davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29
THE A. c. OLIVER MILLS
In the Hands Of the Reorganized
Company, But Not Until Holden's
Men Were Paid in Full.

The people of Preston and Monon-
gala counties have waited and
watched with much interest the out.
come of the Bankruptcy proceed.
lngs against the A. G.. Oliver Lum-
Der CO., and last week the fight was
brought to close by the new Com
pany paying attorney Rufus Holden's
men the /nH amount of their claims.
The new Company started out to
buy up the claims against the old
Company at fifty cents on the dollar,
and Mr.. Holden steadily refused to
accept that for his clients, notwith
standing the fact that all other at
torneys sold at that price. Every
effort was made to break down the
Bankruptcy proceedings, but this
could not be done so long as Hol-
den's men stood firm. Last week
at Grafton a consent decree was
signed by Mr.. Holden on behalf OF
the petitioning creditors, and Mr..
Stewart, an attorney of Morgantown,
on behalf of Morgantown Bank
BY the terms of that decree, Hol-
den's men were to be paid IN PULL,
the new Company pay all costs, and
consent to such fees as the Referee
and Court should allow. This was
simply giving Mr.. Holden every
thing he asked, and he on his part
consented to the dismissal of the
Bankruptcy proceedings.
The Federal Savings and Trust
Co, of Morgantown, put So, 600 in
The Bank of Grafton, and Mr..
Holden checked it out to his clients
last week, and they now have in
hand the full amount of their claims.
The new Company will elect their
officers this week and operate the
mills as soon as Capt. Rease gets
all of the lumber and pit posts out
of the way. 1t is said that E. b.
Stone, of Connellsville, has been
employed to operate the mills.
Mr. Holden has also some other
claims IN his hands against the Com
pany, and represents several more
creditors who have lately employed
him, since finding out how success.
full he has been in the matter. The
Morgantown papers have been pub
fishing considerable information in
regard to this business. Now, will
they publish this2
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29
THE JOURNAL ANSWERED.

Candidate Cornwell now says he
is for Tax Reform yet he opposes
the report Of the tax commission
and voted against The considering
of the tax bills prepared by the
commission. Preston County Jour
nal.
Now, the only trouble with the
journals popgun wad is its total
inconsistency with the truth but
the Republican press of the State
this year does not seem to be af-
flicted with any qualms of con-
science on that score. How does
the Journals statement compare
with the following record from the
Senate Journal on the extra session,
anyway, under date of July 2o
"On motion of MI. Cornwell.
Senate joint resolution No. 2 in
troduced by Mr.. Campbell Demo
crat, Jefferson) on Wednesday last,
was taken up for consideration and
repeatedly the clerk, as follows:
"Senate Joint Resolution No. 2.
"Whereas, The taxpayers of
West Virginia have been subjected
to the expense of a special session
OF the legislature; and,
"Whereas, The legislature of
nineteen hundred and one autho.
rized the Governor to appoint a
commission to frame a revision of
the tax laws; and,
"Whereas, Although ten thou.
sand dollars was appropriated and
expended for this purpose, the bills
proposed by said tax commission
have so far failed to receive due
consideration;
"Be 1t therefore resolved by the
Legislature of West Virginia. IN
special session assembled. That
Instead Of considering the com
promise bills agreed upon at the
Washington conference by a parti.
san committee Of eminent citizens.
which do not touch on the issues
IN which the people are most vitality
interested that the Legislature pro-
coed to take up, consider and vote
on each Of the original bills pro.
posed by the tax commission, i'm
GLIDING those Of coal oil and gas. A."
On the question Of adoption Of
this resolution the record shows
nine ayes, including Mr.. Cornweli.
the Democratic candidate for Gov
emor, and all his Democratic col.
league, together with four recalcit.
rant Republicans, and fifteen noes,
all Republicans, six Republican
members refusing to 60 on record
by lodging the vote.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29
WHO is TO BLAME ?

