West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-12-17
A Letter Worthy Of Careful Perusal by
Every Taxpayer I'm Preston
County.
Terra Alta. Dec. II. 1914.

Let me earnestly congratulate you
upon your editorial in which you state
that the Democratic press and organi-
zation Is not as aggressive as the Re-
publican press and organization. This
is literally true and the rebuke Is
timely. I want to add. however, that
this charge cannot be made agains.
tho West Virginia Argus. AS the
champion OF Jeffersonian Democracy,
equal rights for all. special privi-
leges for none." is has no equal in
the state. In season and out or season
II has been most active and earnest
In behalf OF the people. II is the ore
newspaper In the state that waged an
unremitting war against the motor
ious Dawson tax laws. It's analysis
| OF the tax laws was clear cut and sub
| sequent events proved the analysis 10
be correct in every detail as proven
by their operation.
Having kept a file OF The Argus
since 1900 1 have Just finished going
through the files and I ma our taxes
Il have compared by tax receipts from
1900 to 1910. as The Argus contended
and so prophetically pointed out, hea
each year been gradually increasing
since 1903. This year exceeds all pre-
vious years. 1 must quote wherein
| The Argus warned us Taxpayers that
the Infamous Dawson tax laws were
so timed that from 1904 to 1908 the.
will deceive the farmer and the small
property holder by increasing the
taxes OF the corporations and shout
ing that the laws were for the purpos,
OF placing the burden OF taxation upon
the corporations to relieve the farmer
and poor man, but In lyVy the bars
will be laid down and the farmer anc
the poor man will feel the heavy hant
OF increased taxation. Beginning with
1903 the farmer and poor man will find
the tax receipt increasing each year,
until the burden becomes so heav 4,
that they will feel like forming a vigi-
liant committee and mobbing the tax
reformers' for deceiving them. We
are no seventh son, nor do we clam.
the gift OF prophesy, but we woul /
ask the reader OF this TO cut II out
and paste IL in his hat so that he mev
be able in the light OF facts to ceter-
mine whether the writer is corpora
ton hireling' as the organ OF the coun-
~ ring characterizes him"
The writer of the above was none
other than that sterling war horse OF
Democracy and the foe of political
rings and machines, Col. w. j. La
velle. l have heard his political enemy
say that he understood the operations
OF the Dawson tax laws better than
any man in the State of West Viz
ginia. In the light of facts (our tax
feceipts) has IL not been proven be-
yond preadventure that Col. Lavelle
was the friend OF the common people
and not corporation hireling" as
the Preston County Journa; called
him Was not his Interpretation of the
Dawson tax laws a correct one? Have
not the farmers and the poor man felt
the heavy hand of increased taxation?
Has not this years tax receipts adj
yanced to the point where the most
rabid and bitter standpat Republican
must admit that the Dawson tax laws
have proven a heavy burden to the
taxpayers of West Virginia? And taf-
ing the statement off Governor Hat
field and State Tax Commissioner
Blue there is an enormous deficit con.
fronting us now with the prospect OF
1t doubling within the next appro
| priation.
The claim is also set up that the tax
laws must be changed in order to pro-
1uce more revenue. This is the very
argument that was advocated for the
Dawson tax laws-to raise more rev
| enue.
Have the taxpayers of Preston coun
ty forgotten that the Journal repeat.
eddy charged that The Argus was mis-
representing the Dawson tax laws.
OF course The Argus as vigorousiy
denied that 1t was misrepresenting
the laws and that time alone would
prove who was disappearing them
The tax receipts have proven that tho
Journal knowingly, or ignorantly
misrepresented the laws It should he
manly enough to apologize to The Ar
gus and on Bonded knees ask the par
don of the taxpayers of this coupty
for deceiying them. Will 1t do Il, or IS
the thumb Of the ring too heavy TO
throw on?
TAXPAYER.