davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11
s2,S62,522.33

for these laws will feel like organic
Ing a vigilance committee to go to
Charleston and hang those who have
so grossly deceived them"
Here Is what Hon. W. Z. Chiffon,
one OF the Democratic leaders in this
state, said six years ago, in keynote
address delivered on the occasion Of
the third congressional convention
held in Hinton, W. Va, August 6,
1910:
Il have always been opposed to the
new tax laws; they are fraud and
deception; a snare devised for the
purpose OF carrying gentlemen into
office and not intended to give the
people any permanent benefit. These
laws have for their purpose the build
ing UP of political machine to keep
lot of gentlemen In oGlce-and we'll
have the laws performed their pur-
pose."
Ex-Governor MacCorkle, In a
speech made at Charleston, May 25,
1919. said, among other things, that
tho reason why the party he repre-
sents should be returned to power
was that they passed at the last ses-
SION Oh inc lc6lslhluEe, IN the House,
a bill abollshing the tax commission
er's office,
was member of tho legislature
for ten years and closely associated
with II for eight years more. and
have not seen in all this time q piece
of legislation offered which cham
pioned the cause of the great money
interests as against the masses of the
people, to the extend of this bill,
backed by Ex-Governor MacCorkle. to
which he proudly refers as passing
the House.
believe you will agree with me
that it would be a fearful step back
wards, yes, calamity. for the Demo-
Gratis to be again entrusted with the
business affairs of this state.
Not only, my friends, has the Re
publican party placed good laws upon
the statute books OF this state, but
what is OF equal or more Importance,
1t has enforced them with results un-
equalled by any state in the union.
| Do you want to continue these hnS-
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11
HAND MASHED
When Jack Slips Letting Heavy
Car Fall on Dr.. E. B.
DaMs's Hand.

DR.. T.. B. Davis, the dentist. had
his left hand badly mashed and three
bones in it broken Sunday afternoon
when a jack slipped from under his
automobile while he was fixing a
spring and caught his hand beteen
the axle and the body OF the car.
DR.. Davis had driven his car to
his farm about six miles out the
West Milford road when a spring
broke He called local garage and
had repair man spent out to repair
the spring. The car was lacked up
off the broken spring and DR.. Davis
and the repair man were working on
it when the jack slipped and let the
car fall upon his hand.
The injury Is very painful and DR..
Davis will not be able to resume his
practice for three or four months.
DIR. Davis is a member OF the firm OF
Davis and Davis. dentists, and his
brother will look after his practice
while he is away from the office.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11
The Burdens Eaualized.


The figures speak for themselves
and show to what extent under Demo-
cratic rule the great masses Of tax
payers were compelled to carry bur
dens in the way of taxation, which
should have been borne by others, as
they are now.
No wonder the state treasury was
empty and there was no money in 1t
for humane institutions; no wonder
the counties had no money for more
than three months school, even
though the small property owner was
paying great deal more than his
fair part. This Ia ono of the classes
OF property Mr.. Cornwell complains
Of as having raised ten times,
In addition to the Republican
pRrty's policies already mentioned
having been OF great service to the
people OF tho state, 1t has continued
to give the people splendid laws; II
has repealed the fee system, hereto
fore mentioned. thereby saving to the
people almost 100000 q year; 1t has
enacted the law providing for the
re-assessment of all real estate. which
has resulted IN so much benefit to the
people. as shown in detail,
There have been many other i'm
portant laws passed. but l have only
tlmo to merely mention some OF
them-the act creating the state tax
commissioners office; the public ac-
counting act; the act revising our
insurance laws and making them sec
ond to none in the United States; the
new blue law, which has saved our
people hundreds OF thousands Of dol
lars; the act creating the board of
control; the acts creating the public
service commission, workmen's COM
pensation, fire marshal and many
other excellent laws. Of which hours
could be spent. as each one is a sub
ject within itself for a speech.
think l have said enough to con-
vince you that Mr.. Cornwell's proph-
ecy was not only wrong, but absolute
ly misleading. In his speech at Clarks-
burg, April 10. 1916, he said in part:
Thus will taxes so enormously in
crease that all those who have voted
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11

