The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1905-12-22

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land only good can CONG from the
visits Of such peerless leaders in the
Grange cause.
A Square. Dsal.
i Your representatives in the Ma
ltiohal Grange introduced this :Feso-
Tuition Resolved, that the farm
! ers Of thi$ country want neither
mon nor less than a9square deal
and we unanimously and heartily
lend6rse the manly efforts Of Presi-
| dent Roosevelt is making to secure
equAl opportunity for the individ-
lnal. and, the common people,
against the arrogant power Of az
4 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
Tors as well as delegates voting for it.
aBy order of the Grange the resolu-
ition was wired u the President.
The Grange desires no special
Iprivilege, but Demands "a square
ideal" for all men whatsoever their
condition in life.
T'aration.
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
thine. The present laws will have
to stand or fall 81 their own merits
or because some powerful influence
is able to oyesthrow them. One,
thing is sure, tue taxation question
lis not finally sSNled in this state
land there willse no more vital
question ut issiis in the election Of
| the Tegislature next year than that
of taxation. There is certain to be
a fierce assault -npon the present tax
laws and the farmers of the state
will need to keep a cool head and
wisec ounsel- tlM they be not deceiv-
ed or nislead 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 species4o property in the
stateSis placed upon the .Stax dupli-
CATE on the same basis as our Farms.
stock and agricultural products, the
Grange wilt,protest against the in
ljustice.
The farm property in this state is
now assessed at more than eighty
| per cent. of. its actual valIie, while
the railroad property is essessed at
only about fourteen percent. Of its
value, and MANY species q personal
property at q lower ratgthan that
or not at all.
The Grange is not committed to
lanv particular set of laws, lNf de-
mands that oil our citizens without
regard to occupation or condition
shall fare exactly alike in matters
of taxation. and nothing short Of
this is n .'sqnare deal"
Every honest and patriotic citi-
zen in this state is perfectly willing
to bear his Just proportion. of the
necessary burden of government and
no more than this should be required
of any one. The laws should be so
constructed. that an unjust burden
cannot be placed upon an honest
]citizen and so executed thatsa dis
honest citizen cannot evade the hear
ling of his equitable share of the bnr-
den of government. No farmer in
this state need fear the exception Of
any law that will place all the
wealth in the state upon the
assessors books on the samcaasis OF
valuation whether il be the "acttlal'
value" or at a uniform per cent. be-
low actual value. The problem that
concerns the farmers most is, how to
secure the enforcement of any tax
llaw in the face Of the INSCRIPTIONS
letforts likely to be made to'evade it.
lit should be the constant demand of
1.-THE Grange that the laws shall not
tIbe administered in the interest of
1.-THE farmer, nor in the interest of
the poor man, nor the rich man,
|nor in the interest of the individual
Inor of the corporation, but in the
Interest of justice to. every man, be
thigh or low.
lYThe Grange will fake no back
ward step upon this vital squestion
but stands squarely upon the de-
lmand for tay laws, and the execution
lof the same in such inaner that abb
solute justice and equality shall be
.Idoneito every man and to every in
Iterest in the state.
4 Whatever may be the outcome Of