Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-06-16
uMwlsE AND ONER0Us TAXATION.

uhWiSE AND 0NER0US TAXATION.
West Virginia has sown the wind,
the inevitable will follow. She will
reap the whirlwind. Last year without
reason. and upon no pretext that can
be decently justified, she began a cam
paign Of taxation. 1t may be possible
that some species Of property did not
pay taxes in its due proportion. But
this could have been regulated by TAX
ing those classes and compelling a pro-
per assessment. This was not done,
but in lieu thereof general campaign
for higher taxation WAS begun by the
then Gov. White, the principle of
which was incarnated and embodied in
the candidate which he championed
for Governor. the Hon. w. M. o. Daw-
son. A theory somewhat plausible in
itself was advanced, and after a most
bitter campaign Dawson was nomi-
mated. 1t being a presidential year
and the exigenciss great for Republi-
can success, and the state being strong
ly Republican Dawson was elected by
a majority much less than that of Mr..
Roosevelt.
This was the first election after the
new tax laws were passed. The leaven
began working then, the leaven which
will in "a few years lsavsn the whole
lump and make the present tax laws
Of that state Odious and damnable.
Dawson got through, but not glorious.
ly. In the session of the Legislature
following bis election various groupings
out OF popular dissensiOn were in evil
dencs, but open revolt was not yet
forthcoming; the mutterings. however,
were deep If not loud.
Since the Legislature has adjourned
the new assessors have been appointed
and they are now going their rounds,
In most instances raising the assess
ments two or three times. A man with
= small farm assessed at a price he
could not possibly have sold it for,
now finds his assessment often doubled,
or trippled, whilst the coal companies,
and other corporations have their very
breath taken away by the enormity of
the new values placed on them.
The taxable values of the State as
heretofore assessed were 800 millions.
Now the oil and gas leases alone will
be put at 400 millions. This indicates
how these large Concerns are being hit,
but tho small land owner is hit co ually
as hard in proportion, and whilst he
has little or no sympathy for the cor.
poration, he has that intuitive feeling
OF self preservation which will cause
him to denounce such treatment by q
government which should protect in
stead Of destroy him. There was new.
er any necessity for such a burden, q
decently administered state govern.
ment could have gotten on by a few
simple corrections, but a government
OF plumber such as the controlling pow.
or IN West Va, has inaugurated could
not, and to shield its extravagance, has
adopted system which must destroy
1t root and branch. Taxation Is per-
misable only that state may have q
government economically administer.
sd,any thing else is robbery. No per-
suaslon caR hold quiet or still the
Grumblings of a tax ridden people, and
the party which attempts such rule
WILL hot sink out Of sight, but will be
kicked out, by an indignant public. No
party can make Itself popular by taxa
tion NO matter where the burden falls.
and folly has risen to it's supreme
height where such policy has been
adopted.
Last week Col. Thomas b. Davis. a
Democrat OF Elkins, was elected to
Congress over Republican in an over
whelmingly Republican district. The
unsuccessful candidate was Dawson
Candidate, q high tax advocate. There
was nothing but a rebuke intend
90 TO be administered. Mr..
Davis could do nothing in Congress to
weaken Republican rule or strengthen
Democratic. His election was a ma
tional and not state affair, but 80 bent
were the people in dsnouncing onerous
taxation that they seized upon this as
the first opportunity to hit it a blow.
The day 10 coming when legislature
Will De elected which will wipe the
present tax laws from the statute books
OF w. Va, and demand new and pro-
Per assessment. The present oligarchy
In that state will be destroyed, and a
burden lifted from the people, and no
party lines nor party appeals will hold
them back. The uprising will be little
abort nf rounI,x<;o-