ton OF all the real estate and per
sonal property in the state raised ST.
bSS.36S.05. Please notice at the bot
tom OF the table of disbursements
that We paid back to the people
through the central school fund
S4l4,422.63, which would leave ST.
l6S,936.42 raised by direct state tax
for the support OF the state govern
ment, which would be equivalent 10
about an eleven cent levy. How much
did you pay then OF tho $3,ll3,077.63
cost OF state government last year?
II your property was assessed at
$1,000, your share would be Sl,lO.
II assessed at $4,000, your share
would be S2.20; II assessed at So, 900
your share would be $3.50: IL at S4.-
600, your share would be s4.40: n at
$4,000. your share would be $3.50.
or eleven cents on the 800 valuation
for whatever property you had.
Who would object 10 paying that
much in order to make possible the
great work the state is doing? Why.
the amount the average man pays for
the support of the state government
in year would not be sufficient to
keep him In chewing tobacco for two
months. Mr.. Cornwell would have
you believe that you were being
robbed.
II you are not member of cor
poration doing business in this state,
or If you do not run merry go-round
circus. moving picture show. bill
lard or pool room, keep a hotel or
tavern. sell tobacco, operate an au-
tomobile. or engage in some special
privilege for which the state exacts
license, you would pay the amount
of S1.10 for each one thousand dol
lars worth OF assessed property you
have in the state for the support Of
your state government.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11

have been built throughout the state,
at cost Of many millions OF dollars;
II you want other school buildings
throughout your magisterial districts,
and many Of the districts have voted
bonds for this purpose, you must ex-
pect to pay for them. With the cost
OF labor more than doubled. and ma
terial higher, and the people doing
ten times more for themselves than
they were doing at the time Mr.. Corn
well speaks Of. is It any wonder taxes
are higher in the counties2 This in
creased expense is true with every
family. The necessities OF family
today were the luxuries fifteen years
ago.
So all this talk about blaming the
Republican party With higher taxes
in the counties is fake. The people
OF county control themselves and
can make their taxes high or low.
No. my friends, your Republican
legislature and state officials have
not been wasting your money. AS
whole the peoples business is being
handled in careful, businesses man
ner. We have put into practice in
West Virginia common sense business
methods, and we are not fearful Of
the verdict of the people
call your attention to another
comparison. Mr.. Cornwell refers to
certain class OF property that was
raised in valuation ten times.
State Returned 1898, 5St. 80 in 1890;
S2,S82, 522.33 In. 1910.
In 1895 the Democratic board of
public works assessed the public
service corporations of the state. and
received in taxes therefrom $751;.
079.23. Then then took % cents on
the 800 valuation for state purposes,
and placed it into the state treasury
to help run the state, and the auditor
disbursed the balance, $333,000, in
round numbers, among the counties,
districts and municipalities.
The Republican board Of public
works in 1915 assessed the public
service corporations, and received
$2,862,522.33 in taxes from them.
The auditor did not take 35 cents on
the 500 valuation of this great sum,
as did the Democrats, but he took
approximately IA cents on the 500
valuation, and returned the re-
mainder to the counties, districts and
municipalities.
showed in the comparative tables
what the state received. now desire
to show what the different counties
received under Republican manage
ment and under Democratic manage
.ment. from this source:
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11

