West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-03-29
A Heroic Defense of His Friends
Who Are Martyrs to the Cause OF
Good County Roads.
TUSxELroS, March ~, 1894

TUNNELToN, March 81, 1894.
EDITOR ARGUS 49,
plead guilty to the crime o. be.
ing an old veteran, but 1 most en-
phaticallY deny the authorship of
the "Old Veteran letter recently
published in the ARGUS. ! was
never charged with the heinous
crime of firing on the enemy from
ambush from 1861 to- 1868, nor do
l propose at this late day to assail
those with whom l differ anony-
mously. No honorable man will
do it. 'tEbenezer" is the first to
stigmatize me as a captious mortal
amongst my fellow.men, and /
want to say that no sanctimonious
scamp can brand me as "mouth-
piece" for other men and escape
the sarcophagus il can lay my
hands on him, IL am 76 years old.
In my rustic way have habit
of stating my ideas and opinions
regardless of whom it pleases or
displeases. In reference to the
working of the county roads, which
l have made study all my life, ]
have ondeagored In my plain, blunt
way to point out to our County
Road Surveyors wherein they err.
This is not done in spirit of mall
ice. Far from it; but from the
same motive which prompted Capt.
j. S. Coxey to organize his Com
monweal Army and move on
Washington. / want to disclaim
in the beginning any ill feeling
towards Commissioner James L..
McKinzie. / respect him as a
friend and admire him as o man,
but friendship and admiration will
not prevent me from criticising
Commissioner McKinzie and point
ing out his mistakes as public
official. But the plant tools OF
public officials, of which there are
many, are ever ready to declare that
no circumstances would justify a
criticism for the attainment Of any
pablo amelioration, which has al
ways been my guiding star. But
this is doctrine to which / cannot
subscribe, and therefore l kick and
submit an occasional criticism, all
of which am ever ready to defend.
Hence | ask, What profit has the
McKinzie Road Machine been to
the taxpayers of Kingwood District
Some may answer that the age OF
progress demanded it. | would re-
ply, that "the age of progress"
demanded fair trial before invest
ing Sl40, and If it proved what it
was represented to be, then pur-
chase it. This would look more
like business and the age of pro-
gross.
The character Of this man ''Ebe-
nezer' for every species of terpitude
Is so we'll known to the people that
it is impossible for any sane and
honest man to take his assertions
at even the lowest assignable value.
A statement made by him is prima
facie a whopper, which | am certain
he will have to turn to the dictlon-
airy to learn the definition.
AS to my friends, Miller and
Gale, am proud to identify them
as my true and patriotic friends.
Their characters are above Yeproacb,
and the ability which sustains them
has won Prestonian fame on eyery
county road in the county. The
genius of which TREY are the Dos
SCISSOR, the truth of which they are
the oracle, have been recognized by
friends and foes as they meet on
muddy yoads, ] feel my old time
yigor returning to me, and care
not how they may be assmled-I
care not however great may be the
talent, however high may be the
position Of those who consider Il
their duty to impeach the imnor.
tally which they have won in trod
ding the county roads in search oil
the dirt torn up by the McKinzle
Road Machine--I do think they
have won too splendid a reputation
by the eifusion Of genius and blood
cOTns and bunions IN peaceful
policy pursued with sincerity and :
stern determination TO find the
fruits Of the NcKinzie Road Ma
chine or b0st--to let censure bc
be pronounced upon them without
q vigorous kick from my feet which
have come in contact with ever,
specie Of reptiles, bullfrogs, toads
rocks, stones and mudhOles for tbs
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