Bluefield evening leader. [volume], October 21, 1910, Page 4, Image 4

About Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911

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BLUEFIEI.D EVENING LEADER
PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING
EXCEPT 8UNDAY.
C. H. PUTNAM.Manager
T. G. GWYNNE.Editor
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
By Carrier or by Mail Daily one
year .$4.00
Dally six months. 2.00
Dally three months. 1.00
Dally one month.40
Address all communications and all
remittances to the BlueQeld Evening
Leader.
Telephone: Business office an 1
Kdltorial Rooms 603.
Entered as second class matter
April 8 1906, at the Post Office at
Bluefleld, W. Va., under act of Con
gress. March 3, 1879.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, OCT. 21, 1913
DEMOCRATIC TICKET
(Your X In the circle under the roos
ter will vote for the men on this
ticket.)
For Congress,
(Fifth District.)
RANKIN WILEY,
Mason County.
For State Senate,
(Seventh Senatorial District)
I). E. FRENCH,
Mercer County.
For Mouse of Delegacca
13. W. PENDLETON,
C. W. AKERS.
For Member of County Court,
R. M. CALF EL!.
For Superintendent of Public School.
W. M. HARDY.
Beaver Pond District.
For President'Hoard of Education
WILLDWiFH. THOMAS.*- ^
Member Hoard of Education,
A. E. BIVENS.
For Justice of the Peace,
GEORGE L. DILLARD.
si.* ____
For Constable,
JEROME MITCHELL.
THE REAL REASON.
The Telegraph this morning say*
that it does not believe the success ol
the Republican party in this county
and district R seriously threatened
by the disaffection thnt exists, but it
does think, however, that the major
ity will be reduced and future elec
tions rendered more uncertain. It says
further that the disaffection exists
among men who were disappointed
in the nominations, men, who, it says
have received good treatment at the
hands of the Republican party, and
enters the query as to what the atti
tude of these Insurgents would have
been had the results of the nominat
ing primary been different. The con
clusion reached Is that the>^ would
have expected the defeated men to
have stood by the nominees.
Following this line of talk, the Tel
egraph indulges in sundry mornllza
tions regarding the need of support
at a time when great policies which
have made this the leading nation of
the world are at stake, and similar
platitudes This all sounds mighty nice
to the man not next to the Telegraph's
little game, and the game of the ma
chine for which it is the megaphone.
In tile that place the selection of
candidates l»y primary, without non
qualification, would presuppose the
defeated men's standing by the suc
cessful ticket. Rut the rub comes in
tile qualification, ana In this qualifica
tion there existed rottenness, trick
ery, and boodling which are responsi
ble for tiie insurgent faction of the
Republican party in Mercer county.
The offense was sufficient to make
any self-respecting Republican ii>
surgi . No man should allow himself
to be bound by party ties, when that
party is dominated by a set of bosses
who do not scruple at any question
able advantage.
Indeed there are important matters
to be dealt with, as the Telegraph
suggests in state, nation and county,
ami in the instance of Mercer par
ticularly, the insurgent Republicans
are not willing to trust these matters
to the gang which has been running
tilings in the past, it Is not so much
a falling out with the party in gen
eral as with people of the inner pul
pit who are holding the whip hand
and following a crooked trail.
THE COUNTY DEBT.
• •« * v
The report of .John lleins aud com
pany, expert accountants, shows that
on June 30, 1910 this county was in
debt including part of interest, $112,
3G7.75. The financial statement this
year shows that on June 30, 1910 the
county debt was $93.73,5.14, not includ
ing the interest for the prior year
which will swell the total to $100,000
in round numbers. This means that
notwithstanding over $40,000 was lev
ied and over $35,000 actually collect
ed for the specific purpose of paying
indebtedness and that lfcirpose omy
the actual indebtedness was only re
duced about $12,000.
