The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1907-11-21

AovSt uhs uetu tue TAX QuetttOn--
the equalization OF taxation. The
equality OF taxation is an all i'm
portant matter. and 1t has been part
ly solved by the Republican party.
The new tax laws, sinaugurated and
enforced by the Republican State adj
ministration have unquestionably
been great success. The tax bur-
dens have been more equally AL
Justly Distributed. l endorse this
new tax system unreseryedly and
1t Is not enough to
say we will take no steps backward
we must go forward. and perfect
them In every detail 50 far as pos
sible. The best friends OF these new
laws admit that they may be improv.
ed by amendment; and in the work
Of amending and enforcing these
laws. we must be guided always by a
spirit Of absolute fairness and jus.
tice to every person and interest.
Laws do not enforce themselves.
The best laws vii not avail any
thing unless put INTO operation, and
the manner o. erff rcement has much
to do with tac effect OF laws, espec-
Tally with laws tun OF details as the
new tax laws tor any system Of tax
laws) necessarily are. They can be
enforced in such q way as to make
them impracticable and obnoxious.
They should be executed by those
who believe In them, who are In SYM
patty with them-by their friends
and not their enemies.
Railroads.
The regulation Of public service
corporations. especially railroads, Is
subject receiving and meritlng
much consideration. There is gen
eral demand for the revision Of our
statutes upon this subject and for
the creation Of a railroad commits
sion with full power to decide dis
putes between shippers and the rail-
roads. to correct all abuses and pre-
vent discrimination of any kind. Il
believe a just system OF regulating
public service corporations necessary
and for the best interests OF the
public and corporations, and viii
promote so far as l can legislation
providing for the regulation of such
corporations on wise and Just lines,
keeping in mind what the subject
must be dealt with honestly and fair
ly, and that to secure the invest
ment of capital in our transportation
and other public service facilities,
the possessor thereof must be assur-
ed fair treatment and an adequatee
return. While railroads and cor
should have fair treatment
they must be law abiding, do right,
and serve the public interest.
The Liquor Question.
The liquor questionable licensed
saloon--is another great and press
ing question before the people. AS
the liberty-loving American people
have solved successfully other great
questions that have come to them,
so they will wisely solve this one. As
has been well said. ours is govern
ment of public opinion. believe
the majority OF the people of this
State are in favor Of local option
that Is, of having submitted at stat
ed periods to the. people in each
las small as practi-
cable) the question of granting
saloon license. For many reasons
this seems to me the most effective
way to deal with this matter. I'll
keeps the question before the peo-
pie, leads to public discussions.
rightly forms public sentiment, max
ing known to the executive officers
OF the government what the people
want, and gives them no excuse for
failure to enforce the law.
Primary Election Law.
Our laws regulating elections and
the nomination of candidates for
public office need revision. The
of candidates and their
election to Office should be made as
fair and free from the charge Of
fraud as possible. This is very i'm
portant. The last legislature failed
to pass the measure before 1t for a
State primary election law. Public
seems divided. II the
people want a primary election law
they should have 1t, and l will carry
out this sentiment of the people on
this Question as embodied in the
next State Republican platform.
But whether we have this law or
some other. certainly we should
regulate by proper provisions the
nomination of candidates whether