The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-26
JUDGE BRANDON
 FIRST ID GIVE
 |DEA0F PLATFORM
PromuIgates Nine Points Upon Which He Will Make His Campaign for the
 Governorship
By FRED IT. GoRMLEY Montgomery Bureau. The Age-Herald 22f-2 First National Bank Building

MOnFROmeTy buTedus lDe hRe-neEdlu
 gaia First National Bank Building Montgomery, June 25.- (SpeciaL)--- Did William W. Brandon, the only announced candidate for governor in the primary Of August, 1922, hark back to the old days of the Revolu tionary war and to the time when the minute men of Lexington came forth as the forerunner of the defenders of America when he appeared before the citizens of Lexington's name sake, texii gton beat of Dallas coun- ty, Friday week? Whether he remem- l bered the Lexington of old. he did make himself the minute man when he appeared in Lexington beat and first to declare himself in the polit cal campaign like the men of Lexing ton first put themselves on record in the Revolutionary war.
 Little notice has been given to Judge Brandon's speech in Lexington l beat. but it is fact that his utter ances there were the first declaration of principles in the gubernatorial campaign. which will be the forerun- ner of the nomination of a man to succeed Thomas F. Kilby as governor of Alabama. Judge Brandon had been invited to deliver an address at a community picnic at Providence church in Lexington beat. He had | been invited to deliver many ad- dresses in recent months and had re- frained from discussing politics. but this time he opened up with a state ment bearing on the political situa- | ton and before he had finished he had promulgated nine points upon which he will make his campaign for governor.
 | It Is not recorded In the meager report regarding this address wheth- | CT or not Judge Brandon gave the public his complete platform in this address. but enough has been given to furnish some idea of the policies, which will govern, if Judge Brandon is given the democratic nomination, a nomination, which is equivalent to 1 election in Alabama
 i Nine Points Numerated Judge Brandon took as his own many of the issues, which have come up in political discussions of recent weeks and months and his nine 1 points, which he has already placed In his platform, according to the re- port Of his address, are as follows: l l. Reduction in taxation
 z' Reduction in expenses of govern ment.
 | B. Abolition of tax adjusters.
 4. Abolition of field agents of state tax commission.
 D. Keeping the state government in the hands of the people.
 G. No reduction in Confederate pen sions
 T. No reduction in appropriations TOT education and for eleemosynary institutions
 s. Li.berality toward states neces- sary institutions but the cutting to the bone in all other departments of government" l 9. A poor state and rich people rather than rich state and poor people.
 Too Much Taxation l Judge Brandon said he believed the various units of government had gone too far in levying taxes and expressed the opinion that the time had come for the elimination of some of the bases for taxation. He men toned that everything is now taxed, and that no class of business or citi- zens is free of an unusual tax bur den. He did not confine himself to the state government, but declared that all other units of the American system of government had partici- | pated in the imposition of this bur den.
 He proposed the reduction of the general expenses of government and l by inference suggested that the tax assessors should be forced to do the work which has been placed on the tax adjusters by the revenue act of l 1919, which was borne by the boards of equalization from 1915 to 1919, and which has been in the hands of appointive officers for many years. His address indicated that he thinks taxes should be obtained in the flu ture by persons elected by the peo- pie rather than persons appointed by l a board or an executive officer. | He also declared that great bur den has been. placed on the people by the activities of special agents of the state government, who were i sent out from Montgomery. He said the probate judges could collect the privilege and license taxes, but that I instead of giving this duty to them "a horde of collectors are sent out from Montgomery to harrass the peo- pie and whose fees for so doing are adding to the tax"
 Takes From People | He said the creation of the special 1 officers had taken the reins of gov ernment from the hands of the peo- l ple and that the appointive power | maintained control over them, thus preventing the safeguarding and pro | tection of the people because they are not responsible to the people l Concluding the address, Judge | Brandon proposed no reduction in Confederate pensions and no unjust reduction in appropriations TOT schools and eleemosynary institu- l tions, according to the meager re- | port of his speech "I do not adYo- cate any reduction of the pensions | paid to Confederate soldiers or in | the amount paid for schools and elee- mosynary institutions" Judge Bran I don was quoted as saying. As to | each of these objects I favor as much | liberality as the state can possibly 1 afford. but I do favor in every oth- CT department of the government a cutting to the bone. 1 believe In 2 | poor state and a rich people, not a ] poor peaple and a rich state, and 1 hope that purpose will animate and guide from this time forth those who make and administer our laws in the state"
 Judge Brandon nas been candi- | date for governor since the primary | of 1918 when he lost the nomination to Governor Kilby by few thou sand votes. but in recent months he | has appeared before the people in ev- | cry section of the state. In recent
 weeks several Brandon clubs have l been organized.