The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-13
Maintain They Were Per forming Public Duty, Rep
 resenting Chamber
CITE ASSESSMENT
 OF THE O'NEAL HOME
Jefferson County Is Willing to Sup- port Government to Limit of Its Duty, But Resents Fragrant
 Inequality

The local committe of business men ap- pointed by the Chamber of Commerce to resist the tax increases replied yester- day to the statement of Governor O'Neal, issued last Monday, in reference to the defense being conducted of the sil.Ooo,ooo tax raise by the state tax commission. The statement issued by the committee, composed of J. D. Moore. chairman; Frank Nelson. Jr.. J. S. Gillespy. Eugene L. Brown and Robert Jemison. Sr.. is in reference to the increases cited here prin- cipally and to other features of the gov ernor's statement exclusive of the legal aspects of the case. It was given out by the committee that another statement would be issued within a day or two in reference to the legal part of the gov ernor's statement.
 The statement in full follows:
 On the Sd day of June the governor of the great state of Alabama saw fit to publish in the newspapers of the state a long, labored and unwarranted attack on number of the citizens of Jefferson county. because they had the temerity to come out in the open and protest against the recent raises and the pro- posed raises of the tax assessments in this county In this statement he charged that these citizens were not only tax dodgers" with all that term implies. but that they were engaged in an or ganized effort to nullify the tax laws of the state, and to prevent certain favored interests from bearinA their just bur- ef charged that tho movement was led by the representatives of big business and wealthy corporations and that this had confirmed in his own mind. at least, the truth of the common impression that the worst tax dodgers were confined to this class.
 When the state tax commission an- nounced some time since that 1t had in- creased the assessments of IT property owners over $400e0.00O the president of the Chamber of Commerce. an organiza- tion which represents every class of cit izenship in Jefferson county, called a mass meeting of all the people to meet and express their views on this unusual unlocked for and unjust exercise of un- bridled and reckless power At this meet ing a committee of i've was appointed (most of whom were not even present. to take the lead and conduct a campaign against this and other tax raises at this
 
 ties, not at the request or dictate of big business or corporate power, but because it's members had been called upon by the president of our great civic and business organization to at least attempt to perform a duty which the organiza- tion owed to it's members and to all the people of this county. The governor of the state objects to. this committee and seeks not only to beIittle it, but every AZ ind fering with him or his commission in their opinions or actions.
 Plain Language Necessary
 When the interview referred to was pub lshed, the committee felt that it's argu- ments were largely misleading and that the personal reflections and insults to it and a large number of our people de- manded a public reply. In this reply plain language was used for the reason that the governor had made it neees- sary When one is publicly called tax dodger, an undesirable citizen, dummy, representing not one's own ideas or convictions, but impiedly at least, the representative of corrupt and dis honest organizations of wealth and cu- pidity, if answer is made at all though it be to a governor diplomatic. apolo- getic and deferential language could hardly be expected
 Without warrant. without personal knowledge of the personnel of the com mittee of 150 who appeared before the board of revenue. he placed them all in the same unholy class, and held them up to the rfdicule and condemnation of all decent people. This body of men rep resented every phase of our citizenship, from the humblest to the highest and regardless of their financial or social posi- md ort1ac ct who felt that they were being imposed upon by the state taxing authorities and that they had a right both for them selves and their neighbors to protest against this manifest injustice.
 When they were subjected to the gov ernor's puslic abusive criticism, the com mjttee suggested that his charges were untrue and that as a body and as indi- viduals they were willing from a personal standpoint to be compared with him. It was not anticipated that he could pos sibly constr-ie it as an. insult or yelee- tion on himself.~If these gentlemen were what he has named them to be. then he has been slandered. If they were honest and reputable, he has no cause to com plain. Tn his interview published on the 10th day of June he largely reiterates his former argument. but it is in the main severe castigatfon of the mem bers of this committee and of the in- terests they are supposed to represent.
 Array Class Against Class
 The high office of governor of the state of Alabama should and does command the respect of every loyal citizen The occupant of that high office, however, is not sacred and cannot be protected by it, when he for reasons. political and otherwise, in anger, so far forgets him.