The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-12-19

equal opportunity for the ind1vld-
uaI, and the common people,
against the arrogant power of ag-
gregated wealth and irrespective of
party, we. pledge ourselves to sup
port his efforts in that direction in
every way possible.
The resolution was adopted by a
Unanimous rising vote, all the visit
ors as well as delegates voting for it.
BY order of the Grange the resoiu-
ton was wired to the President.
The Grange desires no special
privilege, but demands "a square
deal' for all men whatsoever their.
condition in life.
Taration.
Regardless of what our individual
views may be upon the new system
of taxation in this state, it is mani
testify useless for me to go into the
subject to any great length at this
time. The present laws will have
to stand or fall by their own merits
or because some powerful influence
| is able to overthrow them. One
thing IS sure. the taxation question
is not finally settled in this state
and there will be no more vital
| question at issue in the election of
| the Legislature next year than that
| of taxation. There is certain to be
fierce assault upon the present tax
laws and the farmers of the state
will need to keep a cool head and
wisec ounsel that they be not deceiv-
cd or mislead by designing, selfish
interests
We ask no special favors for the
farmers of the state and we demand
that no special advantage be given
: to any other interest. Until every
other species of property in the
state is placed upon the E'tax duPll-
cafe on the same basis as our farms
stock and agricultural products the
Grange will protest against the IN
Justice
The farm property in this state is
now assessed at more than eighty
per cent. of its actual value, while
the railroad property is assessed at
only about fourteen percent OF ITS
value. and many species of personal
property at lower rate than that
or not at all.
The Grange is not committed to
any particular set of laws, but de-
lmands that all our citizens without
regard to occupation or condition
shall fare exactly alike in matters
| of taxation, and nothing short OF
this is square deal
Every honest and patriotic cltl-
zen in this state is perfectly Wiling
to bear his just proportion OF the
necessary burden Of government ana
no more than this should be required
of any one The laws should be so.
constructed that an unjust burden
cannot he placed upon an honest
citizen and so executed that a dls-
honest citizen cannot evade the hear
ing of his equitable share of the bur
den of government. No farmer IN
,lthis state need fear the execution OF
any law that will place all the
wealth in the state upon the
lasscssors books on the same basis OF
Evahlation whether it be the "actual
value or at a uniform per cent. be-
low actual value Che problem that
lconcerns the farmers most is, how to
secure the enforcement of any tax
flaw in the face of the inscriptions
IafTorts likely to be made to cvade 1t.
1t should be-thc constant demand OF
the Grange that the laws shall not
lbe administered in the interest OF
the farmer, nor in the interest OF
1.-THE poor man. nor the rich man;
Iuor in the interest of the individual
nor of the corporation. but in the
interest of justice to every man, be
high or low.
The Grange will take no back
ward step upon this WITH question
but stands squarcly upon the de-
mand for tax laws, and the execution
of the same in such maner that alb
\ solutc Justice and equality shall be
done to every man and to every IN
terest in the state.
Whatever may be the outcome OF
the present agitation of this question
in our state the problem is likely. to
he of vital interest to the coming
generations. as it has been to the
generations of the past. and along
with other economic problems the
study of this one should not be
neglected in the school OF the
Grange.
Conclusion.
Brothers and Sisters. in conclude
ing this message want to appeal