Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-10-25
and not to relieve the people

purpose OF tampering with. the Ia,
law 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 properly. a
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 re.
gard to the public welfare, II 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 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 WE'RE 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 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 pubic 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.
BILE 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 obiigationsstoe party
controlled by machine politicians who
are in politics for wnat 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 whenever the
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.
iure whatever may be the views of the
individual members thereof as 10
the merits of such amendment. TO
comply with that request; and our
candidates for the legislature are here
by pledged, IL elected, to vote to sub.
NIT 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 vote of the people, but the
same year, forced by public sentimen,
)the Republican party declared in its
state platform that it would submit
the amendment II 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 IT.
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
.afiirms its policy Of opposition to the
legalized sale Of intoxicating liquors
II points to the fact that 1t 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 nauseatlng spectacle OF the
Republican machine i'm Nforper oo.,,,,