facts aud leave
It to the reading public to investigate for
themselves There must have been a mo.
tive Tor changing our tax laws What was
that motive la his message to the Legs.
lainre Gov. White gives us tile motive
when lac says, TO RAISE MORE REVENUE"
Acting upon the recommendation OF Gov
White, the State Tax Commission was ere.
ated by joint resolution Of both branches
was IL that IL took the Commission about
TWO years to prepare tax bill that would
do justice to all classes Of taxpayers After
the bill was presented il did not suit The
Machine What was the result A com.
mittee OF six gentlemen. who we're NOT
MEMBERS Of the LEGISLATURES. we're ap.
pointed by the Machine 10 draft a new tax
bill Inside OF TWO weeks the committee
OF six gave us the present Dawson tax laws
What IL took the State Tax Commission
TWO years OF iaborious research and work
the committee OF six did In TWO weeks. Is
IL any wonder that the Dawson tax laws
TEEN with iuiquty aud inequality
Now Gov. White gave us the motive for
the new tax laws-to RAISE MORE REVENUE"
Will my Republican" friend tell us how
the State is going to RAISE MORE REVENUE
and LOWER OUR TAXES Calling me a
liar" a "hypocrite" and a damned fool"
will not convince the farmers Of Preston
county that by juggling Of the tax laws he
can raise more revenue and at the same
time lower their taxes. IL does not appeal
TO their reason and common sense
SO you see. my farmer brethren. that II
was gigantic scheme Of Gov Dawson to
hoodwink us poor farmers into believing
shat he was our friend in order to attain
the Goyernorship OF West Virginia. In the
primary contest Mr. Dawson told us dif.
ferent story Of the tax laws he favored.
which he afterwards had enacted into
laws. The tax laws which he advocated In
his primary contest for the nomination met
my hearty APPRECIATION for / felt down In
my heart that they would do justice to US
farmers What a snare and a delusion
they we're
As Gray has so beautifully and truth
fully said Gov. Dawson will find that THE
path TO glory leads but to the grave" IL
was to satisfy his ambition and glorify bis
name, which. no doubt led Gov Dawson
TO forget the sacred promise which he
made as farmers when be was seeking the
nomination
Add my Republican friend rs uukind
enough to call me liar" "hypocrite" and
damned TOOL for defending my God given
rights as free born American citizen.
forsooth. because denouncc the Dawson
tax laws as unjust TO the PARNER We are
told that there are two things we cannot es
cape--taxation and death. This is only too
true Of the farmer n he does not pay his
taxes they will sell his land At the pres
ent time tlo farm is not producing any
more Than VIII meet The family expenses
and pay our taxes What are we TO do to
meet the INCREASE In taxation Let ms
Republican friend answer
No. my farmer brethren lhe old farm
will not stand the increase Zoo taxation
Something is got to be done 20 gain relief
With Politics have no concern plead
the cause Of no political party. bot I do