The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-13
A GOOD APPOINTMENT.
Given O Young Martins Ferry Re-
publican by Gov. Mckinley. =
THE STATE LABOR COMMISSIONER
Is Mr.. W. r. LOWS, and tho Choice Is
q Wise onc--Nlr. Lewis's Crciitable
Career Upward from hoy NIlno
ADMINISTRATIONS OF Trust and
Honor no has Held In tho Past.

Mr.. W. 7. LOWS, Of Martins Forty,
has been appointed commissioner Of
labor statistics under Governor William
Mckinley, at salary Of $1,000 a year.
This Is great honor not only to Mar.
tins Ferry but to Belmont county, and
Is ono Of the best plums under Ohio's
now governor There wore q large
number OF applicants and tho endorse
ments Of Mr.. LOWS wero uncxcollcd.
Ho is an attorney and a Young man, boz
ing only thirity-one years old. Flo ID q
scli.made man in the fullest sense Of
tho work, having worked in and around
coal mines in Pennsylvania and Ohio
from tho ago OF seven years until he
reached his majority. 55Sf l
lie was born at Dowlais, South Wales,
March 81, 1861, and came to tho United
States in 1864, with his parents, locating
at Locust Gap, Pa. lilo began working
there at tho age Of seven, picking slate,
and was employed at that for five years.
Tho family moved to Youngstown, O.,
and remained only ono year, tho strikes
driving them back to Pennsylvania.
The subject OF this sketch worked in.
side Of the mines at Midway until he
was twenty-three years old. In October,
1879, tho family moved to Shawnee,
Porry county, Ohio, Mr.. Lewis continu.
ing TO work in the mines. At Shawnee
no got his first schooling, attending
night school two winters, after which
he,attended the National Normal Uni.
versity at Lebanon, o., ten years. He
lett thoro to take the SUPPLEMENTARY
Of largo coal works in Indiana. After
filling that position ono yearhe resigned
to resume his studies, desiring to be-
como a lawyer, and attended the uni
vorsity at Lebanon six months moro.
Ho was elected secretary OF tho Ohio
Coal Miners, which Office occupied his en-
tireattention, serving in this capacity ono
year; he resigned to become Master OF
Workman OF the Miners OF tho United
States, to which position he was elected
After filling this honorable position one
year, when tho Knights OF Labor aud
tho Federation OF Miners consolidated
into the National Progressive Union, no
was chosen secretary, at which timo
John Mcbride was it's president. In
June, 1880, Mr.. Lewis won't to Europe
with the American Workingmen's Ex-
petition under tho auspices OF the
6crlpps League. Tho party numbered
forty representative workingmen, and
ten journalists, two oi,the party being
ladies', and the tour comprised En- gland,
France, Scotland, Germany and Bel.
giumJand was made for the PURPOSE of
investigating the condition Of labor in
Europe.
Mr.. Lewis completed his law studies
in Columbus and Lexington after his
return from Europe, and has been prac-
ticing since. shloya ri & III,
In 1890 he ran for Congress in tho
Thirteenth district, comprising Perry,
Licking, Jackson, Hooking, vinton and
Morgan county, and was defeated, with
Mckinley, Foster and others. Tho dis
trict was 1000 Democratic,i and Mr.,
Lewis cut down tho majority oGne-half,
notwithstanding the hard fight made
against HIM and the political landslide
that year.
He was married in 1887 to Miss Mary
Jones, Two children were the fruit OF
the MARRIAGE and one is dead. ri'S',
he was at one time Secretary Of the
Lincoln League OF Columbus, one OF the
finest political clubs OF the United
States. When only twenty.six years
old he was urged by some of his ad-
mirrors to become a candidate tor tho
appointment Of state mine inspector
under Governor Forsker's second term,
and made application, backed by 1900
OF the 1900 Ohio miners, all OF the
mlne operators and many other promi-
nent men, and would probably have
been appointed had he been lew years
older. He has always been an active
Republican, stumping tha state two or
three limos and doing effective work
10 is an Odd Fellow and Knight OF
Pythias. He is as well a gentleman,
and Will mako first class commissionerr
OF labor statistics.