The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-10-03
Mr.. Kellison Speaks Out.
Editor Tribune:

WIS III DaAtiO
Jacoby, as published in your paper.
Second. Having always realized
the monstrous injustice of the Law
placing it in the power of one man,
perhaps without taxable property, 20
vote a tax upon a man who has tax
able property, or of one man with
property to vote a tax on another
man with property, and especially
the Injustice of the law permitting
the levying of such a tax by a ma
iority vote, when that majority may
not represent one-quarter OF the tax
able property of rhe township. The
writer, when a member of the Leg
i~slature Of Indiana, twenty years ago,
| introduced a bill and tried t % secure
ats passage. making it necessary to
| have a 1wo-fhird vote before such tax
could be carried. This bill failed for
| the same reason that Mr.. McDonald's
bill failed-the railroad lobby and the
promoters lobby were too strong to
be overcome.
Third. | am further especially OPP
posed to this tax, in this particular
| case, for another reason.
I believe that the principles Of
| common sense and common business
prudence ought to be put in practice
when it comes to matters affecting
the relations of the people of the
county seat with the people of the
outside townships. The town OF
Bourbon and Bourbon township is a
large and respectable part of Mar
shall county, and the people of Ply
mouth ought to have foresight
enough to see hat it ann do a
wrong to the people OF any part OF
this county without suffering for it,
at least in a business way.
Are the merchants of Plymouth
ready and willing to invite the hos
tility and defy the good will of the
people of Bourbon township? | tell
you il you do, you will make more
enemies in that one day than you
can win back in twenty years.
Fourth. Again, j am especially
opposed to the tax in this case for
the reason that / believe that we as
a township, or as a city, ought TO
deal fairly and justly with the peo-
pie of Bourbon township, the same
as men in the private business at
fairs of life ought to do with their
neighbors.
This railroad was practically offer
ed to Plymouth a long time ago. II a
tax was voted in this township but
Center township and the City OF Ply
mouth turned them away. and they
went and knocked at the door OF
Bourbon township, and Bourbon
twnship took them in, and not only
prmised to do, but did everything
that was asked of them.
In SO doing, the people OF Bour-
bon. our neighbors, wen TO consid-
cradle expense and a great amount
of trouble, and the railroad has turn
ed its back on them. Now it comes
again to the City of Plymouth and
asks Center twnship to vote an en-
ormous tax on its people to steal
from Bourbon what should belong
TO it as a matter of right and asks us
TO do them a wrong.
Fifth. Even if the people OF Ply
mouth are base enough to desire to
do wrong. they ought to have
shrewdness enough not TO permit
themselves to be fooled around by a
lot of adventures. F%ifty-hve thous-
and dollars is a nice little sum of
money, and If ten thousand OF 1t was
put in the right place, il is easy to
see that almost any proposition
would receive a large vote.
If the law permitted q tax to be
voted to start a merchant, a manu-
f%acturer or a hotel keeper in bust
ness, and a petition were filed by
such person for an election, II is easy
to see that the party asking the gift
or charity could well afford to spend
one half the donation to get the votes
and influences to carry the election,
and then be way ahead OF the game.
Sixth. 1t will be told to the work
ing man. on the sly. that it will be a
good thing for hnm; that it will give
him a lot of work, etc.
This is a very catchy argument,
and is likely to secure votes from
those who are not actuated by prin-
ciple when it come to voting heavy
burdens on their neighbors. But
when it comes time TO build the road,
If ever, the working man will see a
swarm of dagos, and other laborers
OF that class doing the work. The
laboring men won't get a smell. and
if they do, it will be on the condition
that they work alongside of a class
of men who live like cattle. and who
will sting them oft like a nest of hor-
nets.
Seventh. The petition in this case
is almost wanting in conditions cal
culated to protect the people. 1t re-
quires nothing OF the railroad peo-
pie. except that the road run in Cen
ter township and in the city,
1t does not require it to run in any
particular part OF the city or town.
ship, nor does it require the railroad
to run through the city township.
1t makes no requirement to employ
labor in the township or city, and
does not require the company TO
make, build or maintain any struct-
1890 ct-. - no.o~ Lo. -