Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-27

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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 inexcusabie. The peoples mon
ey has been squandered without re-
gard to the public welfare. IL not with
a 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 the
oppression from unjust taxation threat
ems to drive the people from their
homes and confiscate their property.
We demand that 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 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 it then made. Although
the state revenues were then small.
state institutions were built. euuipped
and maintained, and the State turn
ed over to the Republicans on March
the 4th, 1897, free from debt. Now.
some of our state institutions are i'm
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 ad.
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
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 reye-
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 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 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 what they can get
out of 1t, and not for the public good.
FIFTH: The right Of the people to
rule is fundamental principle of the
Democratic party, and whenever tho
people request that an amendment TO
their state constitution be submitted
to them for their ratification or re-
lection, it 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.
init to the people 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 a vote of the people, but the
same year, forced by public sentiment
the Republican party declared in it's
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 it's control, that party, true to its
record of insincerity, sham and hypo.
crisy deliberately repudiated Il
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
afirms its policy of opposition TO the
legalized sale of Intoxicating liquors.
II 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 expediercy. It views with dis.
gust the nauseating spectacle OF the
Republican machine In Mercer coun.
Ity parading itself in the garb OF tenn
/ pcrance, and at the same time pre-
scnting to the people set OF candi
dates who have been the tools and
henchment OF the whiskey people. and
whose votes both as citizens and pub
I lie officials, have largely contributed
. to fastening the liquor power upon
. tho naOpIa ~ fhfo oc,,r4., n.ft-..-