West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-04-10


With the primary contest before us
we are besieged by the candidates
and their friends to whoop 'em up
We endeavor to comply with their
requests and brush away the thorny
hedges which lie in their pathway
and are liable to scratch and irritate
them. We have always been sim
gularly and most beautifully free
from Partially. We would make
their political field a fowery one if
the other candidates would keep
out. But we find this a difficult
task, inasmuch as the other candi-
dates invariably interpret our kind
words in favor of their opponents as
an evidence that we favor the other
candidate. Such are the impass-
able barriers which we have to con-
tend with. The time is entirely too
short for us to meet and have a po-
htical chat with all the candidates.
1t has been decreed by the Com
mittee that one of the candidates is
to have no opponent. Speculation
has been rife as to the cause. II
was with the intention of solving
this riddle that ] called upon Mr..
John w. Watson, clerk of the Cir
cult Court, COMMONLY called the
"Tall Sapling" of Preston.
Mr.. Watson is one of the clever
and companionable men of our
town and it is always pleasure to
meet him. So in sauntering around
town in quest of news 1 drifted into
Mr.. Watson's office.
1.-THE public has thrown me into
the channel of inquiry, Mr.. Watson,
10 unravel if possible, the cause of
no opposition to your candidacy"
L began. "Public sentiment strong
ly indicates that you have no right
to conceal the secret within thy
bosom. With so many lean and
hungry patriots within the party it
has set the public to guessing and
wondering why some one of the
patriots have not come forward
with certificate from the Com.
mittee as testimonial of the size
of their appetite and their ability to
devour the contents of your office"
which caused the "Tall Sapling" to
shake with laughter.
"There is no secret about it."
said the clerk in his genial and per-
suasive way. GAS a Splinter there
is none of the patriots who dare to
measure legs with me in race for
office. Are you aware that was
born and reared in Preston County ?
Well, was. In my youthful days,
while going to school, we used to
play the game of the dogs chasing
the fox. | was always selected 9s
the fox. l have the proud record
of being the only fox who escaped
the Preston hounds in an open field.
The patriots have not forgotten this.
They are shy to enter the field
against me, knowing my ability as
a Splinter. Once thoroughly scared,
no relay Of hounds could catch me.
At one bound could clear stake-and-
rider fences and the tallest saplings.
Hence the name of the Tall Sap
ling which my friends call me-"
'1n the commanding language of
the King you are monarch of ali
you survey Why have the Com
mittee been so consistent as to place
no one in the field in opposition to
you ? Every one comedies as the fox
you would be hard to catch, but the
Committee must have some reason
for not Enchanting the dogs Of val
and giving you a chase. II you
know the reason why not give pit
to the public ?"
81 am not averse to taking the
public into my confidence" replied
the "Tall sapling," growing com
municative, "but the fact is that the
Committee had selected a gentle
man TO measure legs with me in
race for the Circuit Clerkship. But
after sizing up my pedal extreme
ties they concluded to let him rest,
although he carried off the prize the
last race he ran. refer TO Tx
Sheriff Lloyd Shafer. After mu-
tual consultation, so / learn, they
agreed to give me a clear field and
enter Lloyd for the Sherifalty two
years hence. Ny information is
that the Committee has sent forth
the edict 20 the faithful that the
Sherifslty shall alternate between
Lloyd ShafeT and Jim Lenhart r.
you will cast your eyes southwardly
from where We stand You will OBJ
serve windmill which ] have
erected to adoFn ny residence.