West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-05-25
Replies to Observer with Facts and
Figures.
MAsoNrovN. MAY y. 1905.

MASoNrowN. May -. 1905.
Editor Argus-J, Appeals that al the
Argument that my old party can advance in
discussing the iaN issue is To work Oft a
surplus Of Nilh6oat,on aud abuse of those
who will not agree with them. 4 writer in
last weeks Journal, who signs himself
"Observer," devo,es a quarter Of column
of abuse IN answer TO my letter, aud calls
me ''tsN-dodeing, bellraeting mugwump"
because / have al las, discovered that the
new tax laws will increase nav taxes SIX times
what they were under the old tax laws
This Is the only CRIME 1 have committed
agains, the Republican party, party tha, 1
have supported al every election since I
arrived AT the age of twenty-one. have
my FIRST vote to cast against the nominees of
the Republican party. eau observer"
say as mueh2 Bat I want to say to my Re.
publican bre,hern all over the county Of
Preston that II live TO get TO the polls ON
June 9th am going to vote for Col Thos
b. Davis, not that have anything personally
against Mr. Lakin, for l have not, but
because Mr.. Lakin represents Bill Dawson's
tax laws We farmers, Republicans though
we he, cannot afford to vote for Mr.. Lakin
which Is tantamouut To an Endorsement Of
Bill Dawson's laws. VIII observer tell
MS Republicans why 1t was that the eouven-
ton which nominated Mr. Lakin refused TO
iudoIse the Dawson administration Is not
this refusal to iudorse condemnation of
the Dawson tax lawsl Why then ask us
Republicans to indotse Bill Dawson and his
tax laws by voting for Mr., L.akiup
Whoever "Observer" is he seems to know
that my farm has been raised from s. to S4s
an acre. lie says that "no one disputes the
fact that the value Of property will be
raised 10y the new system, but the question
is, will the tax be higher" Now with all
due respect to observer must say that
we Republicans of Valley were told that our
farms would not be assessed any higher.
They told us (the Republicans Managersl
that the object of the new tax laws was
for the purpose of catching the corporations
and the railroads and the rich men, who had
been escaping taxation for years. In this
they were mistaken for I see by the daily
papers that the Supreme Court Of Appeals
has just handed down dec sion in which IL
says that the land owner (which is the poor
farme) must pay the taxes on the oil, gas
and coal leases. pity the poor farmers
over IN Monongalia county who will have To
pay the taxes on the oil aud gas leases for
the las, FIVE years. observer" says my
taxes will not be any higher under the
Dawson law than the old law. Great Scout
Under the old law paid CSC on sIoo valua.
toin aud under the Dawson law will pay
z4c on the 500 valuation. Now TO illustrate
my point and make IL plain TO my Republi-
can brethren will say that my farm has
been raised from 500 to 5000. Now
paid 3Sc on the 500 which il was assessed
at under the old law and today will have
to pay 74c or the 5000 which il is assessed
at under the Dawson law. Still observer
would have me believe that my taxes will be
no higher. Well will confess that am
no scholar, just a common farmer Of Valley.
bu, observer" cannot stuff no such rot as
that down my throat. The Republican
Ring may abuse me all they want to, but
want to serve notice on them that they have
fooled me for the last time. am going to
vote with my eyes open hereafter and for the
party and candidates who will legislale in
the interest of myself and family.
A REPUBLICAN