Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-05

loudly proclaimed by those who nd.
vocated the system, as being great
reform for the relief OF the tax-pay.
ers, have proven to be but a subter.
fuge OF astute politicians to deceive
and not to relieve the people.
Time has demonstrated that the
purpose Of tampering with the tax
laws was to obtain more money, which
has been extravagantly squandered,
with the natural result that the bur
dens OF taxation have been greatly
increased
We favor such revision of the tax
laws as will Tighten the taxes OF the
people and distribute the burdens of
taxation equally and uniformly upon
all classes OF taxpayers and every
kind OF taxable property.
THIRD: The history OF the Repub
lican party in both state and County
administration In West Virginia. has
been one OF extravaganza, rampant
and inexcusable. The peoples mon
ey has been squandered without 10
gard to the public welfare, If not with
direct view to private gain.
TO meet these wanton and lavish
expenditures of the public funds the
assessed values of property have been
forced up out OF all reason, until tho
oppression from unjust taxation threat
ems to drive the people from their
homes and conflscate their property.
We demand that stop be put to
this reckless extravaganza, and insist
upon the strictest economy. consist.
ent with good government. I'm the ex.
penditures of the public revenues.
FOURTH: For over a quarter of a
century the Democratic party was in
ntrol of both our State and County
governments, and VIC point with pride
ITO the record il then made. AirhOuar
the state revenues were then snail
state institutions were built. equipped
and maintained, and the State turn
cd over to the Republicans on March
..he 4th, 1897, free from debt. Now.
some OF our state institutions are i'm
delapidahon 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 nd.
ministered, that, although ASSESS.
MENTS AND TAXES WE'RE Low
our roads were kept up, we built
bridges, two court houses and jail:
the expenses OF our County were
PAID; and when the Democratic party
went out of power the County owed
no debt and about sixteen hundred
dollars was left in the treasury.
Since that time the enormous roye.
nues collected by taxation hayo boon
squandered, and in addition thereto =
county debt of over one hundred thou.
sand doHarsf.h has been created. With
practically no. public improvements to
show for 1t. 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 responsi.
bic for these conditions is not to be
trusted, and that relief can only be
secured by electing to Office men who
VIII serve the public and not their
own private interests. and who will
not be under obligation TO party
controlled by machine politicians who
are in politics for what they can get
out OF IT, and not for the public good
FIFTH: The right OF the people to
rule is a fundamental principle of the
Democratic party, and when ever tho
people request that an amendment TO
their state constitution be submitted
to them for their ratification or re-.
ection, 1t is the duty of the legislature
Whatever may be the views of the
individual m embers thereof as to
the merits OF such amendment. to
comply with that request; and our
candidates for the legislature are hero.
by. pledged II elected TO vote TO sub
Continued on Psue Two1