You will note tho first item: Salary
OF state officers in 1916. $25.450; in
1897, $1,000. The constitutional
amendment adopted twelve years ago
increased the salary OF the state Of
ficers, but provided that all fees
should go into the state treasury.
These fees, including the fees collect
ed By the auditor who acts az attor-
ney-ln-fact for all foreign corpora
lions, for the last year amounted 10
391, 29O.32. Why. my friends. this
Will pay the S25.45O. salaries of your
state officers; the salary Of the clerks
OF the governors office, $G,826.88;
auditors Office clerks, S24,l55.39:
clerks In the treasurer's ONCE, So
500; clerks in the secretary OF state
onice, $l2,677.50; assistants and
clerks In the attorney generals office,
Sl2.sO7.39. and still leave $B,70S.l6
in the treasury.
Much Great Saving.
Since we stopped giving the fees to
the auditor and the secretary Of state
we have placed in the state treasury
ESl,O76.S2, which otherwise would
have been lost to the state. Does Mr..
Cornwell want to go back to those
good old Democratic methods when
all this money went into the pockets
OF two individuals instead Of the state
treasury?
This table speaks for itself. Notice
what we are doing for our schools,
hospitals for the insane. and all the
other great institutions. spending last
year S3,1l9.O7TG3 as against $9l3,-
O24.83 In the year 1896. Why. we
spent last year on our university.
normal schools and branches, and
other state schools, more than tho
entire expense OF the state govern
ment for the fiscal year 1897, or the
last year the Democrats were In
power. A study Of this table will
toll It's own story. Time will not per
init me to take up separately the
items OF comparison.
Facts to Keep Before You.
! want, however, to answer Mr..
Cornwell. when he condemns the
present assessment law. by saying
this; II We had not changed the as
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11

Now. my friends, you can SEQ from
these figures that we spent, during
the last fiscal year, more than one
half OF the entire amount for the
support of our great schools OF learn
Ing, our hospitals for the insane, our
miners hospitals and the protection
OF our miners, the school for the deaf
and blind, the Industrial school for
girls, the industrial school for boys,
big tuberculosis sanitarium, and for
the support Of Industrial schools for
the colored youth OF the state, as we'll
ms many other institutions OF similar
class. VIII any Democrat say we are
wasting the peoples money when We
expend on these institutions under
the watchful care OF the board OF con
troll? II such there be, let him stand
up.
Note These subjects.
Please look over tho last list OF ex-
penditures. making up the total dis
bursements. Our militia, including
appropriation for law and order, cost
US S83,770.71. Can yet get along
without this outlay?
Our public printing, binding and
stationery cost ST., 263.17; we can
not get along without 1t.
What particular items would our
opponents cut out? II the money OF
the people Is being wasted by the
hundreds OF thousands. point It out
and inform the people what particular
Items they would cut out.
Lest We Forget"
1t would be well right here to see
how much the average man pays to-
ward supporting the state govern
ment. costing last fiscal year s3.l13,-
077.63.
The first two items in the table OF
the states receipts tell the tale. The
fourteen cent state levy which wat
applied last year on the 500 yalua.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11

Is there any other state that can
show a record like this, even with
the state levy fourteen cents which
applied last year?
The state levy has been reduced to
nine cents. which will apply the pres
ent fiscal year. which will be equal
10 about six cents direct state tax,
after deducting the amount we pay
back to the people by transferring ii
to the central school fund. So you
Will this year pay, aa matter OF fact,
only six cents on the one hundred
dollars valuation for the support OF
your state government, or sixty cents
on every $1,000 assessed valuation OF
property with which you are assessed.
Further comment is unnecessary.
DO Not Blame Your State Coy.
eminent.
No. my friends. II your taxes are
higher. and in many cases they are,
do not blame your state government
with it, for the amount you pay to
support your state government rs not
sufficient to make much difference
one way or the other. II your taxes
are high. the trouble is with the
county and not the state. Your coun-
ty can make your taxes high, or II
can make them low, all depending ON
the amount OF public improvements
the county desires to make. It is up
to each county. Again repeat. You
can not have the cake and eat it,"
Do You Want To Go Back?
II you are satisfied to 20 back to
whore Mr.. Cornwell would have YOU
to those good old Democratic DAYS
when we had three and four months
Of school; when school teachers were
paid from $50 to $25 month: when
the laborer was paid from fifty 10
seventy-flye cents a day on the roads
or farms, when the roads were only
trails in many places; when all kinds
of material for the construction OF
bridges, school houses and public
buildings was about one-half what II
is now-lf you are satisfied to ford
the streams instead OF crossing them
on bridges; II you are content to have
your children in little old dark school
houses; and with many other things
that could be mentioned, then you
will be satisfied, take II, to vote for
John j. Cornwell for governor.
IndiSputable Facts.
My friends, we may just as well
face the propositions as they are. II
a county wants good roads, and many
of them have already bonded their
property for that purpose; II you
want county high school. and many
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11

