Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-06-23
''ARD THUS THE 0lO BOAT ROCKS FOR
overland THUS TIE WORLD WAGS ON.


The average per capita tax in
West Virginia is S26.l3. The State
tax levied in 1917 WAS II .Jl3.7iS.
In 1921 it had jumped 10 S3.392.-
l2S. TEc county and district taxes
levied in 1917 were S7.973.695.. and
in 1921 Sl2,3S6.l97. For schools
i'll 1917 We levied S7.GJS.7ll rs
against Sl1.975.SO3 in 1921. Our.
municipal taxes in 1917 were 81
29l,127 and in 1921 they had jump
cd to $l,49l.7S0. In some way the
head of family Of seven in West
Virginia must pay upon an average.
SlS2.91 for State and local taxes.
And ii costs the average American
family $4S2.90 to run the National
Government. That is it costs the
average family in West Virginia
S665.S1 per year in taxes. OF
course, this enormous tax Will in
Part be paid through the railroads,
the coal companies, the oil and gas
interests and other CORPORATIONS.
But the coal companies are going to
slump millions. The railroads are
going to fall down: the income tax
payers will slump millions and
millions; the tax from liquor has
been wiped out; the corporation
taxes have been cut enormously
and who is going to pay this cnor-
nous tax Of about S665.Sl per wear
for the average family in West Nir-
glnla Mr.. Average Man. YOU are
going to pay it. You always have
paid it and YOU always will pay it.
either directly or Indirectly. The
railroad never could pay any part
of it unless YOU paid the railroad
the coal operator never could paw
his part unless YOU paid the coal
operator. The SoullcSS corporation
has no way to pay one cent Of taxes,
Mr.. Average Man, except for you.
Keep this ever in mind.
Jesse Lee Bennett says, Mr.. Aver
age Man, that you are awfully bored
and that you are sick at the stom-
ach and disguised. Every fellow
who has ever been drunk knows
just how YOU feel. Mr.. Bennett
says that YOU are sick and tired OF
all the palaver, Of all the endless
abortivc schemes, forcstallcd and
rendered absurd by loquacious. in
Sincere and ignorant politicians.
And he says that these newspapers
that arc wise, Oh very wise after
tn" event and so full of impasSion-
ed protest about two months or two
wears after protests cant do any
good, are also disgusting you. lie
says that YOU are bored with the
futile attempts to lay the foundation
OF some ideal world and are return.
ing TO the world Of facts. Facts are
hard and stubborn things. They
too are a great deal like the ",morn-
ing after" This generation led b\
the sensational newspaper and the
dcmaSOguc undertook to make :
paradise all at once. There wa.
to be nothing left for the next gen
Grafton to do. All the roads wrrC
to be built; and all the school
houses; all the jailS were to be abol
lshed and thc pcnitcntiarics cIoScC
Up and tho next generation were
not TO know drunkenness. SORROW
sickness nor pain. We have beer
sending missionaries TO India fol
years to Try 10 keep those pccopl,
from worshippinS idols and god:
made of bronze and stone. w,
have made gods and idols out of
blamed sight Sorricr material thar
The Indians ever did.
But let us consider the other sid,
for Il moment. The world iiaS ad
vanccd more in the last forty wear:
man III the proceeding five thou
sand years. In view of the wondc,
full progress this generation ha.
made it is no wonder that il los
IFS head and got on Il drunk so tt
speak. Comparisons are AWAY:
lame but the success and progress.
OF The world for the last forty wear.
gave it the big dead but it is now
being brought to realize that Goo
Almighty had not resigned IN tho
'SuDcrior wisdom" of man.
'lIow fixed is Thy Eternal Throne
That does not change nor period
see,
Fer THOU, Oh Lord. and Thou alone
Art God through all Eternity"
The Hoods, Oh Lord. lift I'D their
voice,
And toss their troubled waves ON
high,