West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-11-04
We Appeal to Reason.

~ - ~ !. - SHts
The local ring and machine organ. the
| Srss.oE'- County journal. in its last weeks
issue devotes column to abusing a pri-
vate citizen. Not able TO meet THE ARGUS
in political discussion and disprovc the
many charges which il has preferred
against the ring and the machine, il had
to resort 10 personal utilization. As the
public is in nowise interested i'm the per
sonality OF the Journal and THE ARGUS
we must eschcw personalities and appeal
to reason and the sober judgment of the
people, the taxpayers, and allow them TO
be the judges in the controversy.
First, the Journal told the taxpayers
that the now tax laws were intended TO
reduce the taxes of the plain people and
increase the taxes OF the corporations,
and those who opposed them were tax
dodgers and corporation hirelings." The
ARGUS has pointed out on several occa-
sions that the Standard Oil Company, the
greatest corporation in the United States.
was assessed the first year at SIC, OOO, 600
under the new tax laws. and the second
year at $50, Oo0, 600, because senator sam
b. Montgomery had introduced bin TO
place production tax on coal, oil, and
gas, which was defeated by the friends of
the Dawson administration. The Journal
never attempted to explain such an as
sessment OF the corporation, although it
claims to be the only genuine, all-wool
and yard wide reformer. The Standard
is now, we believe, assessed at $54, OO0, 900
and the Journal has never raised its voice
in indignant protest, but meekly contents
itself 10y munching its public pie. We
will hazard the guess that the holdings of
the Standard in the state of West Vir-
ginia cannot be bought for 5000, 900, 900.
So much for assessing the corporations at
the true and actual value"
Second, when Bill Dawson was appeal
ing to the people for their support he said
that If he was elected governor he would
promise them business-like and econom-
ical administration. When Dawson was
editing the Journal he accused the Demo-
cratic party of extravaganza and high
taxes and declared the party should be
turned out OF office. III Mr.. Dawson
| allegations were true then he was entitled
to credit and the thanks OF the taxpayers.
But in order to decide whether Mr.. Daw-
son was correct in his allegations against
the Democratic party we must compare
the state appropriations for the four years
under the Democratic administration and
the four years under the Dawson admin
lstration and let the people decide whether
Mr.. Dawson proved his allegations against
the Democratic party and fulfilled his
promise to give the people "a business
like and economical administration. Fol
the four years under the MacCorkle (Dem-
ocratic) administration the state appro.
priations were 81, 694 $50. Under the foui
years of the Dawson tax reform') adj
ministration they appropriated 50, 3O1 ITO
or $1,000, $50 MORE than the Democratic
administration, which Mr.. Dawson sale
should be turned out of Office on account
OF ats extravaganza! Now these are the
facts, taken from the records at Charles
ton, and the Journal cannot deny them.
THEARaUs has never attacked Mr.. Daw.
sons personal character 1t has dealt
| with Mr. Dawson as public oflice-holdel
and otiice-seeker. AS taxpayers the peo-
pie have right to ask their public serv-
ants TO render an account of their stew
ardship, the Journals belief to the con-
trary notwithstanding. If the public serv-
ants have increased their burden of taxa
ton 1t is their prerogative 10 ask why
and call for an itemized statement of the
money expended and for what purpose. Is
there anything personal in this? This is
what The ARGUS is endeavoringt to do and
no one connected with it is a public
office-holder nor a public oflice-seeker,
something which the Journal cannot say
and keep within the bounds of truth. As
a public office-holder for twelve years it
Is vitality concerned as TO whether its corn
dodger, molasses, gravy, and buckwheat
cakes are in danger of being cut off by
the people.
1t has declared time and again that
tax reform" would reduce the peoples
taxes. So far it has not proven its decla-
rations, and because it cannot it wants TO
blame THE ARGUS. But THE ARGUS is
not going to allow its personal abuse and
villitication of private citizens TO bemud-
die the controversy at issue. 1t will have
to meet the facts face to face, which is
likely to compelit toeat buckwheat cakes
and surrender its public pie.
Avaunt, dear HOratin. nvannfl