A Look Back to 1906
EDITOR, MORGAN HILL TIMES:
Rumor would have it that the writer, while openly in favor of incorporation, is, in reality, opposed to it. No greater mistake was ever made. No argument against incorporation bears analysis. One party on the outskirts, say they fear extra taxation; another say that they want to leave the country and would have a better chance to sell if the town remain as it is.
Can those IN FAVOR OF INCORPORATION use better arguments than these?
Extra taxation is a myth; it will not appreciably effect country properties, and the increased valuation or market value of these properties will be enhanced far in excess of the few dollars a year that the owners may be called upon to pay.
Is there any class that will not be benefitted by incorporation? Let the matter be thus stated.
FIRST: Incorporation means the expenditure in Morgan Hill of a large percentage of the money hitherto disbursed throughout the county.
SECOND: Incorporation means the spending of this money judiciously and economically in Morgan Hill by men who have been tried, and who are elected by a majority of the people.
THIRD: Incorporation means that business men who have hitherto remained in the background, will be ready to invest both money and time in building up the town.
FOURTH: Incorporation means more and continually more work for all classes of labor skilled and unskilled.
FIFTH: Incorporation means that Morgan Hill may soon becomethe centre of business as well as agricultural importance in the southern Santa Clara Valley.
Those who favor these things are in favor of incorporation. Those who are opposed are in favor of stagnation in business, stagnation in enterprise, stagnation in advancement for the public good. They have only one argument, that of the imported citizen who had just arrived at Castle Garden: “Is there a Government? Well, I’ll be danged.”
