The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-11-20
SNIsHERS PLATFORM
tcon,inuea from page ons.l

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Atkinson in 1895. and continued
and added to by the administrations
of Governors White and Dawson.
have proved OF great benefit to West
Virginia, and 1t will be my constant
endeaVor to continue these policies;
and, as there are always new prob
lens to be solved, will endeavor
to make progress in such way as
best to advance the welfare and
prosperity OF the people. for 1t is not
sufficient to continue merely past
polIsies, but to do more-to be
ready and willing, and anxious to
keep abreast OF the times, looking 20
the future and studying what may
be best for the pe5ple OF the State.
The Tax Question.
The paramount Issue before the
people of this State since the report
of the Tax Commission in the fall Of
1902, has been the tax question
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, inaugurated and
enforced by the Republican State ad-
ministration have unquestionabIy
been a great success. The tax bur-
dens haze been more equally and
justly distributed. l endorse this
new tax system unreservedly and
unequivocally. 1t is not enough to
al,
we must go forward, and perfect
them i'll every detail so 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 will not avail any
thing unless put into operation, and
the manner of enforcement has much
to do with the effect of laws, espec-
tally with laws full of details as the
new tax laws Tor any system of tax
laws) necessarily are. They can be
enforced in such way as to make
them impracticable and obnoxious
They should he executed by those
who believe in them, who are in SYM
pathy with them-by their friends
and not their enemies.
Railroads.
The regulation of public service
corporations, especially railroads. IS
subject receiving and meriting
much consideration. There is a gem
eral demand for the revision of our
statutes upon this subject and for
the creation OF a railroad commits
sion with full power 10 decide dis
putes between shippers and the rail-
roads. TO correct all abuses and pre-
vent discrimination of any kind.
believe just system OF regulating
public service corporations necessary
and for the best interests of the
public and corporations. and l will
promote so far as | 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
porations should have fair treatment
they must be law abiding. do right,
and serve the public interest.
The Liquor Question.
The liquor questionable licensed
saloons 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 a 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 al stat
ed periods to the people in each
neighborhood Gas. 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. il
keeps the question before the peo-
pie. leads 10 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.