The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-27
WEST V|Rs|N|Als'
Continued f,,ari SO, d


During the campaisi 1 have .eer
in this state wonderful beauties o!
nature. streams and lite nnexcelled
30 much money 10 annually spsnt on
automobile tours.
But. mark me. to open up ell this
by road construction we must be full
Of deliberation. thoughtful OF econ
omical use OK money. getting a real
return for what we invest Becaues
Of the close relation that in the
course OF time has come between
counties and states, the day is al
hand for federal and state road cor
structlon. But, in a matter OF this
kind. as in all other matters OF public
purpose. waste. gruft and selfish in
tere2t must be given no part In the
progress.
my opponent Is going about the
state declaring that tho Dawson tax
laws. under which the equalization Of
properly assessments wa1 brought
abuot, are failure. take + that he
would repeal those laws. but he offers
nothing to take Their place. Within
the past six weeks nave has m.ay
Democrats tell me tina: the Dawson
equalization laws const:.rasrl the
greatest piece OF constructive .egisia-
tton IN West Virginia up to the time
OF their enactment. The people OF
West Virginia are not going to sleep
on their rights and permit the Demo-
Gratis to return to that old and anti
Guated system Of taxation whereby
coal lands and other valuable mineral
lands would so on the assessment
boohs at fifty cents to five dollars an
acre. and the blue grass surface own
ed by you farmers at sixty and seven
" dollars an acre.
This fight has been going on since
1904, and 1t has been renewed in this
year by the same interests and same
small coterie of would-be tax dodgers
who supported Mr.. Cornwell in his
campaign in 1904 on the same issue.
He was defeated then. and history ia
going to repeat itself this year.
"Mf. Cornwell complains that taxes
are high. but he docs not discrimin-
ate as between the tax rate for state
purposes and the local burdens placed
by county courts to meet the district
or county expenditures. It Is true
that the state tax rate Of fourteen
cents last year was unusually high,
but 1t was brought about through a
great coal strike In the Kanawha val
ley that cost 100000, the loss of
liquor licenses through prohibition
and necessary repairs to some of our
state buildings. This year the state
rate has been reduced to nine cents.
and our state tax commissioner says
than five cents. l assure you as gov
ernor ! shall at all times insist on the
tax rate being kept as low as is con-
sistent with efficiency and progress In
administrative affairs"
The judge assaulted Clarence w,
Watson as an arch despot who had
seized control Of the Democratic state
organization and was dominating it
for his own personal and political
ends. AS proof of wisconsin in the
Democratic party he pointed to the
ousting of Col. John McGraw, as ma
tional committeeman, in favor of
Watson; the deposal Of Cameron C.
Lewis as chairman Of the state COM
mittce In order to place Glenn Shaver,
Watson's own financial agent, at the
head Of the organization, and the re-
moval Of state headquarters from
Parkersburg to Fairmont, where
everything done could be under the
close observation Of Watson.
Through the election of Cornwell,
the Judge declared, Watson hopes to
dominate the state government 80
that he may build a machine to again
install himself in the United States
Senate. and at the same time gain
control over the public service COM
mission, state tax commissioners Of
f1ce and other agencies of state gov
eminent. The public service commits
sion regulates Watson's railroads and
electric lines. and the tax commits
sioner's office has some very import
ant functions to perform In connec-
ton with the levying and collection
Of corporation taxes.
Our government must never be
perverted to the uses of any one man
or any set Of men," said the judge.
II am opposed to invisible govern
ment, whether under the guise of
wisconsin or any other dress. II
hate bossism IN any form, and as long
as have the power to prevent It, no
one man or set Of men shall ever set