Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-23
LOBBY LECTURES.
Remarks and Observations by Those
Who Come and Go.
CHAT PICKED UP IN THE CORRI-
DORIS AND UPON THE STREETS.
HOW TO TELL THE POLITICAL
WARP OF A CHARLESTON POLL
TICIAN.

WANT OT - CIiAIbLLSl O4N Oh1-
TICIAN.
A gentleman who has just returned from
a two weeks ~sojourn at Charleston has
some amusing observations to make from
among which this one is selected:
Under ordinary circumstances you
couldn't tell a Republican from a Demo-
crat. Everybody was talking, ~jostling,
hustling, joking, and l might say, now and
then cussin'. Everybody was Logging for
some other body, and all the politicians
without distinction as to race. color or
previous condition of servitude wore
white hats. There was just one infaliible
test of a mans political warp, and one
didn't have to ask him or hear him talk to
apply it. All that was necessary was TO
get within breathing distance and get a
whif. If it was apple jack he was a
Republican; corn whiskey, a Democrat"
Eyes, you can tell something of the
geography of a country and the condition
of the people by the clothes they wear
said a salesman for a big supply house, at
the Windsor last evening. Il nave been
over my territory so much and am so
we'll acquainted with its every phase that
| can sit in the office and hear an order
read and tell you where it comes from.
On top of the Allegheny mountains they
want red wooden shirts, corduroy pants
and boots: in East Kentucky and Tennes
see, ginghams. jeans and brogans. and in
Old Virginia wamus, overalls and red
neckties. 1t is no trick, either, to tell
whether the order comes from a rural
or urban community, and l would be as
much surprised to lave a call for silk
hose from ~Stumptown as a request for
a consignment of threshing machines for
the New York Chamber of Commerce. 1t
isn't the clothes that makes the man, but
it very often shows what kind of credit
he has with his banker"
rs 1t true that there are more CONNER
cial travellers on the road this year than
last?" was the query put to a member of
the ''profesh" at the Mcclure. Yes" it is
true" was the thoughtful reply, "and
for more reasons than one. Three out of
four people will tell you it is because
there is more business this year han last,
and this is correct so far as it goes. But
there is another and more sifinificant rea-
son than this. The fact is manufacture
ers and the more extensive class of job
bling firms are selling more goods direct
to the retailer than ever before, and it re-
quires more men to do business on these
line than upon the old plan. You can
appreciate that it takes Just as long to
drive a bargain with Smith or Jones who
keep the crossroads general store as it
does to sell a job lot to the wholesaler,
if not longer, and the amount of trade
one man P1n cover in a d9U iS rOnSnn1pnt-
ly limited. This cuts out the profit of the
middleman, but adds somewhat to the
expenses of the manufacturer. so the
differential is not quite as much as might
be expected"
The life of a politician, especially a
member of the West Virginia Legislature
is not all roses and sunshine" is the ver-
dict of a gentleman who has just re-
turned from Charleston, where he posed
simply as a spectator in the parquette,
as it were. They are pulled and hauled,
first this way and that, coddled, cajoled
and not infrequently maligned until they
don't know which way to turn. If a
statesman wants a few minutes of peace
and quiet he must go to his hotel and bar
ricade his retreat by telling the clerk he
1911 L III, dlu lieH iOCh ulle uOOT ana
pull down the blinds. A delegate from
down in the State told me he was going
to hire a horse and buggy Sunday and
drive out in the country"
why don't you run down home?'' /
asked.
q" Good enough reason why he quickly
answered. That would be jumping from
frying pan to fire. I'd have all my rela-
tives in to welcome me, all my n%eighbors
in to call on me, and every last politician
in the surrounding country would drop
in to advise me or inquire for a job. 1
am a statesman, everybody's dog to kick
or pamper, as caprice or interest may die
tate, and worst of all, I'm an outcast
from home, Mollie and the babies"
January and August are our dull
months" said the dispenser of bed springs.
and during those periods if you get an or
der for immediate delivery it is a rarity
and worth framing. Business gradually in
creases, though, and reaches a maximum
in April and October. When the house
wife is in the throes of the housekeeping
and the business man doesn't come home
for dinner, were in clover"
T. -