Bessment laws and increased the value
OF lots OF the property four and Ave
times, II would have been impossible
to run the state government on a
thirty-hye cent state levy, as It was
In 1897. but 1t would have been nee
essary TO increase the state levy
to $3.50 on the 800 valuation. And
that is not all; the small property
owners would have suffered most, be-
cause the men Mr.. Cornwell speaks Of
whose property had been raised 1--WE
and ten times under the new law,
would have continued to escape under
the old law, while those best able to
pay would have the big load to car
ry, as they did before the new as
sessment laws were passed. Instead
OF having a fourteen cent levy for
state and state school purposes. as we
had last year, 1t would have required
at least $3.50 levy for state pur-
poses. Yet in the face OF these facts,
which can not be denied. Mr.. Corn
well says that 'all those who have
voted for these laws Will feel like or
ganizing vigilance committee to 20
to Charleston and hang those who
have 30 grossly deceived them"
| am willing for the people to Judge
who 1t is that is trying to deceive
them.
Can Not Have the Cake and Eat II.
My friends, most Of us have learned
that we can not have our cake and cat
II. Neither can we take care Of the
blind, the deaf. the insane, our edu-
cational institutions, our hospitals
and the many other great institutions
without paying for It. All any reas-
enable Individual or corporation asks
Is that We so arrange the laws that
all may contribute their fair share.
as nearly as possible, in proportion to
what they. have; that the business OF
the state be run as any well-man-
aged corporation is run. and that too
much may not be undertaken in any
one year. in order that taxes may not
become burdonsome.
Let us separate these disburse-
ments for the fiscal year 1915 into
classes. in order that We may more
clearly understand where all this
money was spent.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11
BIG OIL DEAL
In Which the Price is in Excess
of $4,000, 900 Announced
in PittSburg.

PITTsBURG, Sept. 1.-THE Ohio
Oil Company has purchased the Mid
Kansas Oil and Gas Company, ac-
cording to an announcement made
here Sunday. The price was not
made known but is understood 70
have been in excess Of 100000.
The Mid-Kansas OIL and Gas Com
pany was owned by Walter Hoyt. OF
Wichita. Kans.; NJ. L. Benedum and
Joseph C. Trees. of Pittsburg, and
Harry s. Grayson. of Washington,
Pa. The company has 5000 acres in
the August field with twenty-five
producing wells.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11

valuation of the property OF the pub.
lie service corporations. when those
increases simply put them on the
same level with the owner OF a small
farm or home?
Does Mr.. Cornwell mean, when be
says some of your property has been
assessed fifteen times as much as II
was under the good old Democratic
way. that II you will elect him as
governor no will see that this great
wrong ia rlghted? Then he will have
the present tax laws repealed and 20
back to the good old Democratic
days" when many OF those individuals
and corporations did not pay any
thing like their fair share of the taxes
and when the smaller property own
ers not only paid their part, but also
paid q part OF the taxes OF those
whose taxes Mr.. Cornwell says have
been Increased many times"
Let Us Run Hurrtedly Down the
List.
License taxes. 1915, $4,000 In
round numbers.
License taxes, 1897. 1898, 900. This
decrease was brought about by the
prohibition amendment.
Note the next item. Fees In audi
tors office, $54,615.95 in 1915. Under
Democratic business methods, MOTH
ING.
Fees in secretary of states office
in 1916. $16,259.95. In 1896,
NOTHING.
Note further down the list. Statu-
tory attorney fees. $2O,414.S4; in
1886, nothing. Under Democratic
management these fees were col
lected. as they are now, but instead
of going into the state treasury, as
they do now, and have been for years,
they went into the pockets of the au-
dltor and secretary of state.
The table speaks for itself and
shows where the revenue came from
to support the state government I'M
der the Republican management, and
under Democratic management.
submit comparative tables show
ing disbursements for the same
period under Republican and Demo-
cratic management.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11

mess methods now in vogue. placed
there By Republicans and enforced BY
Republican officials. or do you want to
go back 10 the good old days Mr..
Cornwell, Mr.. Chiffon and Mr.. Mac
Corkle invite you. when the common
people paid the most Of the taxes
raised. and the wealthy escaped
large part or theirs?
Do you want to turn your properly
over to the men who have declared in
the open. without a blush OF shame.
that these policies will be adopted
when they get in power. and II adopt
ed, would result In the overthrow OF
great deal OF the benefits you have
received from Republican legislation?
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11
NARROW ESCAPE
From Drowning in Black Fork
of Elk River Has a Lum-
berport Young Man.

