The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-14
gov .N0'RGAN
ATTENDS MEET
Attacks Bloc System in
Speech at Morgan
town Y esterday

I STIc t'17gs - h ~ B
\ H tB7 Assoeiated Pres,)
MoRGANToWN, w. Va, Jan. 49,
Opposition 10 BLOC or group.
control Of egislation was expressed
\ by Governor e. +. Morgan in an ad.
| dress delivered here last night la
connection with the farmers week
! program at West Virginia uniyers
sity. 40. :. -. -.
"such a policy as mas been de.
yeloped in Washington" he said
In reference to. activities Of the az.
ricuittiral bloc" in congress-, Is
fraugM with grave danger to tina
farmers OF this land, for. Il a group
Of senators from agricultural states
are in control Of one congress; Tiers
remains the possibility that tho
next congress may be controlled by
the manufacturing interests OF tho
nation, and in the succeeding con.
gress the legislation may be enact.
ed by the labor group. mo one 10
more anxious 10 have Justice done
to the farmers Of our country than,
1.-THE present governor OF West Vlri
ginia, but j would resent the enact
ment of legislation solely IN their,
interest Just as readily as I would
the passage Of laws wholly design
ed In the interest Of manufacturers,
mine owners or:union labor. We
invite disaster and will rue the day
when we attack or destroy one. in;
I dustry or one element Of our popu,
lation for the temporary benefit Of
another class or element" :
Good roads, and the des eiopment
/, Of roads through the state. indus.
trial depression and It's effect on
farming interests; taxes and the
selection OF the new capitol site
were among. the subjects the gov.
ernor touched upon in the course Of
his address.
Let's give.it a FAIR trial, he said
OF the sales tax in d defense Of this
measure, "and, at least. not, con.
denim itsuntii acquainted with It's
provisional
Explaining that, under the terms
OF the law; Coal; OIL, gas, limestone
sand and other mineral Industries
were taxed double. the amount. OF
other industries and professions, he
! added that an exemption Of ten
thousand dollars practically elm.
mated. the farmer from payment OF
/; this tax In West Virginia.
! Il sincerely believe that, after
| itthas been given. a; fair trial, 1t win
pfoveIto be about the simplest, moSt
equitably distributed least annoy.
ing. and surest revenue producing
form OF taxation that can be de.
| vised; he said. tln the first three
months. OF its operation It brought
into the treasury In excess ct $400,. )
! 600 Of revenue. In the entire year,
/ III should raise, on that ratio. be.
tween two IN done-half and three;
millions OF dollars. I, II r. IS, !.
81 recently noticed that some Of
the, press Of the state, that were
especially, antogonistic TO the pres:
lent system when It was adopted.
were proclaiming that II had fallen
down and had utterly failed as a
revenue producer because Il had
been sufficiently tested to demon.
| stTate that It would not produce
flour to five illion per annun, as
! was predicted BY It's supporters at
the time ofsthe" enactment OF the.
measure. i submit in tall, candor
that Il, under the depressed bust.
ness conditions that have existed
during the past six months, with
! practically all OF, our coal mines
4 either shut down or operating only
Ia small portion Of the. time, out
great manufacturing plants mark
I Ing time,-=if under these conditions
there Is an assured production OF
revenue from two to three million
dollars, that under normal business
conditions from four to FIVE mil.
lions Of revenue from this source Is
q most conservative estimate. :
Governor Morgan remarked on
the growth;yot the state university
since he was graduate from the
law school. In 1897; and continued.
"tEducation ....is, an Sassst to, i
commonwealth and ignorance is q
liability my friend Edwin P. Nor.
row. governor of our neighboring
state of Kentucky, said a few days
ago. II hearty endorse that epigrari,
and it.iBymg fond desire to SEQ the
West Virginia, university become
ono sof the great institutions of
learning in;s this country. And 4
trust that there Will go, out from
this city true stories OF the achieve.
ments, Of this institution and the
men and women who. are sent forth
from here. equipped to assume the
duties Of citizenship. rather than
painted stories OF the ltondness OF
our. students! for fried rattlesnakes."
Good roads, he said. are the best.
insurance to. keep our farmers Oh,
the farm. I'VE have made a splen..
did start In Vest Virginia; !" he de-.
clared, looking toward the deyel.
=. :. - :. . = 49,