West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-12-14
FROM \ POLITICAL ROUST.ABOUT
Rings. Cliques aud Politics In the
Dominant Party in Preston County
How Their Positions arc Main.
tafnnI
To the Editor Of rur Anov..

lac most honest man | know of in
Preston county is styled ring or clique,
lie makes no pretense. lie desires the
county and state to accept him for
what lSe Is. IL asked his business toy n
stranger who has been introduced, he
says, SIMPLY: 81 am the ring for liv-
ing Tie Is aware that his profession
rs one OF disreputc. lie knows many
disrcputOblc members OF his profession
that are always ready TO do his bid
ding. He cares little for public opiu-
ion. lie knows that he is dishonest
and that satisfies him This man is n
loyal friend, n fair promiser and n most
excellent hatcr lie rs u fighter, Il
good fellow and he never fails to set
'cm mp. | do not believe that he
would champion any measure that he
believed would drain his own Golfer,
however bad his henchmen may be I'm
need thereof. lie regards himself,
certainly, much rs lawyer regards
himself. corporation that hires him
is his client He keeps It's secrets and
does the best he can for il (himself)
Ihuve conclus,ye evidence that clique
would not stoop To dishonorablc means
to attain his end (ofIice } His main
resource in obtaining votes is straight
forward and sensible argument lie
endcayors, OF course, TO elect AS many
of his colleagues as possible, under
obligations to him Here is rather an
amusing and ludicrous instance in
point: BE it known, his honor the
chief of this clique, makes rather n
splurge I'm county councils, where
Offices are 'pariitioned of. lie has
money and spends IL freely. lie dress.
es well and supports his family In
royal splendor. TO him came brother
member from distant part OF the
county. "Mr.---." he said, II have
II couple of friends who will be i'm the
county seat, shortly. They will be
here week aud ! want TO show them
around. have come to ask you to
lend me your carriage for that time"
Certainly" said this astute member
from distance. clad to obligc YOU.
viii send the carriage and instruct
my coachmen to put himself under
your orders" This was done The
Cact is the chief kept no family car.
riage aud yet he has been pulling on
the public faucet for sixteen years
lie went To- "a liYervnan ana hired the
swcilest turnout in the stables. A
man dressed in rich livery handled the
ribbons. He was quiet, modest and
competent, the very model of IL coach
man. IL cost this member OF the
clique $50 per day, but he owned that
henchmcn was anxious henceforth to
vote for any measure urged. provided
that II would not cut his own political
throat
The chief OF this political ring keeps
"a set OF books. They are double.
locked In stcal safe and are taken
out only by himself in the presence Of
tic most high. II the contents Of
these books conld he published it
would cause AN earthquake OF scandal
that would rive thc politics Of this
county from end 10 end. These books
run back for twenty years One Of
them contains the names Of every
member Of the clique in an that time,
who voted for any measure that the
chief might request. accompanied by q
statement of the reason why he so
tvoted Another book contains the
names of every brother Of the clique.
alphabetically arranged, giving his
position upon any question OF public
importance. bow he g. likely TO vote
amt why Another contains these
names and opposite each Of them is
the name OF th, nun or woman.
through o hom it =, most easy to 40.
proach ri influence or buy.
The King OF this clique sits in his
sarctum. when not riding in palace
cars. collecting and adjusting just
such Information ns desired H. will
bc seen that the chief is 70 power. Hs
is % sword suspended ever above the
heads oi the member. lie knows All
the wheels and wheels within
wheels Naturally Doe hoe made this
knowledge pay ile has been in Office
for iG r20 years. What's The matter
with fsc outside Republicans en-.
joyn9 Iituc suiT Of county sports.
NrH $50 aate 9iecn your readers tbe
uu-ecu history is f4ra as tbc public IS
coaccr.r .itp- machine. as to how
c..tan c.udidatrs 600 tlc dom nont
party offa.s COUNTY are retained iu
oWc, for 600. ,lsi 20 years, anI yet this
party machine must dictate 90 mc and
the honest voters Of the county lust
vbot vote for This same ring or
b. o.