West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-05-13
LEST We Forget"

Lest We Forget"
The ARGUS desires to have friendly |
chat with its readers along political lines. |
1t believes that now is the time 10 COM |
pare notes with the Journal and see
whether the Journals predictions, prom
ises, and claims for the Republican party
have come to pass. The Journal has
steadfastly maintained in and out Of sea-
son that the Republican party was the
only party that could be trusted to bring
JOY and happiness to the people. Accord
ing to it's philosophy the Republican party
is the one political party that produces
prosperous times, plenty OF work for the
toilers at high rate OF wages, and no
questions asked. 1t is the party, too, that
possesses the happy faculty of reducing
taxes while enormously increasing the
revenues! This is what its mythical TAX
reform guaranteed and all who opposed
1t We're characterized az "tax dodgers"
Our esteemed contemporary joyously
and gleetully maintained that the election
OF Bryan would create panic, unmindful
of the fact that the country had been nurs-
ing the Roosevelt panic for more than
year. As il could not explain away the
Roosevelt panic with any degree of con-
sistency it argued that the only way to
restore confidence was 10 elect Taft.
In language that could not he misinter-
preted it declared that the election of Taft
ihn tl.ip.t lul 90,
fidence" in ''the land OF the free and the
home OF the brave" II was equally az
sure that the election of Bryan would
mean ruination TO the countryl Another
thing which il was quite sure would fol-
low the election of the Republican state
ticket was its platform pledges of statepri-
mary law and prohibition amendment.
The ARGUS is willing TO leave it to the
Republicans of Preston, at least those who
are not in league with the ring and the
machine, to decide whether the Journal
predictions, promises and claims have
been fulfilled. In fact, it would like for
some Republican TO specify just one pledge
OF the Republican party that is in any
way beneficial to the people that has been
fulfilled
The panic is still on, wages have been
reduced instead of increased, and the
criminal trusts are doing business at the
old stand while the cost OF living has in
creased almost threefold. In state mat
tiers, the primary law and the prohibition
amendment, which the party pledged
itself to in its platform, was defeated by
that party. The promised reduction of
taxes under the Dawson tax laws has
been the means OF increasing taxation
with our state institutions rapidly going
to decay for want OF the necessary funds
TO repair them. The state appropriations
have been steadily increasing from year
to year since the Republican party got
control OF the state. 1t hardly sounds
reasonable to those who have given this
matter no attention, but il is an unde-
niable fact, nevertheless, that the state
appropriations have increased from 81
800, 900 under the last Democratic admin
istration to So, 500, 900 under the Dawson
administration. In other words, it has
cost the taxpayers of West Virginia as
much for fonr years of Dawson admin
istration as almost twelve years OF Dem
ocratic administration.
The ARGUS fears that the average tax
payer has not been close student of po-
litical affairs in West Virginia. This il
why it is anxious TO discuss these matters
with its Republican contemporaries that
the people may start an investigation of
their own and learn the real facts. The
people have been asleep too long. The po-
litical machine works while they slumber.
Oh course If you are not a taxpayer you
are not interested in the matter of taxa
ton, but if you are, you are vitality con-
cened.
This Is the reason THE ARGUS has often
stated, and it repeats here and now, that
1t asks no one to accept its statements in
political matters as true. All it asks is an
impartial investigation from the records.
Neither would it have the Republicans OF
Preston accept the statements and claims
OF the Journal as the gospel truth, for he
1t remembered that the Journal is one of
the beneficiaries and is apt to lend color
ing to its statements. Twelve years on a
diet OF pie is likely to produce desire TO
| soar in the realm of fancy.
No, let the people do alittle more think
ing for themselves instead of depending
upon the newspapers az their guiding
stars in matters polite. And there is no
better time than just now. You are not
overburdened with work and are doing
some thinking how you can reduce ex-
penses and make both ends meet. Neces-
sIty IS compelling you TO practice economy.
Just keep tab on the records of the DO
litical parties that you may be better able
to decide on election day which party is
most entitled to your Endorsement and
suffrage
Grafton is having a lively discussion
over n bond iesup Tho homo 81 cc,,,to.,,