This was because the extravagant
Republican administratiofi of tffairs
ran nev r stay within its income, and
'I it..
lias spent thousands of dollars more
than the levy for current purposes
realized. Look at the records and see
what it was for. Extravagant gala
- A.. ~
rics. and many of them, blank hooks
stationery amounting to hundreds ol
dollars for the two clerks, pauper
( claims to its favorites, salaries fot
, pages to do the work that the law
( require* the slier in to do und pays
him for it - an Item that the Tax
Commissioner .ias actually ruled to be
Illegal Janitor for court house—an
I other Item that the Tu/ Commission
er has ruled to be illegal because the
’ law requires the Jailor to do this
I
( work and limits the compensation to
$150; but our court pays the sheriff,
who is the Jailer, the maximum
| amount It. can under the law, (fiOD a
year, and also hires a Janitor and
[ pays him $*JOu a year. Tills Janitor
is a colored man that Krnest Freeman
brought down from Hramwell to feed
at the public crib. .Jail fees, o(liceis
fees of all kinds are put up to tho
very highest amount that the law al
lows to bo paid.
'1 lie whole record discloses exti\.v*»
gun re rampant, graft and favoritism
galore. What ought the voters of
Mercer County to do? Tho answer is
easy, patent and plain to any thinking
mail, or even a way-faring man though
a fool. "Turn the rascals out.’’
REPUBLICAN DREAM DOPE.
J Under the interesting caption of
"West Virginia Holds Record For Low
Tax,” til*.* Dlueileld Daily Telegraph
in an issue or so back bauds the pub
lic nearly a column of "dream dope,”
written by one Charles Brooks Smith,
that would put tile most accomplish
ed "con man" down and out in tin
first round. It is a highly flavored
dosv! ol soothing syrup, apparently
calculated to convince the tax payers
of this state that theirs is indeed a
happy lot.
Alt'. Smith quotes at length from a
speech delivered in Milwaukee before
the Tax Conference on state and local
taxation, by Mr. T. C. Townsend. our
State Tax Commisslone;. Hhre :ir.
two aeperate statements ciedited in
Mr. Townsend by said Smith:
"I believe West Virginia can boast
of the lowest average rate of taxation
for all purposes of any State in the
American Union.”
How perfectly lovely of Mr. Town
send. In the next paragraph he says:
"I do not wish to be understood ns
saying that in tlie aggregate we arc
collecting less taxes by reason of the
revision of the tax laws. The reverse
is true. We are collecting more mon
ey, for every purpose, in the State ol
West Virginia than ever before."
Now Mr. Taxpayer, shouldn't you
feel grateful for the blessing of the
Dawson tax law? Observe how it
1 works botli ways. "Lowest average
! rate of taxation for all purposes ol
any State in the American Union"
1
a
*rrr -f - • - tt«r^.ur -
! «nd yet you are paying "more money
for every purpose than ever before."
In conclusion Mr. Smith admonishes
the voters of this State to perpetiuite
in yx»wer tile party responsible for
you huving to pay "more inouey for
every purpose than ever before."
Mr. taxpayer, for your own infor
mation and satisfaction look up ypur
1909 tax tickets, city, county and
state; compare them with the city,
county and state tickets of former
years. Let the fucts us shown by
them decide tlie question of whether
your tuxc» have increased or decreas
ed.
We think an investigation of this
question will convince you that a
change in public officers is necessary,
and that it is io your interest to vote
the straight Democratic ticket on the
8th of November, and elect men to
office who will use their energy and
influence in having laws enacted that
will relieve you of this ever increas
ing burden of unjust taxation; men
whom you know by their past records
will be true to their official obligation,
who will he business like, faithful,
economical and honest in the dis
charge of every public duty.
DEMOCRATIC COUNTY PLATFORM
To refresh the memory of the vo-1
tors of Mercer county, the Democratic
platform adopted at Princeton July 2,
is reprinted below:
BE IT RESOLVED BY T1IE DEM
OCRATIC PARTY OF MERCER
COUNTY, IN MASS CONtENTJON
ASSEMBLED:
FIRST: We declare our allegiance
to the principles of good clean gov
ernment, justly and economically ad
ministered for the benefit of all the
people without regard to party, race
or eonditons. We stand for Hint time
honored Democratic doctrine of “Equ
al rights for all, special privileges
j for none;” and we demand that on
ly men who are capable, honest and
above suspicion or reproach, and whd
will represent and carry out the w|U
of the people, Ik* elected to oflice.