notice writer in the Morganown Chronicle good Republican
paper ana the article copied in The Leader giving
the farmers -
Why this promise broken7 Why farmers not get the
as agreed by the Tax Commission
Oard Holt Williams John K Thompson and Henry Davis
vocated by Dawson and Governor White
Who blame
Dawson for
Dayton candidate Congress Each therefore
a proper subject o
The in
opinion who responsible for this damnabe bastard
and the defeat
and advocated by Dawson IS ASTON G.. DAYTON
He left his in Congress- bitterly pesteny fought
nose equitable measures by circular letters
speeches all over the State by intrigue and wire pulling finally
succeeded IN serving his the railroads
tons and left the burden of his con
stuent the farmers aud small keepers all district He
tired to defeat the entire reform
The farmers and Of people buncoed Dawson
ana governor White being party feel
stand by the party But they buncoed
were believe honest and fearless corporations Dayton
their counsel captured the legislature
wanted o HI with the people," say they mouthpce
Dayton And the people will the blame
Away with him Dayton has betrayed Us.
OwNRR.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29
B0SS-RIDDEN.

The trouble with the Republican
party of West Virginia is that it is
Boss ridden. To prove that this is
not political buncombe, THE ARGUS
will simply call the attention of the
rank and file of the Republican
party to the fact that when they
turned out to the primaries to select
delegates on the issue Of tax revision
they carried the State by an over
whelming majority over the anti
tax reformers. Just so soon as the
rank and file returned to their daily
vocation, feeling safe in the convic-
ton that the Bosses of the party,
having heard from the rank and file
OF che party on the question of taxa
ton, that they would enact the nee
essary legislation, the Bosses assem-
bled at Charleston and took hold of
the helm and proceeded to legislate
in favor of the money class. There
is not a Republican in Preston
county to day who is not aware of
this fact. From the late develop
ments it would appear that the
Dawson Teter contest was a we'll
laid plan of the corporations to Sc
cure one of these gentlemen as their
candidate. 1t was another case of
the lawyers plucking the geese.
The rank and file of the Republi
can party are uncompromising tax
reformers, and if it was not for the
fact that the Bosses have the old
party throttled and the entire ma
chinery in their own hands it would
be possible for the privates in the
party to inaugurate a reformation
along the line of taxation. But so
long as the Bosses have full control
OF the organization as they have to-
day, and have had for years, it will
be utterly impossible for the privates
in the ranks TO secure a redress
from their burden of taxation. Why
not, then, honest Republican tax
reformers, join hands with the Dem
ocrats and elect men to the State
Senate and House of Delegates who
Will vote for the interest of the
people.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29
now THEY VOTED.

The farmers throughout Preston
County should acquaint themselves
with the REGARD of Jos. w. Davis
and w. b. Freeland, and learn for
themselves how these gentlemen
voted on tax bills. This is not
political question, but a question
of dollars and cents in every tax
payer in the county of Preston.
The Argus believes the farmers of
Preston to be thoroughly honest on
the question of Tax Reform. 1t is
faith in their sincerity. Let them
investigate the record of their two
members OF the House OF Delegates,
who have been renominated, re
nomination which they won as tax re-
formers, and would vote to lift the
burden of taxation from the shout
ders of the farmers, and place
portion of it at least upon the
shoulders of the corporations where
it properly belongs. Every farmer
in Preston knows that the issue in
Preston was that coal, gas and oil
should be taxed. Delegates Davis
and Freeland accepted this issue
and agreed to stand or fall by it.
They were overwhelmingly renomi-
mated over Shaw and Reed, who are
intelligent and popular men, but
were unfortunate in being placed in
the anti-tax reform column.
There is not better campaIgner in
the county of Preston; there is not
man who is better known to the
voters than Lee Shaw. He is q
fighter. He made a most thorough
house to house campaign for the
House of Delegates, but with all his
acquaintance. his popularity and
reputation as a fighter, he was de-
feated by Joe Dlvis. There must
be cause for 1t. There is, and
that cause was that his opponent and
friends represented Lee Shaw as
opposed to taxing coal, oil and gas.
On this issue Shaw was beaten. The
same applies to Freeland and Reed.
Both Davis and FreelaRd owe their
denomination to the issue of tax re-
form.
1t is now up to the farmers of
Preston to look up the record of
Davis and Freeland and learn if they
have been faithful TO their pledge.
If they have not, it is the duty of
the farmers of Preston to vote
against them. There is no middle
ground; there is no compromise on
the issue of tax revision. The farm.
ers must continue to pay the bur
den of taxation or elect men who
will vote for correction OF the mi.
| quities of the farcial tax bills which
they enacted into law at the late
session of the Legislature. II they
do not, they have no one to blame
but themselves. In this campaign
they should allow no one to sail un.
der false colors.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29
20 MELL MIrn pAY1oN ~
Says n Member OF the Republican
Committee.

