The Adair County news., 1915-03-10

ship upon any legitimate industry. This
hoard, with my active assistance, in the
last three years, has increased the fran
chise valuations upon all the corpora
items of the state from S4S,000,000 to
s132, 000,o 600; and four of the largest rail-
road companies, whose assessments were
raised, have enjoined the collection and
carried the question into the federal
courts. where the cases are now pending
for decision. The favorable settlement
of these cases in the courts together with
the large Increases from other corpora
tions which S'e not contested, means a
great boon to the taxpayers and most
valuable increase in our revenues. In
the four years of the present admins
tration the increase of revenues from the
assessments of those corporations, which
have not contested increases, will
amount to a sum to the state far in ex-
cess of $1,000,000; and the increase of
revenues from the same source to the
counties, cities, towns and school dis
tricts of the state will amount to about
S2,000,0 900 for the same period. Should
the courts sustain the action Of the board
in the raises made upon the four rail-
road companies l have referred to, it
would add about $1,000, 600 more revenue
TO the state and about 100000 more
to the counties, cities, towns and school
districts in the same four years..
Explains Single Attack.
Notwithstanding my we'll known rec
ord upon the board in these matters and
my efforts to serve the best interests of
the people by placing a larger and just
burden of taxation upon the corpora
tions one man alone in all the state has
undertaken to criticise me about the
work of the board, and to reflect upon
my conduct in connection with it. Mr..
A. d. Stanley, some time ago. in an
nouncing himself as a candidate for the
nomination for governor. with his usual
disregard for the truth, made an attack
upon me and sought to create the i'm
preston that the corporations had been
too favorably treated by the board, and
that and other gentlemen he mentioned
had in some way been responsible for it.
The record and the facts completely dis
prove his insinuationS or charges, and
show that no franchise board in the his
| tory of Kentucky ever made such large
increases in the assessments OF corpora
lions. Mr.. Stanley can hardly plead ig-
norance of these facts, because they have
been discussed in the press and the
| courts of the state a great deal in the
last two or three years. / am not can
didate for the same office that he Is
seeking, nor do l propose to descend
! into a controversy with him and would
not now mention him except for his
| wanton attack upon me. The people of
Kentucky have learned to know him AS
a man utterly reckless and unreliable in
| his statements or in his charges against
| other men. The only criticisms that
! have ever been made about the work of
| this board have come from those who
! have complained that we have raised the
assessments upon corporations too high.
[ shall gladly stand upon the record Of
that board and upon my part in its work.
In the campaign last fall l was selected
without opposition by the party leaders
and the state committees as the Demo-
cratic campaign chairman for the state,
and We succeeded in carrying the state
for the Democratic ticket by the largest
ma jority in a general election for thirty
years. do not wish to claim the credit
for that splendid result, but as campaign
chairman 1 gave all of my time and SER
vice to help in bringing it about.
Inherited Large Debt.
The present state administration, of
which I am a member, inherited a large
debt and a disordered condition of
finances from the preceding Republican
administration: and that inheritance, to-
gether with the increased demands upon
our revenues for educational purposes,
for Confederate pensions, and for other
worthy causes, has imposed upon us n
, difficult situation to deal with and one
that has tried our best efforts and ener-
gies. AS head of the treasury depart
ment of the state, l believe I may say
without Boosting, that it's affairs under
these difficulties have been conducted in
a buSiness-like and successful manner;
that the revenues of the state have been
properly guarded, and creditors have not
been Inconvenience or disappointed. 7
believe the work of this administration,
regardless of hostile criticism, will, when
impartially and fairly measured, COM
mend itself to the good opinion of fair
minded people.
1t is now my desire to be ON the Demo-
cratic ticket as its candidate for auditor
and to serve in that office for the next
four years The experience I have had
as treasurer, and in such close connec-
| ton with the office Of auditor, should en-
able me to render efficient and valuable
service in that position.
I, therefore ask the Democrats of Ken
lucky for their support in the August
primary; and 1 ask that they place me
upon a Democratic ticket so strong and
worthy that it will deserve and receive
the support of the good people of Ken
lucky in the November election. And
may the people of our state in the cleo
ton this year show their appreciation of
the splendid and Incompatible admins
tration of President Wilson, and demon
strate that Kentucky in the presidential
election next year, will be ready to show
. its purpose to help in the work of re-
electing president who has done such
extraordinary service to the people of
this country. Respectfully,
THOMAS & RHEA