Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1914-03-18

detectives and dependents, for reform
atories for first offenders, and for 9TH
sr purposes. In short. we need much
more money for the public institu-
tons we already have, and funds to
build and equip several we need, must
have, but have not. And good roads
where are the counties and the state
to obtain the great sums of money so
much needed for this great develop
ment? No one can compute the al
most infinite benefit that would &C
crue from a network of improved
highways covering every county of the
commonwealth. But we must first
have the money, for good roads can
not be built for nothing. There are
many other objects for which we need
more money that | have not time to
mention. To make this situation stand
out more gravely before US, we have
to take into consideration that the
states present revenue will be de-
creased by more than 100000 when
the Prohibition law goes into effect
next July.
Sources Of Revenue.
Where. then, and how can we OBJ
tain the needed increased revenue?
The state has but one method OF get
ting money, by taxation. And whilst
there is no accepted definition of taxa
ton, and whilst no scientific system
of taxation has yet been invented, we
all know that those persons and OBJ
jects must contribute taxes that are
able to do so and in proportion to
their ability to contribute. Our vast
and valuable natural resources were
| once the common property of all the
people. Ii their development yields
large profits to private persons, the
state is entitled to a generous portion
thereof.
Production Tax, Tax on Royalties.
A fair tax on production of our nat
ural resources and on royalties re-
ceived from such production, would
yield us handsome sum. ! know of
hundreds of thousands of dollars in
coal, oil and gas royalties going out
OF the state, the lands producing
which were purchased In some in
stances at % and 80 cents per acre,
and even less, as forfeited and unap-
, propriated lands. The recipients of
these royalties pay no taxes to our
state, but live in other states and other
nations and care nothing for our flu
ture. Hundreds of thousands of acres
that have been acquired in the same
way, still undeveloped, are held by
large corporations of other states,
from which the state is receiving only
q nal
holdings of these corporations that
were purchased few years ago for a
mere song, have multiplied andS,are
multiplying in value. A very large
portion of these great natural prod
ucts, as they are being developed. are
transported in their raw condition
without our state. Indeed, very few
industries of the finished product
class are located within our borders.
lmproVdence of Our Fore-Fathers.
If our forefathers had not given
away for a mere song this great nat
ural wealth, placed here by the crea-
tor for the benefit OF all, we could do
as Minnesota is now doing, run our
free schools on the income from coal,
oil and gas lands, that the state prac-
tically gave away. Had the state re-
tanned these valuable lands. they could
have been leased and the immense in
come therefrom would go far to sup
ply present needs and provide for the
future generations.
While we can not undo what has
been done, we can do something along
the lines | have indicated If we do
not coming generations, when these
vast resources shall have been ex-
hausted and there Is left only the emp
ty shell, will rightfully blame us for
such course Of folly. We were the
legal heirs of their heritage, to be
handed down by us in turn to our
posterity. / want to say TO you, and
through you send a message back to
the people Of the state, that this is
the beginning of the battle for the
fair rights OF the people in his regard
"a battle we shall carry on with
malice toward none, but with Justice
and a square deal for all. We pur-
pose TO be just TO the owners of this
vast natural wealth, and we purpose
that they shall be just TO the state.
Union Essential to Success.
To eradicate the existing evils In
the body polite, to prevent others. to
bring TO pass the good things desired
in short, the work Of promoting the
general welfare always brings on a
conflict with powerful and selfish in
terests, conflict in which the public
welfare loses out unless those who
stand for it are Yigilant, courageous.
wise, and united A few selfish men
have frequently ruled communities
and In some instances state for many
years, because the good people oppos-
ed TO them failed to unite their forces
in an ehectual attempt TO Dust them.
The selfish men stood together. the
good men divided and quarreled among