When the Fairbanks Special came
through Preston county recently 10
help b. & o. Dayton out of a bad
hole, they got the worst fros, that
was ever on the pumpkin vine when
the fodder IS in the shock. At Tun-
Melton about one hundred men, wo-
men and children were at the depot
to see the Republican candidate for
the Vice Presidency. He started in
to make a speech on the great pros
perily that has been flooding the
country, and urged the voters to
stand pat. Just then some miner
who has probably been out of job
all summer, as most Of them have
at Tunnelton, shouted out that there
wasn't three men in the town that
had job. This ratified Fairbanks
so that he cut it short and went in
the car, while b. & O. Dayton came
out with bull dog grin on his face
and bowed. Senator Sam b. Mont
gomery, Dayton's postmaster and
leader at Tunnelton, waived his big
Mississippi hat and proposed three
cheers for Congressman Dayton, but
the cheer business was ingloriously
squelched by a prominent Republi-
can leader and member of the Com
mittee, who was present, fresh from
red hot postoffice fight in which
he had been slammed down and
walked over He jumped to the
front and yelled out, "To hell with
Dayton !" That settled it, and the
latter took a sneak back into the
car and the Special crawled into
hole-the big tunnel.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

The Hon. Tom Watson of
Georgia, tie Populist candidate for
the Presidency is cutting quite a
dash in his speeches over the
country, lampooning both the old
parties and more especially the
Democrats. This affords great de.
light to the Republican press Of the
country. Watson has been with
the Democracy the past two cam
paigns, but now that they have cut
loose from him he is naturally very
bitter against them. While the
Democrats and Populist were unit
ed il gave the Republican papers
commissions every time they con.
templatcd the matter and they
could not be severe enough in
there criticism 90 the Democrats
for their P0pulistc tende ncics
Now that they have cut loose from
the Populist the Republicans are
worse dissatisfied than ever and are
more savage than before in their
dcnunciation Of such conduct ON
The part u the Democrats. Truly
our fuenis ibc enemy arehard to
please and II consistency is a jewel
the Republican oditori wall never
wear diamonds.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

The Sbcperdstown Register says
that
The Republican Judicial Com
m.ltcc for This circuit held a meet
ing 10 Mariinsburg on tuesday,
and decided by vote Of two 10 one
not 90 nominate candidate for
Judge o. oppose Judge T.. Boyd
Faulkner The Democratic nominee.
The members from Jefferson coun.
ty insisted upon the nomination be.
lnR made, but the members from
Berkeley and Morgan couldn't see
it that way and declined 10 call
convention. This Is well,
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

The Shepherdstown Register re-
Gently criticised the action Of the
State trooTs while at Charles Town
guarding the Jail and Court House
from mob violence. The most Of
the criticism is based on hesrssy,
which is totally unreliable during
an excitable and inhammatory con-
dition of the public mind as on that
occasion. Bro. Snyder is generally
very fair and conservative, and he
must remember that the troops we're
there under orders, which they had
no option but to obey, no matter
how distasteful it may have been to
them. There we're some things
done that we're subject TO criticism,
we will candidly admit, but local
officials we're the responsible parties.
In regard 20 the alleged conduct Of
some Of the soldiers on Sunday, as
spoken Of by the Register, report
and rumor is false as usual, as we
do not believe that any such antics
took place, since we we're present
al the time, except for an hour at
the Episcopal Church IN The fore
noon. Quite a number Of other
officers and soldiers we're there, as
we'll as AZ other churches, and ia
the afternoon the rector Of the Epis-
cOpal Church came % the Court
House and conducted services by
invitation Of the officers, to all the
soldiers except those on guard az
the jail
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29
JUDICIAL CONVENTION

