Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-01-19
MOSCOW, Jan. IS, 'O6:

EDITOR Oh the Troy news: My Lear
Sir:-In your issue OF January S, which
contains the article written and signed
by man who calls hin5elf a republi-
can, we find the following statement.
For some reason you (the editor)
seem to be bitterly opposed to the
equal taxation league and have made
some violent attacks upon the organ
ization and in particular the leader
thereof, Ex-Governor Mcconnell" :"
Ever since the dawn of civilization
man has been the wolf of men. No
where in the world do we find more
striking examples of this fact than in
the United States. The vast corpora
tions which are today taking posses
sion of our fair land represent giant
beings organized and created for no
other purpose than the accumulation
of wealth. Whenever the opportunity
presents itself these gigantic institu-
tions spring forth upon the poor man,
the laboring man, the honest man,
like the lion upon the lamb. This
same spirit of oppression which is to
day predominant in the corporation
has to a greater or less degree taken
possession of the American people in
their mad rush for wealth. The god
dess OF our forefathers, brotherly love
and charity, we have crucifed upon
cross of gold. While the law of self
preservation demands that we be viga-
lent in our dealings with others, it also
requires that to the needy we extend a
helping hand. And the sooner the
American people are lead to realize
that due respect must be had for the
rights OF others the sooner we will be
assured Of the stability of the great
government to which we belong. If
we as a nation fail it will be due to
conclusions reached without reasoning.
The man who concludes that he can
stand on a railroad track as the great
steam engine goes whistling by with
out getting hurt is doomed to destruc-
ton. The people who are willing to
take for granted that which some
person tells them without considering
for themselves are band of sheep fol-
lowing the leader whether it be in
green pastures or over the precipice.
With due respect for the age, the
ability and renoun of Ex-Governor
Mcconnell, the writer must in all sin
cerity say that should the taxpayers
follow his leadership it will be due tc
the lack of proper consideration and
result disasterously to all those who
have the interests Of the county
and state at heart. 1t is reasonable tc
presume that Ex-Governor Mcconnell
whose ability has made him governor
of the state of Idaho, has caused his
voice to be heard in the senate cham
Der of the United States and com
manded governmental appointments
would deprive himself Of all the honor
which the people have seen fit to confe
upon him by organizing in the county
of Latah the equal taxation league 70
the purpose Of getting into count,
office? Can we believe that our dis
tinguished citizen, Ex-Governor Nc
Connell, would pay large sums @
money out Of his own pocket to de
fray the expense Of tax cases in tht
supreme court and the organization c
the five tax leagues of which he boast
for humanity's sake? He tells u
that he has paid a large amount 0
taxes in Latah county but the record
OF the county do not show that he
paying a large amount of taxes now
neither does the ex-governor insist uI
on that as a fact. The question nat
urally arises: Why should he. at thi
time, when he can scarcely be con
sidered taxpayer, spend his last do
lar in defense of this tax questio
when financially it does not affect hil
in the least? At time when the e.
governor was tax payer in Lata
county, and when, owing to politics
rotteness, the levy Of the county We
much higher than now, we fail to fin
recorded in the district or suprem
court a single case prosecuted by e.
Governor Mcconnell for the purpose
checking the immoral wave. Th
people enmass, under the name Of th
populist party, arose and put stop
political rottenness and extravigance
Latah county without the aid or a
sistance OF the ex-governor. If poll
ical purity and economy is a goc
thing now far the ex-governor why W
it not then when he was a heavy tt
payer? While it is true that durir
the hard times of 'o3 a great maj