The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-10-26
4 SEIE MADE MAN
Is Geo. /. Neal, the Democratic Can


Those persons who are opposing
the election of George I. 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 great
est and grandest men this state has
ever produced, whose memory is
revered by all who knew him, re-
gardless 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 % years of age when he was
sent TO Congress, while Mr.. Neal
is now about % 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 people which
caused the people everywhere to-
love John Kenna, and like Kenna
he is self-made man.
His career has been remarkable
already, and even if it should 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 obscurity to
prominence, he has filed 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 hill
side farm not far from Milton,
Caben county, on the waters of
Mud river. His parents were poor,
but upright people, who still stand
we'll in their community, his father
being for 25 years Justice of the
Peace, and their early training had
a deep effect upon Georges subse-
lquent life. During his early years
he worked upon the farm, attend
ing school in the winter. AT the
age of 16 he was teaching school
with number one certificate and
later he sold books through south
ern Ohio, using the money earned
in this way and by teaching school
to carry him through the West
Virginia University. He remained
there three years and graduated
from the law department at the
age of 20, having taken two years
course in one year.
Locating in Huntington he be-
gan the practice of law. He at
once rose to a high position in
that city, and at the age of % re-
ceived the Democratic 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 "a, being the young
est mayor in the state, if not in the
country, and ex-of1cio Police
Judge. He served two terms, be-
ling reelected during the panic
and at a time when Huntington
was largely Republican, his splen.
did record gaining many votes for
him outside the Democratic party.
It was during Mr.. Meals term
of office that the hard times struck
Huntington 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 scarcity of money there was
hardly any real suffering. He
started in Huntington the Sunday
services for newsboys and boot
blacks, and his whole administra-
ton is 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 CO pitol he will
not be the first who has gone there
from log cabin on rocky hill
side farm, rising step by step by
his own efforts. uplifting others as
he went and never injuring an
other to attain his own promotion.
The general elections in Novem-
Der will. doubtless, be largely af-
footed by the absence of soldiers
from their respective States, and
especially of soldiers which have
M low o,,ELo-;o; 49, = -