Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-10-22
a SELP MADE NAN


date for Congress-
Parkersburs Sentinel.
Those persons who are opposing the
election OF George /. Neal to Congress
because Of his youth or because he is
a poor man, should remember that the
late Senator John e. Kenna, one of the
greatest and grandest men this State
has ever produced, whose memory is
revered by all who knew him, regard
less Of politics or creed, was just as
poor as Mr.. Neal when he was first
elected to Congress, and was even
younger. Mr.. Kenna was twenty-eight
years of age when he was sent to Con-
gress, while MIR. Neal is now about
twenty-nine years old.
The same ambition to rise, the same
indomitable will and energy which
John E. Kenna possessed, are marked
characteristics of George I. Neal. He
has the same love for the common peo-
pie which caused the people everywhere
to love John Kenna, and like Kenna he
is a self-made man.
His career has been remarkable al
ready, and even should it stop now Mr..
Neal would have right to be classed
among the big men of the State, for by
his own efforts he has risen from OBJ
scurity to prominence, he has filled
positions of great responsibility with
honor and has demonstrated that he is
a man of more than ordinary ability.
Mr.. Neal was born in log house
which still stands on a hillside farm
not far from Milton, Cabell county, on
the waters of Mud river. His parents
were poor, but upright people, who still
stand well in their community, his
father being for twenty-five years a
justice of the peace, and their early
training had a deep effect upon Georges
subsequent life. During his early years
he worked upon the farm, attending
school in winter. At the age Of sixteen
he was teaching school with number
one certificate, and later he sold books
through southern Ohio, using the
money carr ID in this way and by teach
ing school to carry him through the
West Virginia University. He remained
there three years and graduated from
the law department at the age of
twenty, having taken two years course
in one year.
Locating in Huntington he began the
practice Of law He at once rose to
a high position in that city, and at the
age of twenty-five received the Demo-
cratic nomination. for mayor, defeating
five much older and more prominent
citizens. He was defeated, but two
years later was renominated and elected
at the age of twenty-four, being the
youngest mayor in the State, if not in
the country, and ex-officiO police Judge.
He served two terms, being reelected
during the panic and at time when
Huntington was largely Republican,
his splendid recordl gaining many votes
for him outside the Democratic party.
1t was during Mr.. Neale's term of
office that the hard times struck Hun
tington most severely, and the care Of
the city poor fell upon his shoulders.
So Systematically was the work done
and so carefully did he look after them
that in spite Of the cold winter and
the scarcity of money, there was hardly
any real suffering. He started in Hun
tington the Sunday services for news
boys and bootblacks, and his whole ad-
ministration is a record of his noble
efforts to elevate and help his fellow
man. There are hundreds of people
In Huntington who will never forget
the administration of Mayor Neal or
the help he gave them.
Such is his career and when he
reaches the national capitol he will not
be the first who has gone there from
a log cabin on a rocky hill side farm,
rising step by step by his own efforts,
uplifting others as he went and never
injuring another to attain his own pro-
motion.