Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-06-02
STATE COMPETING WITH
JERSEY FOR BUSINESS.
LAkIN REPRESENTS REPUBLICAN
FACTION REsPONSIRLE FOR
NEW TAX LAWS.

Hon. John ]. Cornwell, in taking the
chair as temporary presiding officer OF
the Second district Democratic conven-
ton at Ksyser, W. Va, paid his re-
poets to the Dawson faction of the
Republican party in a speech of char
acteristic force and vigor. He said
Gentlemen of the Convention: l
thank you for the honor you have done
me in calling me to preside over your
deliberations today.
We have assembled in the name of
the militant Democracy of the Second
congressional district to nominate a
candidate to represent it in the lower
house of the Congress of the United
States. 1t is to all vacancy and for
a special election, It's true, hence some
OF US may feel that it is q matter of lit
tie importance, inasmuch as the polit
zeal status of the House Of Representa-
tives will not be changed by the result
in this district, whatever the result
may be. II such . suggestion has come
to us we should put it aside, for sure
ly, my friends. there never was time
when the people of the country should
be more active in the selection of pub
lie oficers than At the present There
never was 4 time when there was so
great necessity for their carefully scru
tinizins the character of the men they
elect to the law-making bodies, both
State and national
Conditions in this country have vi
tally changed in the past nifty years
and are still undergoing rapid changes.
Never was there before such huge
aggregations of capital with such far
reaching interests in legislation and
the control of legislative bodies. These
interests sre always alert and active
in the selection of members of your
Legislatures and of Congress. They
are not content. even with that, but
they are able to employ, and do en-
ploy. the best legal talent to represent
them there. on the outside, while you
have only your representative to look
after your interests. These aggrega-
tions of capital, some of them owe
their position in the financial world,
| their enormous wealth and power, ex-
clusively to special legislation enact
ed for their benefit and they will not
be slow to oppose, with all their pow
err any legislation looking to a surren-
der of the legislative privileges that
have been given them.
Protection" FaIIacy.
They have been, for years past. tax
ing from the pockets of the people
enormous fortunes and called it pro.
! lection to American labor" That is
so far as national affairs are con,
cerned. In our State they have inaug-
urated a new system of taxation, by
which they propose to support the
State government by special taxes
and they have dominated that tax re
form" One system is about as unfair
as hurtfrl to the masses, as the other
| assert here and now that there is
but one just, equitable and at the same
time legal way to raise revenue for the
maintenance of our State government
aside from the license tax on liquors
fines imposed for violations of the law
and q very few other privileges. l say
legal way, because the Supreme Court
Of the United States has held that an
income tax 10 unconstitutional and
therefore cannot be legally imposed
Hence, | say that the only legal and
at the same tirse equitable way to
raise revenue for the maintenance OF
your state government, aside from the
few other sources have named, is by
taxing every man and corporation upon
the aneunt Of property that man Oh
corporation owns. In other words,