Wo direct attention to the record of
insincerity, sham and hyproclsy of
(the Republican party in this State
upon practically every question of im
portance to tin* peopl which lias aris
en in tlie past ten years, and declare
j that a party so completely controlled
and dominated by unscrupulous poli
tienns who make politics a business
i for private gain is a menace to the
I welfare < f our country and can not
lie trusted.
SECOND: The lkiwson tax-laws, so
I loudly proclaimed by those who ad
1 vocatcd the system, as being a great
reform for the relief of the tax pay
ers, have proven to bo but a subter
fuge of asture politicians to deceive
and not to relieve the people.
Time lias demonstrated that the
purpose of tampering with the tax
law was to obtain more money, which
has been extravagantly squandered
with the natural result that the bur
dens of taxation have been greatly
increased.
Our Fall and Winter
Display of
Is Attracting
Much Attention
Men's Suits and Overcoats
$15, $18, $20, $22.50, $25
And Up
See our New Stylus In
Edwin niapp Shoes
Schloss Bros. Cloths lor Men
Sampeck Cloth*s for Young
Men and Boys
You are as Welcome to Look as to Buy
SHU MA S E
Clothing Company
The Home of Cood Clothes for lyjen and Boys
BLUEFIELD, - W. VA
rf •#*'**• !«l* *,
** hi ms moi * m
f ■•# I UfW« \|
^ *«*—•**• n9. v^% 1
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We favor such a revlgon of the tax
laws as will lighten the taxes of the
people and distribute the burdens of
taxation equally and uniformly upon
all classes of tax-payers and every
kind of taxable property.
THIRD: The history of the Repub
lican party In both State and County
administration In West Virginia, has
been one of extravagance, rampant
and inexcusable. The people's mon
ey lias been squandered without re
gard to the public welfare, if not with
a direct view* to private gain.
To meet these wanton and lavish
expenditures of the public funds tjic
assessed values of property'have b >en
forced up out of all reason, until the
oppression from unjust taxation threat
ens to drive the people from their
homes and confiscate their property.
We demand that a stop be put to
this reckless extravagance, and insist
upon the strictest economy, consist
ent with good government, in the ex
penditures of the public revenues.
FOURTH: For over a quarter of a
century the Democratic party was in
control of both our State and County
government, and we point with pride
to the record it then made. Although
the state revenues wore then small,
state institutions were built, equipped
and maintained, and the State turn
ed over to the Republicans on March
the 4th, 1897, free from debt. Now,
some of our state institutions are in
delapidation and decay, while an
army of useless officials, maintained
for political purposes, consume the
public revenues.
During said period of Democratic
supremacy the nffairs of our County
were so justly and economically ad
ministered, that, although ASSESS
MENTS AND TAXES WERE DOW, |
our roads were kept up, we built
bridges, two court houses and a Jail;
the expenses of our County were
paid; and when the Democratic ptyty
wont out of power the County owed
no debt and about sixteen hundred
dollars was left in the treasury.
Since that time the enormous reve
nues collected by taxation have been
squandered, and in additon thereto a
county debt of over one hundred thou
sand dollars has been created, with
practically no public improvements to
show for It. To the already over bur
dened tax-payers this presents an alar
ming condition, the seriousness of
which can not be over estimated.
We declare that a party responsi
ble for these conditions is not to be
trusted, and that relief can only be
secured by electing to office men who
will serve the public and not their
own private intersts, and who will
not be under obligation to a party
controlled by machine politicians who
arc in politics for what they can get
out of it. and not for the public good.
FIFTH: 'I'he right of the people to
rule is a fundamental principle of the
■ Democratic party, and whenever the
people request that an amendment to
their state constituion bo submitted
1 to them for their ratification or re
jection, it is the duty of the legisla
ture whatever may be the views of the
individual members thereof as to
the merits of such amendment, to
comply with that, request; and our
candidates for the legislature are here
by pledged, if elected,, to vote to sub
mit to the people a Prohibition Amend
ment to the constitution.
