West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-09-10
UNCLE TOMMY" HAwYrR.
Is 7s Years Old, And With Him
The Pen Is Mightior Than The
6ruhbing Hoe!
TUNNRLToN, Sent. 2. 1901

EpiIok ARGUS IL am disposed
to look little leniently on the
ebullition of "Farmer and Tax.
payer" in last weeks ARGUS, for a
man who is too cowardly to sign his
name to his letter is not worthy of
notice. Were 1t not for his false
accusations l would not answer him.
What | have said relative to the
working of the county roads was
not SAID in spirit of hostility to-
ward any one, neither did l accuse
any one of not performing their
duty. The criticism l made was on
the system of working the county
roads. ] made no attack on the
road surveyors or the honorable
County Court.
As to his allegation that 'feol
sore because l don't draw the sur
veyors pay" is question, think,
Commissioners Shaw, (whom | con-
slider one of the best the county
ever had) will bear me out in what
say, that had, and haYe, no as
plrations in that direction. ! be-
lieye the system to be wrong and so
stated in my weak and feeble way,
and called upon the learned and
influential men Of our county to
agitate the question through the
county press and have the people
change the system; and l am glad
to know that a very large number
OF our best citizens and heavy tax
payers are Of the same opinion that
! am.
AS to the cone dollar a day" be-
ing sufficient compensation for my
days work is the only truth in his
article. have passed my seventy
third mile stone on the present
county roads, and ain free to admit
that i cannot do the same amount
Of work 1 did in former years.
Here he unwittingly acknowledges
my argument. Old gray haired
men and boys from twelve to fif-
teen years of age are not capable Of
performing that amount of labor
which the present system of road
working sanctions by law, and it is
not enough for the man who is ca
2able of doing an honest days
work. Why, the gentleman ad-
mlts my argument, and turns
around and makes personal at
tack on me For what (? Because
Inc is a shacer of county orders and
wants to cling to the antique system
OF working the county roads which
puts the almighty dollar in his pock
ct. But he is very worthy rep
resentative Of the poor farmer and
taxpayer, and for this reason he
has to make an attack on an old
man so they will place him over
the county finance. 1t is only when
a man OF his class has occasion to
administer stern rebuke to q halt
ing and feeble plodder Of the soil
that the farmers and taxpayers are
aware OF the accretiOn of acceptional
gifts and astonishing faculties lying
dormant just beyond the Court
IIouse-dOor. feel that the poor
farmer and taxpayer should not
lose the smallest ray Of luminous
thought radiating from his inspired
mind, and would therefore suggest
that ho contribute an essay to the
county press ON "What know
abOut paying the farmers tax by
working the county roads at one
dollar day" for / promise him
shall take no account Of his silly
effusion unless he signs his real
name. II he will do this it will
afford me pleasure to discuss the
two aystems with him through the
county papers in a gentlemanly and
argumontive way.
With all due respect TO sncb
towards, / am uncompromisingly
opposed TO the present system Of
working our county roads.
TOMMY BAwKER.