Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-05-06
Sjirsiuia frer grcss.
". w. u. GALLAHER, Editor.
Jefferson County, West Va.
May o, 1856.
From the Wheeling Register:
West Virginid's Champion OF the Inter-
state Commerce BfH.

state Commerce BtU.
Owing to the Importance of Senator Cam
den's amendment TO the Cullom Interstate
commerce bill, we print his entlrs speech
| this mOrling AS it was reported from the
! United States Senate Ii cannot fail % b.
read not only with interest by the people
of this State, but of other States, rs the
measure is for the benefit of the industrial
and business enterprises Of all States.
The Senator has been exceedingly happy
| in the choice of such theme. As he shows
! in his speech and as thousands OF business
men can bear witness, the crying need oi
! the country is some law TO throttle aud pul
down the outrageous system of railGoad dis
elimination that has so long been practlced.
| For years complaints have gone up, and in
etfectual efforts have been made TO grapplc
with the evil, but there has been lack OF
that conservative, thoughtful and cool head
| ed leadership necessary 10 pus h through sue
cesstuiy, measures OF relief.
! Mr.. Camden's speech shows that not only
has he been fortunate IN champlonlng such
an important measure, but that II Is very
| fortunate that the measure has found sue"
champion. The speech Is clear, concise,
thoughtful and conservative view OF th'
subject, and is backed up by solid facts
| The reader can fud no hOt-headed state
meuts in it. Ii Is that plain, common sens'
view that carries conviction. Mr.. Camden =
! career as "A practical and successful business
man has given MIN just such training A.
enables him to grasp and deal successfully
with measures that benefit the people. BE
! ing largely identified with so many busines-
interests OF our State, he knows f'om expe
rience and from every day observation what
laws will best enhance the public good.
! Mr.. Camden's practical business ideas.
and the fact that he is Il large railroad stock
| holder and understands the relations thes'
common carriers bear TO the people, Will
give his views great weight with the Senate.
PAIN, common sense views gained from Oh
servatOn and experience, cOnclseiy and Tor
ciby stated, weigh far more in gaining tn
support OF thoughtful men than would the
oreIlcal, secondhand views, even II they
were expressed by silver-tongued orator
with words OF honey.
A cri icism against Senator Camden bas
been that he was no orator. Well, II uSlnt
high flowing words that don't mean anything
is orat.ry, Mr.. Camden is no orator; but u
having AN id Il and putting it out so thai
people can understand il is orat0ry, then
everybody that reads his speech must admi'
that he is an orator. While many 0i the
Senators whom the people call eloquent arr
theorizng and spending the time OF the
Senate talking upon measures OF no practI-
cal value to the people, Mr.. Camden.
though mo orator as Brutus II" talks ioi
the ople's interests in a way the people
can understand.
People should think well when they crit.
icize our public men because they are pos
sessed of wealth and large business inter
ests, and should be sure that criticisms are
based upon facts. The charge that Nj
Camden iavors railroad discrimination and
monopoly entirely disappears and his cours'
shows that a large part of his wealth has
been used h developing our State. In raIl-
roads, for example, it was greatly through
| his influence and support that the ClarKs.
! burg and Weston road was built; the road
from Wheeling to Parkersburg would not
now be in existei ce were II not Tor MI.
! Camden and his wealth, and it is largely
| through his influence and money that the
/ road from Parkersburg 10 Point Pleasant II
to be built and way Of access made 10 the
capital of our State, and the trade of the
! great Kanawha valley opened up to Wheel
| ing and the adjoining States. Even MS en
emies must admit that these enterprises are
of great benefit 10 our State. Senator Cam
den's words concerning many men OF u.
country who fight against enterprises and
enterprising men might apply to sore men
in West Virginia. He says: IF the de-
v-lopment of the country in which they live
h I'd depended upon their exertions we would
| h Ave little interstate commerce to regulate; /;
and we and our children, perhaps for gene
rations to come would have found our
way from our forest homes by means fa
milar to the pioneers. In the eyes Of such
men. the man who invests bis means oi
gives his energies to public enterprises l.
the subject of suspicion, denunciation and
abuse"
While Senator Kenna has crowned him
self with glory by his able defense of Pres
/ ident Cleveland's administration, Senator
/ Camden will receive the hearty thanks Of
the ia mers, wage workers, manufacturers,
cattle men, lumber dealers and business
men of all classes, for his earnest support
of their rights.