West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-07-13
FARMERS HEApi
IEell Written Article by a RsRO
District Farmer Who Evidently
Mastered the Dawson Tax Laws
and Cannot be Fooled by
the Journals TaxLeases.
To the Editor Of TmK ARGUS.

Will nave on our future elections / am
almost convinced that there is n bright era
IN politics opening up to we farmers and the
rest OF the common people. When use the
term common people" / want il distinctly
understood that they are the citizens that
any country must rely upon for its perpetu.
iiy. They may be better designated as the
''middle class, " but Abraham Lincoln called
US the common people" and we know that
Lincoln never INDUCED in odium or flattery.
You may ask who are the common people
Wha, are they would answer that they
are the tilers of the soil. the toilers in the
mines, factories, railroads and every other
class of honest industry They are the
people who love their country and, IL
necessary, would offer up their lives in de.
Tense of it. They are the people who
respond TO the call of arms to defend their
country. Whatever distinction the country
may achieve il has been at the cost of the
sweat OF their brow. Their labor is the pro-
| Queer of ALL wealth. This cannot be
denied. They grumble not but toll on.
They have not the time to devote TO build.
ing up political machines. They will suffer
injustice for years before they will rebel
against their oppressors, but when they do
rebel, woe TO their oppressors.
Now this seems to have been the condition
of the rank and file of we Republicans for
years We have been laboring and toling
for years while few shrewd politicians have
been building up political machine TO ad.
vance their political fortune at our expense.
Can the Journal or any other political Office
holder controvert this ?
have always been what is known as
"loyal republican" have never held an
office of any kind and never expect to.
cannot be charged with being an office.
| seeker or a sore-head. | was born and
reared on the farm and have been a farmer
since arrived at the age of manhood. |
have never taken an active part in politics
until the last two elections. Like the res,
| of my farmer brethren | came to the con-
| conclusion that had an overdose of "yoting
the ticket straight" and Cruising the old
party" saw that as long as continued
to vote the ticket straight and trust the old
party that could not hope for any reforms
or legislation for the poor people.
1t IS only within the last two years that
have begun to think for myself, and the
more think over the matter the more am
of the opinion that the man who calls HIM
self "loyal Republican" or "loyal
Democrat" or any other kind of "lJyal
party man." is nothing more or less than
political slave Our loyalty to any political
party should depend upon how loyal that
political party is to our interests. II their
loyalty benefits us then we can be as gener.
GUS in our loyalty to them. Let 'loyalty"
hereafter consist in look out for your own
interest, and not helping lot of political
ringslers to Office who care nothing for you.
For one realize that the time has come
that we farmers must relinquish our political
prejudice. We must pay more attention to
tho legislation which is being placed upon
our statute books and scruntinize It carefully
to determine how it will affect the interests
of the farmers. This is something we have
sadly neglected This is the reason they
were able to enact the recent tax laws be-
cause the farmers paid no attention to them
We farmers are largely to blame for this.
AS for myself am now thoroughly con
WINGED that THE ARGUS and the Leader are
right on the tax issue. am free to admit
that thought for long time that they we're
not sincere in their opposition to the Dawson
tax laws, but since I have studied the laws
and noticed how they have been operating
| have no further doubt in my mind but
| what they are unfair and unjust to the
farmer. The fact that Gov. Dawson and
official family are trying to modify them,
and if need be amend or repeal them, is
! conclusive evidence that the State Admins
trauon feels the wrath of the farmers, and
it is a taeit admission on the part Of the
State Administration that the tax laws are
unjust and unfair to we farmers.
The only question, IN my humble opinion,
| that we farmers have TO decide is whether
we shall retain in power the people who are
| responsible for the tax laws which assess
everything we have ON the farm, OF whether
/ We shall turn them out aud vote for people
/ who will do us Justice. We ask for nothing
but justice. For myself ! am going TO
/ oppose any candidates for Office who will
not pledge themselves to repeal that portion
Of the Dawson tax laws that assesses my
| land al four times more than can sell IL
/ for Also repeal the assessment, OF my
stock which is not one year old. This is
| d he .
assesses my calves, colts, lambs, pigs and
chickens. This IS simply an outrage on we
farmers.
notice in ils anxiety Co hide the injustice
Of the Dawson tax laws the Journal is trying
to throw chat in our eyes by harpiug on the
tax leases Why, Mr.. whelselI, we have
no gas or oil Boo Preston county, and 50 far
as can learn We have no coal leases
Preston county will derive no revenue from
Tax leases. Here is where the Dlwson law
hits such counties as Preston a hard blow.
Under the old law we would yet something
from me State on such leases, but under The
Dawson law Preston will not Every
county will be required 90 raise us own
revenue Where there are few industries i'm
The county the burden of taxation must
necessarily fall upon the poor farmers In
The purely agricultural counties The Dawson
iaS laws will fell heavily upon the farmers.
In conclusion 7 wish TO state that We
farmers Of Reno are doing our own thinking
and bearafisr we do mot propose chat any
political party can boas, tlaf they have
mortgage ON our votes, and furthermore We
do not propose that The Dawson tex laws