In 1908 the Republican legislature,
after being petitioned so to do, refus
ed to submit the Prohibition Amend
ment to a vote of the people, but the
same year, forced by public sentiment
the Republican party declared in its
state platform that it would submit
the amendment if returned to power.
It was returned to power and with
i both branches of the legislature un
tier its control, that party, true to its
record of insincerity, sham and hypo
crisy deliberately repudiated Its
pledge to the people and again refus
ed to aubinit the amendment, thereby
denying the right of iho people to
vote upon tills question.
The Democratic party hereby re
affirms its policy of opposition to the
legalized sale of intoxicating liquors.
It points to the fact that it lias given
iu the/past to he people M y candl
dales on principle and not for the J
tjako of expediency. It views with dis
g.u»t_tlio nauseating spectacle of the
Republican machine In Mercer coun
ty parading itaelf in the garb of tem
perance, nnd at the same time pre
senting to the people a set of candi
dates who have been the tools and
henchinent of the whiskey people, nnd
whose votes both as citizens and pub
lic officials, have largely contributed
to fastening the liquor power upon
the people of this county, le believes
that the dry people of Mercer county
want candidates who are dry at
heart, and consult their own consci
ences and Judgment on tills question
rather than receiving* their views
| there on second hand from a political
j boss who is dry or wet ns the occasion
demands and that they will support a
parts that seeks to give I lie people
what they want because they are en
titled to receive It. rather than a par
ty that seeks to perpetuate itself in
. power by being all things to ail men.
' and true to none.
The Democratic party hereby
pledges Itself and its candidates for
j all officers to support such temper
ance policies and legislation as will
suppress, in county and State, the
sale and traffic in intoxicating liquors;
and on this pledge it Invites the sup
port and co-operation of all citizens of
FREE! FREE! FREE!
ARE YOU LUCKY?
THE EUREKA HARDWARE GO.
Are offering a $25.00 King~Arizona Heater to the
person holding the lucky number
The conditions are these:
YY/ith every 50 cent purchase you are given a number; at the same
▼▼ time a coresponding number is deposited in a locked box
o which will be opened on Dec* *2 and a little girl will draw
tit a number and if the holder of the coresponding number is pres
ent they will receive the Heater, but if no one has the coresponding
number another number will be drawn and so <>n till some one pres
ent holds a number coresponding to the one drawn, who will receive
the Heater.
I his is a bonafide offer and there are no strings to it except
that you buy for cash at the Kureka Hdw* Co. and arc present at
the drawing.
If you buy 50 cents worth for cash you receive one ticket, if
you buy $2.50 you receive five tickets.
1 ry vour luck and see what the result will be. You will get
the worth of your money even if you do not get the Heater.
See the beautiful Heater in our show window at
No. 80 Bland St.
Eureka Hardware Co.
all the county irrespective of political
affiliations.
SIXTH: The maintenance of free
popular government: ana the pn .-.or
vation of our liberties being depend
ent upon an incorruptible and patriot
ic electorate, we favor such a re
vision of state constitution as will ex
clude the shiftless, floating, vicious
and criminal element from the h .Hot
and secure tlie control of government
to those who have an interest In the
welfare of tnc state.
Wo therefore direct our Represen
tatives ‘in the legislature to use all
fair and honorable means to have
such an amendment, to the constitu
tion submitted to a vote of the people
for their ratification or rejection.
SEVENTH: We favor the enact
ment of a just and honest registra
tion law, which will protect the rights
ot—legal—voters him! pet-aa-eisl
to illegal ,and fraudulent vo^ipg in
this State; the purltyvof tlfe ballot be
ing absolutely essential to the preser
vation and maintenance of good gov
ernment.
The registration law now In force Is
the result of an effort of a Republican
legislature to (pilot the repeated and
urgent demands of the people for an
honest registration law protecting the,
purity of the ballot, and at the same
time to place the least possible re
strictions upon the corrupt practices
carried on in certain counties of the
State, where colonizing illegal voters
and repeating at. the polls had be
come the common practice of Repub
lican politicians and officials.
EIGHTH: We favor tlie enactment
of a law requiring common carriers
of passengers to /furnish separate
coaches or compartments for white
ami colored passengers, giving to each
equal accommodations.
