Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-22

expenditures OF the public funds the
assessed values OF property have been
forced up out of all reason, until the
oppression from unjust taxation threat
ems to drive the people from their
homes and confiscate their property.
| We demand that a stop be put to
this reckless extravaganza, and insist
upon the strictest economy, consist
ent with good government in the ex.
penditures of the public revenues.
FOURTH: For over a quarter of a
century the Democratic party was in
control OF both our State and County
government, and we point with pride
to the record IL then made. Although
| the state revenues were then small.
state institutions were built, equipped
and maintained, and the State turn
cd over to the Republicans on March
the 4th, 1897, free from debt. Now.
some of our state institutions are in
delapidation and decay, while an
army of useless officials, maintained
for political purposes, consume the
public revenues.
During said period OF Democratic
supremacy the affairs of our County
were so justly and economically adj
ministered, that, although ASSESS
| MENTS AND TAXES WERE LOW
our roads were kept up, we built
bridges, two court houses and a Jail;
the expenses OF our County were
maid. and whnn hA
went out of power the County owed
no debt and about sixteen hundred
dollars was left in the treasury.
Since that time the enormous reve-
nues collected by taxation have been
squandered and in addition thereto a
county debt of over one hundred thou
sand dollars has been created. with
practically no public improvements to
show for it. To the already over bur
dened taxpayers this presents an alar-
ming condition, the seriousness of
which can not be over estimated.
We declare that a party response
bic for these conditions is not to be
trusted, and that relief can only be
secured by electing to office men who
will serve the public and not their
own private interests, and who will
not be under obligation to a party
controlled by machine politicians who
are in politics for wnat they can get
out ofFit, and not for the public good.
FIFTH: The right of the people to
rule is fundamental principle of the
Democratic party, and whenever the
people request that an amendment to
their state constitution be submitted
lection, 1t is the duty of the legisla-
ture whatever may be the views of the
individual members thereof as to
the merits Of such amendment. to
comply with that request; and our
candidates for the legislature are here
by pledged, if elected, to vote to sub
nit to the people a Prohibition Amend
ment to the constitution.
In 1908 the Republican legislature,
after being petitioned so to do, refus-
ed to submit the Prohibition Amend
ment to vote of the people, but the
same year, forced by public sentiment
the Republican party declared in its
state platform that it would submit
the amendment if returned to power.
1t was returned to power and with
both branches of the legislature un-
der its control, that party, true to it's
record of insincerity, sham and hypo-
crisy deliberately repudiated its
! pledge to the people and again refus-
ed to submit the amendment, thereby
denying the right OF the people to
vote upon this question.
The Democratic party hereby re
aiiirms its policy of opposition to the
legalized sale of intoxicating liquors.
1t points to the fact that it has given
In the past to he people dry candi-
dates on principle and not for the
sake OF eXpedieEcy. 1t views with dis
gust the nauseating spectacle of the
Republican machine in Mercer coun.
ty parading itself in the garb of tenn
perance, and at the same time pre.
senting to the people a set of candi-
dates who have been the tools and
lhenchment of the whiskey people. and
whose votes both as citizens and pub
lie officials, have largely contributed
to fastening the liquor power upon
the people of this county. lie believes
that the dry people of Mercer county
want candidates who are dry at
heart, and consult their own conscl
ences and Judgment on this question
rather than receiving their views
there on second hand from a political
boss who is dry or wet as the occasion
demands and that they will support n
party that seeks to give the people
what they want because they are en-
titled to receive it, rather than a par
ty that seeks to perpetuate itself in
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