The Watchman has
no time for the class agitator and general calamity howler, but believes all
public affairs should be conducted in an orderly, sane way, after mature consideration
and according to the wishes of a majority of all fairly expressed, and, owing
to this view, it finds itself entirely out of harmony with the faddists,
freaks, many public officials and largely with the trend of the times, yet in
harmony with the masses. Equal and excat justice to all men of whatsoever
persuasion, etc., years ago was a dogma that was popular among statesmen, but
seldom heard today. It has been supplanted by time-serving demagogues, office
hunters and grafters, and sneak legislation, class legislation, and the general
subversion of governmental affairs to their selfish purposes. The governor and
the last legislature put up a howl about the equalization of taxes, which
judging by the tearful pleas made, one would have thought their dod-rotted
hearts were for once on the right side. The people, however, are almost
disillusioned. The inequalities of the assessment of property, as far as we can
determine by the reports of honorable men, are as bad as ever, if not more so,
more deliberate and more unjust.
The poor man, the man with a little home, or renter, has
always, and it seems must continue to bear the burdens of taxation, and not
being satisfied with this inequality and injustice, the last legislature
proceeded to lighten the load of the man with ready money and increase the
burden of the already overburdened poor. Hence, instead of our government being
one of helpfulness, justice and generosity to those who need the benign
influences of fair play, becomes an oligarchy by and for the well-to-do, who
never fail to shape legislation in such a way as to make the rich richer and
the poor poorer. Thus the poor finding that our so-called Democracy, having
lost its savor, having changed its course, seek other methods to right their
wrongs. We find him joining the labor unions and the I.W.W.’s and taking part
in demonstrations against the government, against private ownership of
property, and even against God and religion. The people are responsible for
this condition for they do not use the forethought necessary in the selection
of their legislators, take too much for granted, fail to instruct those
selected, and, as a consequence the demagogue and trickster rises to the top,
holds sway, forgets the public and enacts such legislation as he personally
desires. Thus the necessity of the people organizing and managing their own
affairs fairly and urgently presents itself. It is patent to all that something
must be done to prevent popular government from perishing in the home of its
friends.
Here is a specimen of the kind of laws referred to in the
above:
“All taxes shall be due on the first Monday in October in
each year and all taxes paid in the months of October and November a discount
shall be given the tax payer of one per cent. All taxes paid in the month of
December shall be paid at the net amount charged, and from after the first day
of January a penalty of one percent shall be added on the taxes paid, and in
the month of February, after the first Day of February, a penalty of 2 percent
shall be added, and an additional penalty of one per cent for each additional
month of delay in settlement of same.”
This was enacted by the last legislature without the
knowledge, request or consent of the governed. Ask our members of the
legislature “How come?” and see them squirm. What is the sheriff and deputies
for, and why is he paid a salary, if not to call on the people as other
collectors do to collect the taxes.
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