Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1882-08-12
~ Tirginia III Congress.

EpTrOR VIRGINIA FREE PRESS:
Wcst Virginia has been deeply interested
in the action of Congress during the last
DAYS of the present session. The veto OF the
River and Harbor Bill by the President
would. perhaps, have effected her as detrl-
mentally. If Congress had not subsequently
passed it By a two-thirds vote, as any STATE
i'm the Union. and the success IN defeating
thc veto Is more attributable 20 the acton
of members of the House from West Nlr-
cinia than from any other locality. The
Hos. lohn T.. kenra Is recognized here a.
the leader of that movement without HIM
il would umaucstiorat4y have failed. His
devotion To- the public interest was mani
tested in "a striking way in the fact that the
Convention to nominate IN ms district was
held tine dav succeeding the veto OF the
President and his presence was expected
there by the Convention. Not only have
Lis services 20 the state IN this been OF the
utmost importance, but during this session
he has contributed largely to the eN'ension
ofthe Geological Survey into the state. \
measure that will add more to her future
development and prosperity than amy legs
lation adopted bv Congress since the ioun-
dation of the Government. While West
Virginia Is ably represented IN our own DlS-
trict by judge HOge, and in the First Dis
trict by Mr.. Wilson, it will not BE- invldlous
10 state tina, there is no man IN America OF
the age of Mr.. keuna who exercises tue IN
fucnce in Congress that he does. And II
would not be too much to say that ms per-
sonal power is as great, if not greater than
any mani in either House. During his stay
i'm Congress he has acquired a knowledge OF
the methods of that body and OF parliament
tarv law that renders him tine equal Ia any
emergency 10 ANY man CON the floor. lie Is
Quick. courageous and able, and If he re-
mains in public life viii. beyond %peradven-
tura be ore Of the leading spirits OF the
country.
The mountain districts Of orr STATE are
thin,y populated and their resources undo
veloped. Il IS known br scionuacren that
those districts are the richest in mineral re-
sources OF any OH the Continent. They are
rich I'm Coal. Iron, Gypsum, salt all the
Building stones and the finest and most eX-
ten,ivc varieties of Hard Timber. Lying
as she does 40 the cGtcways OF the world, the
Authorization ofthis fact by IC0velnmcnt
Survey will enormously enhance the value
of her property, rapidly increase the poPu-
latiou and transform a wilderness into bee
hive, of industry. In five ycarsall the ply
steal features of the State will be 50 delinea-
ted D ymaps and explained by publications
that her valuable resources will be Is easily
c-omprehendcd in the money centerS OF the
World as mt home. For the adoption OF
th,, measure the State ot West Virginia
owe, more 90 Hon. Jno. f.. Kerna than 10
amy other man. Our member lHogel has
become very popular during his short stay
here. and a deep interest j., felt In his renom-
nation. lie is recognized by everybody q
a gentleman of ability and integrity, aud II
he should remain would be of as much Use
"a, ANY ether man that could be selected
FROM nj, district. The people Of the North
East are wiser than our people. Whenever
apu5lic man is found efficient he is kept In
place. This gives them q great advantage
over the South which they will retain until
our people learn that il Is the old and
not the new hand at the bellows that Is
needed I'm Washington. 10 secure a fair
distribution of public iayors it i absolutely
essential that our Representa- should not
ouiv De able men, but that they should he
acquainted with the methods that control
the disposition 90 ilvofS. Y would be eN-
cecdiuS,v unfortunate if the Convention
should nominate ANY man other than the
present Incumbent.