West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-02-12


fellows that was talking to makes fun OF
the prosecution. as IL was conducted aud
declare that Il was the attack made on Jim
Whetsells family and tho Bowery people
that lost the case. Even such men as
Squire FELTON,. Nate Wilson and Lee shaw.
contend that the only witnesses that the
State had that amounted to hill OF beans
was George Menear aud wife and Walter
Stone and wife. and that their testimony
was damaged by dragging In the whole
town to attack the character Of the Whet.
sells. IL now looks to me as though
Monarchai Government is to be preferred.
as we are in the hands OF a ruling class.
who are more despotic than single ruler
could be. We are the servants Of noble.
men made so by the consolidation and
fusion OF the Socialists OF both political
parties. ! am quite safe la saying that ihe
big Democrats OF Preston county have had
much to do In naming the system OF life
time tenure in Office. They have lost
all ambition 10 succeed themselves aud
have fused with the Republican bosses for
the sake OF plunder.
To convince you my dear old friend that
my theory is straight | will sight you to
the doings OF our present Legislature BY
authority OF our last Legislature Governor
White was authorized to appoint com
mission to revise our Tax laws which he
complied with by appointing Eve of the
most learned and noted men OF the state.
This Commission at an expense TO the tax
payers OF seven to eight thousand dollars
interviewed many leading citizens through
out the state and upon the evidence pre-.
pared and reported to our Legislature
what they belived to be equitable and fair
system OF taxation, also prepared the
necessary Legislation to make the same
operative. The Governor of our state
ably and fearlessly presented the merits Of
the work OF the Commission to our Legis.
lature in his message and otherwise urging
prompt and favorable action upon the
same. when TO the -sreat surprise OF the
people many OF their Representative began
TO hedge and have been hedging ever
since. Nothing whatever is being done
toward giving us better laws. II seems
that about all they went down to Charles
ton for was TO round up a slate of candi.
dates for Office in Ioo4 think the best
thing they can do is to decide this matter.
draw their pay and adjourn. think II will
consume the forty-6ye days limit.
was going to say that ! earnestly es-
posed the candidacy Of one Joseph Davis.
In whose Integrity and working powers
placed the utmost confidence saw that
he was placed on number OF committees,
where his usefulness seems TO have ended.
I aL gtn Ia -
Freeland has at least publlcalIy proclaimed
that he is in line with his constituents by
indorsing the report OF our Tax Com.
mission.
Realizing that there was at least one
subject that was not treated upon. al
once excused myself. and bowed ny way
out I sought and found my old reliable
consellor and friend Lee Shaw. and greet.
ing me with a warm grip said:
BE seated my friend in that comfor.
table chair. | will admit that am not
nearly so young as was when went In
with the boys at Antietam. at the same
time am one Of those fellows that en-.
thuses every time an old time friend like
you calls on me at my home"
"It appears that the Wolf trial and ac.
quttal has stirred up the people OF your
town TO a marked degree"
well you see my friend we have some
very jealous people here when Il comes to
backing up a prosecution against some
humble fellow, and IL appears from what
have heard that they over shot their
mark IN the Wolf case by making an on.
slaught upon the character Of the Whct-
sell family. While they are poor people
this is the FIRST time ever knew Of their
character being assailcd in open court and
very naturally they came back at some Of the
state Witnesses. who are not considered
correct in this particular compelling them
TO take water. which no doubt lost their
cause"
what was the position OF some Of these
would be prosecutors in the Wotfing matter
that came to a focus soon after your term
as sheriff ?"
We'll now my friend that Is delicate
matter for me TO handle. as you know
that Dave and his crowd stuck their knives
into me whenever Il was possible for them
10 do SO. il is an undispuiablc fact that
Dave was elected on reform platform.
It is also a fact that he started out TO per.
form the duties Of hrs Office strictly along
this line. The very first thing he did was
10 correct the abuse % the law In regard
10 the County court spending more money
then they had provided for in their leyies
and the practice Of sherias spending che
public funds for private purposes. which
had resulted ia an interest bearing debt
Of az least $40. 900. upon which The spocu.
latofs we're compouadlng their interest
! tell you my dear old friend that Dave
brought things to focus Hc actu.
ally knocked out tho suckers that had
been bleeding the county for years like a
set Of leeches
u am really surprised that you can say
20 much Tor your enemy I can not see
how you are going o snstaiu your position"
Very easily sir. BY taking the other
side Of the case You know that
every man. woman and child have their
weak points. The crowd soon caught on
10 Dave and began 20 carry him on their
hands even Forlnsy and his admirers fell
right into line. So Dave grew and wIdened
out until be run every thing In the town.
from the Sunday school to the Magic Ian.
tern show-Indecd be SANG sweetly in our
church choir. But unfortunately his friends
became more numerous that his dollars
The bleeding process began in earnest
The crowd thused and Dave paid the bills
strained % a point Of desperation he par.