NINTH: We recognize the fact that
capital and labor are mutually de
pendent upon each other, and that
each have sacred rights which must
be protected. But we declare that the
toilers of our State and those who are
dependent upon them should not be
^compelled to bear alone tho burden
of industrial accidents, and we there
fore favor tiie enactment of a just ami
equitable employers liability law.
TENTH: We favor the systematic
Improvement of our public highways
carried forward as fast as conditions
ami finances will permit.
ELEVENTH: We direct attention
to the fact that the Republican party
-in thin oounty is eontrolled-today by
the same coterie of scheming politi
cians who controlled and guided kho
policies and affairs of that party two
years ago, and prior thereto. Iflhat
their scheme now is to deceive and
divide the forces of reform and good
government, and thereby, with the aid
of their negro allies, elect their tick
et and thus to perpetuate themselves
jin power must he apparent to every
one. Mon who desire reform and
good government in Mercer county
cannot safely follow their lead.
TWELFTH: We appeal to all good
citizens, regardless of past or present
party afTlliatlon. to unite and co-ope
rate with us in accomplishing and
carrying out the principles and poli
cies herein declared for.
V r § \ ' I 1
American People
Fettered by Laws.;
By ROSCOE POUND, Professor of Law In the University of Chlcaito. /
!
H,LE THE LAWYER believes that the principles!
|I| OF LAW ARE ABSOLUTE, ETERNAL AND OF UNIVER-,
8AL VALIDITY AND THAT LAW IS FOUND, NOT MADE,
^ THE PEOPLE BELIEVE NO LESS FIRMLY THAT IT
MAY BE MADE AND THAT THEY HAVE THE POWER
TO MAKE IT. WHILE, TO THE LAWYER, THE STATE,ENFORCES,
LAW BECAU8E IT 18 LAW, TO THE PEOPLE LAW IS LAW BE-/
CAU8E THE STATE, RESPECTING THEIR DESIRES, \ HAS\ SO I
WILLED. * /
It is becoming a commonplace to assert that we are a LAWLESS
PEOPLE, and the complacency with which tho charge is received
goes Bomo way toward establishing it. y? ,
It should bo remembered, however, that we aro also ttfEAW/
RTDDEN PEOPLE, and the complucency with which wo, sustain
our burden suggests that it rests lightly upon us and confirmsjtho
charge of lawless. But such a suggestion would bo superficial.
Where elso would a democracy, peculiarly sensitive uponjsuch
subjects, jjcrmit questions of economics and social welfare ^to, bo !
itm.de into LEGAL QUESTIONS and tried as incidents of private
litigation? . ? • .*r. { ^
Whero else would tho public look patiently upon the cvcr^tiay !
American spectacle of law PARALYZING ADMINISTRATION?
Almost every important measure of police or of administration*en
counters an injunction. .A
Not long ago one of our states saw tho collection of taxeaifrom
railroad companies, needed for the everyday conduct of PUBLIC
BUSINESS, TIED UP BY TIIE ORDER OF A COURT. Ap
parently wo shall leavo it to tho courts, rather than to tho legisla
tures, to determine tho permissible limits of concertod action by
Isborors in industrial disputes.
No pcoplo give so much power to their courts. No pcoplo make
so many vital problems of state and society into legal questions >
and commit them to the judiciary.
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Slipped Hi* Mind.
An antotnoblle cnmo whizzing
through a small town and bowled over
a prominent resident Among those
who saw tho accident ami wero ex
cited by It was a young physician Just
beginning to practice.
“A doctor! A doctor!” lie cried.
“Somebody run for a physician!”
“llow shout yourself?” suggested an j
acquaintance who happened to be at
tho scene.
“Sure enough!” said the young prac
titioner. “I never thought of that.”—
Kvery body's.
y" - **»**»
TJ IF. PRFSFNT.
We should he Messed if we
lived in the present always and
took advantage of every accident
that hcfell us. like the grass which 1
confesses the influence of the slight
est dew that falls on it. and did
not spend our time in atoning for
neglect of past opportunities, which
we call doing our duty.—Thoreau.
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