The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-11-07
Justus Goebel Makes
Strong Appeal for Pro-
lection To Peoples In
tereSts
In Open Letter He Asks That
Lawyers Known To Be
Loyal To the Cause OF the
People and Free From Cor
poration Taint be Employed
In the Suits Against Tax
Dodging Corporations
OPEN LETTER.

Frankfort and Covington. Ky,
October 31st, 1912.
/ To His Excellency, Governor James b
McCreary; to all Administrative and
Legislative officers of the State and
| to all citizens of the Commonwealth
who are interested in equal and uni
form taxation:
Tell my friends to be brave and
fearless and loyal to the great com
mon people"
These last words OF my assassinated
brother. William Goebel, have a sacred
significance to. me and when In Sep
TENDER, 1909, ! again commenced to
take an active interest in our States
affairs, it was not to gain political IA
vor, for there Is no office l would
have; but 1t was with hope and con-
fidence that my work would, during
the administration of the present state
officers, open up an opportunity for
Kentucky to take up William Goebel's
interrupted 1t, and In that event every
department of our government would
give thereto by voice and action most
positive, vigorous and loyal support.
Relief Must Come.
Necessity for action in the interest
Of the people has grown as years have
passed until 1t has developed into what
is to-day crying shame and from
which relief must come.
Too long, altogether too long, has
there been unjust discrimination
against the people, unjust and burden
some taxation upon the people. as
compared with what has been required
to be paid by the big corporations of
our State. Corporation lawyers have
boastingly said the death of William
Goebel was a benefit to the corpora.
tlons. II this was true, the question
is, how much longer shall the people
be held in bondage because of his
death?
God knows the corporations now
suing the State have been able to pro
cure (and the word procure is used
immunity long enough from
paying their just share OF the taxes.
A hundred million dollar increase
In the value OF corporation property
for taxation opens a new era in the
States affairs. and has awakened the
people, and brought them to a realiza.
ton OF what has been done to them,
and there will be a further awaken
Ing, which will correct abuses equally
as great as unequal taxation. A true
awakening of the people has come,
and henceforth every man who would
hold Office must be a progressive, and
no imitation will satisfy them; they
will sweep aside and into oblivion as
I'D chaff any man who hesitates or |
iares stand in the way OF betterment |
II conditions and Improvement In ev-
Try way for the whole people.
Gross differentiation.
No one doubts, had William Goe-
'el been permitted to live. that which
vas done last month by the Board OF
Yaluation and Assessment would have
'Cth HlOiC ludu u utCdO6 ago,
nd to-day. instead OF the large cor
'orations fighting In the courts and
" sinister methods, endeavoring 20
'erpetuate unjust and unequal taxa
lon, to throttle the action Of this
tate Taxing Board, the first to act full
y In the interest OF the people, they
you'd long ago have been paying into
he State, county and city treasures
heir just proportion OF taxes.
1t is very evident that In Ken
lucky. as In other States, big corpora
Ions will never pay a cent more of
ayes than they are made to pay.
Take the case OF the G. & o. r. X.
n 1911 this road. on its entire sys-
em in Kentucky. paid taxes on a to-
Al valuation OF only ss.3l3.270. where
8 the street railway company OF the
ity OF Louisville was made to pay on
valuation OF sl0.s0o. 900. The O. 4
}. X. r. In 1901 paid taxes on q fran
hise valuation OF only S2.l7l.lS9. and