West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-08-15
POLITICS VS.. BUSINESS.
An Instance Here in King wood Of II OF
Political Prejudice Seriously In.
terfered With n Business
Enterprise.

rs everybody knows, by Maj. u. N.
Orr, one Of The Ieading business
men Of the county, and also one of
the strongest and most uncom pro.
missing Republicans in the county
and q member Of the Republican
Executive Committee. The Major
is an enterprlsing man aud has
done much for this town, and
barring his politics, we would like
to have few more citizens like
him. lie started up and equipped
the tannery, spent considerable
money, gave several employment,
and it was a good thing for our
little town. Things went along all
right till last fall when the calami-
ty howl of the desperate and hungry
Republicans went abroad in the
land, and that party did everything
In It's power to paralyze the bust
ness industries Of the country. In
fact, this was the order passed
along from headquarters, and the
leaders everywhere carried out the
infamous campaign at the expense
OF the poor people of this country.
The Major, being one of the Re-
publican leaders Of this county,
ordered the tannery closed down
and the hands all discharged, and
claimed that he had to do it, be.
cause the Democratic administra.
ton was running the country.
George Robinson, the young man
who runs the tannery, is a Demo
crat and son-in-law of the Major.
lie protested vigorously against
closing the plant. Said they were
doing very we'll, and could do bet
ter, and that it was violation of
their agreement to throw him out
OF work and interfere with their
business in that way without any
reason for it, but the Major swore
it didn't make any difference, the
tannery had to he closed down till
after the election, anyhow.
Elisha Thomas, President of the
Republican Club here, also took a
hand IN the matter, and they made
1T too much for Robinson and the
tannerY was closed down. The lat
ter went off mad and disgusted and
secured another job up on the West
Va. Central Il. r., and came home
to pack up and move up there. The
Major at first told him to go, but
when he found he really was going,
he persuaded him to stay till after
the election. In the meantime
hides had gotten very low, only two
cents per pound, and the tannery
here could have gotten all they
wanted at this price, but the Major
refused to buy at any price and
turned customers away with them.
People came here and tried hard to
sell at these figures, but no, the
Republicans had started out to run
the country under the Democratic
administration, and they were de-
termlned to do it. If possible. All
the time laying it on to the Demo-
Gratis. Mr.. Robinson, who does not
pretend to have The business sagac-
ity and foresight Of the Major, in.
sisted that hides could not get any
lower and that it was a good time
to buy, and begged the Major to
allow him to invest some money in
this way and stock up. And in
sisted that it would make money
for both Of them inside of six
months. Robinson himself is a poor
man and did not have tho means to
buy with, but the Major is worth
considerable money and could have
very easily raised 81 900 to invest
IN the hides that people we're beg.
ging him to buy at two cents per
pound, which six months afterwards
are quoted at 81 cents per pound in
Baltimore, and ready sale right
cash down here at the tannery at
eight cents. The freight is only
about 80 cents per hundred pounds
to ship them, and this leaves a
handsome profit here to buy at
eight and ship at o.. Anyone can
figure out the Majors mistake. His
loss can only be estimated by the
amount OF money be failed TO in
vest. Say he bad invested 81 900
IN hides last winter at two cents
per pound, which are an easv sale
now at eight cents, or quadruplinq
his money in six months and clear
ing $4,000 on FL 900. n he had
invested more bis profits would