Gof Horonr. young man OF I.um-
berport, came very near losing his
life from drowning recently. He was
standing on the banks of a deep pool
Of water in Black Fork of Elk river
watching the bathers. From some
unknown cause. presumably pecu-
liar heart affection. he suddenly
plunged head-long into the river and
quickly sank from view. leaving his
hat floating toward the spot. Fortu-
nately. there was bathers at that
point, lady expert diver. who took
charge of him and quickly brought
him ashore.
Mr.. Hornor. after being resucitated,
did not appear to be any worse of
from his experience.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11
WOMEN IN JAIL.

In default of paying fines of S11.60
each for lettering in the streets, two
women giving the names of Lena
Westfall and Eftice Johnson were
Monday prisoners in the city jail,
while friends were making efforts to
raise the coin. The women were ar
rested at 12:45 O'Clock Monday morn
ing by Officer Yates.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11
FoRFEITs BOND.

a young man giving the name Of
Thomas Daily forfeited his bond OF
$40 when he failed to appear in police
court Monday morning to stand tria
on charge OF insulting ladies in the
street Sunday night. He was arrested
by officer DAVIDSON.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11

gagged in mining. for better health
conditions and for the prosecution
and support Of those who have vio-
lated the laws OF society.
Now, after spending s337,669.56
for salaries of officers and other OK
penses of state government, and ST.
964, 763.44 for our educational, penal
and charitable institutions, there is
a balance of $S1O.645.63 to make up
the total disbursements. For what
purpose did the state spend this?
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11
ONE AFTERNOON NOT
ENOUGH FOR BANKERS.

One afternoon is not enough
for those connected with the
banking institutions OF the city
TO take in the Central West vir-
ginia Fair, which is to be held
heres Tuesday. Wednesday and
Thursday, 1t had originally
been planned TO close the banks
at noon Wednesday for a half
holiday, but after the bankers
learned how much bigger and
better the fair is going to be
this year. it was deemed i'm
practicable for employees to try
seeing everything there in
single afternoon, wherefore an
agreement was made to have
all the banks observe Thursday
afternoon as a half holiday also.
The banks will close at IL
O'Clock noon of both days. II
is expected that other places
OF business in the city will fol-
low suit.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11

These figures tell complete story
within themselves. They show that
the state Of West Virginia, and we
are proud Of the fact. has adopted a
liberal policy in caring for the wards
OF the state who are confined In nu-
merous hospitals. They show In
clear and concise form what the state
expended in the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1916. for the education OF
Its youth. for maintenance of its
wards. for the protection Of those en-.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11
SEEKS RADIO LICENSE.

Mrs. ]. E. Law and children, James
Edward. Jr., and Carolyn. went to
Washington. D. c.. Sunday. Master
Edward, who is a wireless telegraph
amateur, will take the examination
there for radio license while Mrs.
Law and daughter will visit relatives
there a few days.
The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-09-11
DARST REEuTES


as 1t did in those good old days Mr.
Sornwell speaks Of, when the state
levy was thirty-flve cents on the 500
valuation, and If this be true, are
the people now being taxed unfairly?
II the old method more equally and
Justly raised the revenue to run the
state government than the present
method, distributing the burden OF
Taxation proportionately on the rich
and poor alike, then Mr.. Cornwell Is
right. - .
II the new method causes some of
our people to pay unjustly. as he
would have YOU believe, Ave or six
times the amount OF taxes thew
should, It is indeed a sorry situation.
Are these things true?
New Tax LAWS.
The tax laws were passed some
twelve years ago. AT that time tho
state tax was twenty-five cents on
the hundred dollar valuation. making
a total OF thirty-fve cents for state
and school purposes. The assess-
ments, as made in counties on reoI
estate, were so unequal, some coun-