The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-09
SHAW FOR TREASURE R,
Preston County Man highly En-.
dorsed by One of His Fellow
Townsmen-Was n Brave Soldier.
Has Demonstrated His Ability as

/ ~ .
Has Demonstrated His Ability as
Financier.
To the Editor OF the 1ntclllgcncer.
sIR:--As much has been written b.
the friends Of the various candidate.
who are asking places on the Republl
can state ticket. all OF which has had :
tendency TO interest and instruct thu
party in arriving at proper and correct
conclusions, not only as regards tht
men that are likely TO be chosen as out
standard bearers in this, the most Inn
portant campaign In the history OF the
Republican party in West Virginia, but
their geographical location as we'll, that
I trust that space may be accorded the
writer in your columns to briefly repre-
sent man who has been prominently
mentioned In many OF the leading pa
pers OF the state and who has been
urged by . host of personal friends to
enter the race for the nomination OF
state treasurer. The man referred to
Is the Hon. Leroy Shaw. native born
of Preston county. and man with q
record behind him second TO none. At
his countrys call In 1861 he enlisted at
the youthful age OF seventeen years,
and went forth to battle for his coun-
try and Its flag. His regiment, the
Seventh West Virginia Infantry. stands
recorded in history us great sufferer.
But young Shaw was equal TO the task
standing shoulder TO shoulder with the
boys until severely wounded at AntIe-
tam. from which cause he was dis
charged, but almost Immediately re-
entered the service again, serving six
months In the commissary department.
He again entered active service as first
sergeant OF Company G. Sixth West
Virginia Cavalry, In which organization
he served until the close of the war OF
the rebellion. The Sixth was the
West Virginia regiment held by the
government for service on the frontier.
Fought Indians on the Plains.
My subject again went forth to the
plains and the Rockies to assist In sub
jugating the red men. Aside from be-
ing ostraciscd from civilization for one
year many were the hardshlps dangers
and prIvations OF the frontier soldiers.
This. In brief. is his war record. On his
return 10 his home and his native
county. he at once realized that five
years of his life was blank so far as
education and mental training was
concerned. All that he knew from an
educational standpoint was that re-
quired in the subscription schools, av-
eraging about two months annually.
prior to his enlistment. Being reared
on the farm he knew something about
that occupation and chose It as his
calling. Being 4 man OF marked de-
termination. he not only succeeded as
farmer. but by earnest effort became
known as practical business man.
and was chosen by his party 20 fill o
number OF the, minor Offices. So salts
factory YVES his official relations to the
masses that in 1855 he was elected a
member Of the county court, reelected
in 1880. and was president of that body
In 1891; in 1892 he was elected sheriff. in
which position he made 4 wonderful re.
cord. Notwithstanding the trying cir
cumsiances under which he labored.
Had Many Things to Contend With.
Not only having the money stringency
from 1898 to 1897 to contend with, bu,
the Inauguration o. system OF
promptness in the collections and the
disbursements Of the public funds.
which placed the county finances sec.
ond 10 no county in our state. which
condition so remains to-day, and while
the measure was somewhat unpopular,
no one would now desire change to-
the old system. In 1895 Sheriff Shaw
and deputies met the famous Smithly
outlaws, an offspring OF the "Cooly
Gang" who had for years been men,
ace and q terror TO the people OF Fay
cite county. Pa. and our Preston Dor
der, capturing the band with equal
numbers In this encounter. as will be
remembered. Mr.. Shaw was almost IA
tally shot. He carries the bullet to-
day. as souvenir, in his right lung.
While the writer has no desire to
speak disparagingly OF the claims Of
n.k
neither OF the claims OF other candi-
dates who are claiming recognition at
the hands OF the party from this county
or this congressional district. No hon
est, upright Republican in West Virgin
Ia Will question the claims OF the Seq
ond district for representative on the
ticket. We don't expect the earth, nor
the fullncss thereof. We are simply
doing what all the rest of the districts
are doing, naming good, available men
as candidates for the various places.
at Least Entitled to Small Plum.
If we can't get the big plums we will
surely be entitled TO the small ones.
While Preston county has from time to
time been sending Up mnjorlties asked
for and more. too, we have received In
return notice that some OF our former
citizens located elsewhere in the state,
are holding Office. now present man
for the Office OF treasurer, who is we'll
and favorably known throughout a
large portion of our state, man OF ex-
periSncc and sound judgment. a repre-
sentative OF the farmers, the lnborlng