Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1919-11-12

IN q az dIo SSuSI oil
calamity bowler, but believes all
public affairs should oc conduct
ed in an orderly, sane way, after
mature consideration and accord
ing to the wishes of a majority
Of all fairly expressed. and, ow-
ing to this view, it finds itself en-
tirely out of harmony, with the
faddists, freaks, many public
officials and largely with the
trend Of the times, yet IN har
mony with the masses. Equal
and eXcat justice to all ME Of
whatsoever persuasion, etc, years
ago was a dogma that was popu
lar among statesmen, but seldom
heard today. II has been sup
planted by time serving dema.
gogues, office hunters and graft
ers, and sneak legislation, ella S
legislatlon, and the general sub
version of governmental affairs
to their selfish purposes. The
governor and the last Legislature
put up a howl about the equaliza
ton Of taxes, which judgding by
the fearful pleas made. one would
have. thought their dod-rotted
hearts were for once on the right
side. The people, however, are
almost disallusloned. The in
equaltles in the assessment Of
property, as far as we can deter
mine by the reports of honorable
men, are as bad as ever, if not
more 50, more deliberate and more
unjust,
The poor man, the man with a
little home, or renter, has always,
and it seems must continue to
bear the burdens of taxation.
and not being satisfied with this
inequality and injustice. the last
legislature, proceeded to tighten
the load Of the man with ready
money and increase the burden of
the already overburdened poor
Hence, ms cad of II govern.
ment being one of helpfulnest
justice and generosity to those
who need the benign Influences
Of fair play, becomes an oligarchy
by and for the we'll to do, who
never fail to shape legislation il,
such a way as to make the rich
richer and the poor poorer. Thu.
the poor finding that our so cal,
ed Democracy having lost it,
SAVIOR, having changed its course
seek other methods to right their
wrongs. We find him Joining
the labor unions and the | w VS.
and taking part in demcnstrs
tons against the governmen
against private ownership O
property and even against Coo
and religion. The people are
responsible for :his condition fol
they do not use the f~orethough1
necessary in the selection o.
their legislators, take too much
for granted, fail to instruct those
selected, and, as a consequence
the demagogue and trickster
rises to the top, holds sway, for
gets the public and enacts such
Legislation as he personally de-
slres. Thus the necessity of the
people organizing and managing
their own affairs fairly and ur
gently presents itself. 1t is pat
ent to all that something must
be done to prevent popular gov
eminent perishipg in the home
of its friends.
Here is a specimen of the kind
of laws referred to in the above
"All taxes shall be due on the
first Monday1n October in each
year and all taxes paid in the
months Of October and Novem
Der a discount shall be given the
tax payer II per cent. All tax
eS paid in the month of Decem
Der shall be paid at the net
amount charged, and from after
the FIRST day of January a penal
ty Of one percent shall be added
on the taxes paid, and in the
month Of February, after the first
day of February a penalty of two
percent shall be added, and an
aHHifioro no,,14r Of ono ~o~