The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-05-06
Meeting Which Was Held at
Court House Last Night
Was Full of Pep
and Enthusiasm.
MANY SPEECHES MADE

Meeting Said to be Called to
Form Tax League, But no
Apparent Need Was
Shown.
A public meeting was held last
night In the district court house,
which was called for the purpose of
discussing the formation of tax
league. The meeting was we'll at
tended. and was full of pep and en-
thusiasm- 1t was strong testimonial
OF loyalty to the city, and the
speeches which were made, were
cheered frequently, and the speakers
several times interrupted with ap.
plause. The charge that Keokuk was
unequally taxed was not supported to
the satisfaction of the crowd, and it
was apparent to the assemblage that
there was no need for any such pro-
Posed tax league, to judge from the
remarks made.
After two hours of talking, the
AAASOIAA6 HioJouAuCu WlluOuL ally SUCH
action having been taken Keokuk
was defended by several of the speak.
ers. Those who were agitating the
question of unequal assessments
were asked to deliver their proof.
Scarcasm, wit and fact were judic-
iously combined in all of the speeches,
made for the defense, and the meet
ing will be remembered for years to
come as one of the most enthusiastic
and loyal gatherings that the historic
old court room has been witness to.
The action of the mayor and the
city council in the matter of all as
sessments was Endorsed, and the ma
jority pledged their loyalty in the
administration. 1t was reiterated by
several speakers that Keokuk was
| the best city on earth: that her fu-
ture was bright and that the city is
one of the few in the state to show
a growth in the last five years.
Meeting Called to order.
| It was after eight o'clock when ], F..
Sanders called the meeting to order
The court room was packed and people
We're standing about the rear of the
room, and every available chair was
taken. MIR. Sanders in explaining the
call said: Unequal taxation keeps us
as city in the condition in which we
find ourselves. We must find the best
means to secure equal taxation. I'm
equal taxation has made Keokuk a
dead town SO far. IT acts against the
retailers. There are many empty
buildings along Main street. Some are
bearing heavier burdens because 9TH
ers are escaping. We have no crit
cism to make Of any one more than
another Every man must bear his
proportionate share"
George Walden nominate John NJ
Wilson for chairman of the meeting.
After this routine there were sever
al minutes OF silence which were brok-
en- when Frank M. Ballinger moved to
adjourn. The motion was Given a sec
ond. Although such motion is not
debatable, Mr.. Ballinger said he would
grant any one the courtesy of making
remark. Wells NJ Irwin said that as
long as the crowd was present he
thought the issue, whatever, it was.
should be thrashed out.
Mr.. Balinger then withdrew his mo-
ton saying that If somebody would
state the purposes and grievances CT
the meeting he would be glad to listen.
He didn't want to listen to silence
only, however and he didn't think the
crowd did, and he hoped somebody
that the melting had been called to
SETTLE |
Sanders Outlines object.
J. F. Sanders then took the floor !
and made his statement. He said he
thought everyone present wanted TO
see the affairs of the city carried OH
In the best way for everyone to be
benefited. "You know and know" he
said, there Is something wrong in our
assessments. Many of you people |
have talked privately to me about this
thing and yet you seem afraid to /
speak out now. Our unequal taxation
is appalling. There is no reason tol
allow few men to dominate and con-
troll. 1t is dishonest and dishonorable
to try to escape our just burdens; we
are under the most serious legal obi
cations to bear our share Of the taxes
The courts do not deal tenderly with
the tax dodger. Every upright citizen
should stand for upright taxation.
Some people say we are trying to |
make target of the water power COM
pany. Nothing of the kind. We are
cot making target Of the Mississippi I
River Power company, for as 1 have
said before they are not the only sim I
ners in Keokuk We must deal fairly
with them, and we want them to deal
fairly with us. Unequal taxation is
killing the city. There are washwo-
men bent over tubs working to get
the little bit they can to come down
here and pay their taxes. have seen
men nosing around the court house I;
ready to buy up the tax receipts in the
effort to make what they can at the i
end Of twelve months. There are i
some of the business interests that
ara not paving taxes