Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-10-14

prevent the submission of cons.i-
tutional amendment. They are
afraid OF the people, and would de-
NY them the right to vote upon the
question. They did the same thing
only few months ago in refusing
to submit the prohibition amend
ment 10 the people. The principle
Is exactly the same in each case i.
IS question whether the peop,e
shall rule or whether the "Republi-
can gangsters" backed by their re-
gro allies. shall rule.
Another thing the Democratic
party has declared for is the Jim
Crow car law. II they succeed in
carrying the state. this law can and
will be Immediately passed by the
legislature and approved by the gov
ernor.
That such n law is necessary 20
protect our white women and chill
dren and enable them to travel in
safety and comfort. to say nothing
of the great benefit and comfort to
the travelling public generally, is
everywhere recognized.
The Republican politicians and
candidates, pandering to the negro
for his support and vote, are either
openly opposing this law. or they
are silent upon the question, which
means the same thing as openly op-
posing It,
II you vote the state and county
Republican ticket you vote for the
continuance OF present conditions
If you vote the state ana county
Democratic ticket you vote for sep
arate and decent accommodations
for whites and colored. The ques-
tion is up to you, take your choice
The Republican "gangsters" are
afraid 10 meet the issues OF the
present campaign squarely. and for
the purpose OF changing attention
from the real issues, are making a
great clamor over certain laws
which the Republican party has
passed. and which they claim are a
benefit TO the people.
The Republican party, for the
past twelve years has had absolute
control of the Legislature and ev-
cry branch of the state government.
Is it 20 be supposed that. duriag all
that time. no laws whatever. bene-
fetal TO the people would be enact
ed?
For instance 1t is claimed that
the present tax law has greatly re-
duced the tax levy. But the levy
has been reduced by greatly in
creasing the assessed value of prop
erty. The question is how much
has 1t reduced the taxes? The ex-
penses of the government must be
paid by taxes. The full amount of
expenditures for the administration
of Gov. w. A. McCorkle. -he last
Democratic governor, from March
4th, 1898 to March 4th, 1897, was
$2,694, $50, and the total expendi-
lures Of Gov. Dawson's administra-
ton. from 1905 to 1909, the appro-
priations having already been made,
is S6,301,11O.
A striking illustration OF the in
creased expenses in running the
government may be found in the
increased salary of the present Grim
NAL Judge of Mercer county. When
he was elected to that office in 1896
his salary was $500. The legis-
lature OF 1907 raised his salary to
$3.50. Accordingly, the legisla-
ture of 1908 increased the salary to
$4,000. No doubt, If the legislature
is Republican, his salary will again
be increased, and so on. This is
one of the thousands OF instances
which may be cited.
But from the merits and demer-
It's OF any laws passed by the Re
publican party, it can be safely re-
lied upon that whatever they may
contain beneficial to the people will
be retained and improved upon, If
the Democratic party is put in pow
er. and only those things which are
against the interest OF the people
repealed or changed.