The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-10


 Governor Kilby's statement follows: Tt is noticed that certain persons who are hiding their identity behind blanket of secrecy have called a
 mass meeting at the Montgomery courthouse for Thursday night to pro- test against raises in valuations pro- posed by the tax adjuster.
 Alabama has always boasted that 1t
 maintained government of laws and subscribed not to government of
 men, but in Montgomery it would seem some persons are now swearing alle- glance to rule by mass meeting, dis regarding those solemn statutes writ ten by their own representatives. It was of recent date that some citizens
 of Montgomery gathered in mass meet ing and held character-lynching bee, condemning one of the states promi-
 nent citizens without giving him the right to answer, which the government guarantees to the worst criminal with in it's Jurisdiction.
 Now comes the second call for
 mass meeting. This time it is proposed [ to engender prejudice which the leaders hope will be sufficient to overthrow those officials who have taken an oath to do their duty. to bring general sup port to the few property owners who have always sought every method pos | sible to dodge the payment of taxes which rightfully belong to the state, the county and the city; to cast aside I the power of the law and to continue a system which has enriched still , further the property owners. at the same time withholding from educat ation and from all other interests of the state the funds which would cause Ala bama to grow and prosper.
 SAD MOMENT
 eff the time has come when a few persons can stay the hand of the state and prevent the gathering in of the funds to which the public treasury is entitled, it is a sad moment for our igovernment. Good citizens will not con- done tax lodging. Their hearts and 1 minds tell them that they, as a part of this government, cannot become the rubber stamps of selfish persons who seek to retain to themselves those funds which their own representatives 1 say shall be placed in a common treas-
 ury for use in maintaining our system of government, ip promoting the edu- cation of the youth, in enforcing re- | ispect for law and order. in guaranteeing equal rights to all persons.
 No one believes there will be gen. | eral support of this movement in Mont gomery. There cannot be. Defenders or law and order are greatly in the mapority here. They will not Iend a 1 helping hand or an open pocketbook to ] any movement which would break down law and order. People who support l this call for an anti-tax mass meeting are encouraging persons to break the | law, are themselves unpartiotic and are not willing to aid in the enforcement of 1 their own statutes.
 HOWL OF TAX DODGER "This appeal Is nothing more | than the howl of the tax dOdger. Before the echo of the income tax dodgers cry has died away, the howl of the nd valOrem tax dOdEer is sent forth to be joined with the I rent prOfiteer, until now many persons are made to wonder if the 1 disgruntied forces have mastered 1 the rhythm and are peeling forth l the anthem of free Russia's bOl- sheviki.
 One newspaper report says that in some instances raises of 800 per cent have been proposed. To my mind this is proof positive that some persons
 have been escaping taxation. If a
 raise of 500 per cent is sustained this