Pursuant TO the order Of the Dem
ocratic judicial Executive Commit
tee, Of the Fifteenth Judicial Cir
cult, Of West Virginia, composed
Of the counties Of Barbour. Preston,
Randolph and Taylor, a Convcu
ton will be held in The CITY Of
Grafton, in Taylor county on the
18th day Of October, 1904, for the
purpose Of nominating a candidate
for Judge Of the said Circuit.
&. Fl. ScoTr,
Chairman.
]. II. S. BARLOW,
Secretary.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

TIE ARGUS supplement this week
is one Of the best we have ever sent
out, and We ask a careful reading
for every item and article in IT, The
matter is al Of q political nature,
but has been selected very carefully
and is all facts and figures that can
not be denied. We expect TO keep
this up till the great battle Of ballots,
November 9Th.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

The Dawson managers are getting
badly scared over his flop on tax
reform and the Republican papers
are making desperate efforts to ex-
plain and cover up the matter. A
big lot Of supplements we're shipped
here this week 70 be sent out in the
Journal, filed up with some plausi.
bic political matter on their go.
called Tax Reform. will the Leader
send out any Of them1 Well, We
doubt Il. They are not bursting
their galluses over Dawson. but they
are trying to pull Dayton out Of the
hole and have their hands full a.
this job. The Journal is for Daw-
son, but against Dayton, sa6 ,ofs,
while the Leader is red hot for
Dayton but feminist Dawson. II
is a funny situation.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29
NOT Personal

rel with those who differ with il on
the issues which are being discuss
ed in this campaign. On the
other hand, it aGmires an honest
and fearless opponent Whatever
The Argus may have to say relative
to the candidacy of Postmaster
Samuel b. Montgomery, or other
candidates, will be purely on the
lines of an honest difference of
opinions. 1t is sorry to note that
the would be Senator has taken UNI
bragg at its remarks on what Mr.
Montgomery represents on the all
important subject of Tax Reform.
This is the paramount issue. In this
campaign. 1t is fortunate that it is
not political issue and that it is
not being treated as such by the
rank and file of the parties of West
Virginia.
The interests which Mr.. Mont
gomery represents and subscribes
to, and il elected, will vote for, is
detrimental to the interests of the
people. Mr.. Montgomery is the
candidate of the corp orations,
which he has the courage TO main
tain, and which The Argus con-
cedes to be his right and privilege.
But, if The Argus makes Mr.. Mont
gomery's position on Tax Reform
known to the people, who have like
interests at stake, the would be
Senator must not grow angry and
invite the editor of The Argus to
sprinting match. He does not
profess to be Splinter, but he
does not propose to run away from
this issue in the present cana paign.
The Argus has arrayed itself on
the side of the people in the con-
test now being waged on the issue
of Tax Reform, and while it is
always anxious to please Its friends
and aspiring statesman, it must de-
cline on this occasion to deviate one
iota from its tax revision senti-
ments. 1t believes that the farm
ers and small property holders and
working men have rights which
even the powerful corporations
must respect. No man can be
elected to political office in the
State of West Virginia without the
votes of the farmers and working
men. If they eschew politics for
the time being and get together and
vote for their own interest they will
defeat Mr.. Montgomery and all
other corporation candidate, wheth-
er they be running on the Republi-
can or Democratic ticket. Where
a candidate is running on the Dem =
ocratic or Republican ticket, who
is controlled by the corporations,
he should be defeated. If they are
not defeated the fault is cha rgeable
to the indifference of the farmers
and working men.
The Argus has no doubt but what
Mr.. Montgomery feels secure in his
election. He is mindful of the fact
that he has powerful wealth back
of his candidacy He feels that
the sinews of war Will be forth COM
ing from the corporations if his
election is IN jeopardy. He is not
losing any sleep over his election,
and is facetious in an interview in the
Leader and defes the editor of the
The Argus to contest with him
He unwittingIy pays the editor of
The Argus a compliment. Mr..
Montgomery is simply voicing the
sentiment of the corporations, who
imagine that might makes right.
They laugh at those who protest
their injustice.
The Argus has confidence that
the people on the 9th day of Nov
ember will assert their rights and
win glorious victory for Tax Re
form.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29
WHAT WE WE'RE PROMISED.


When read the repor, of Tax Commission appointed by
White and when read the Governors speeches subject
the various interviews with Secretary OF State Dawson
clearly to understand that the law would benefit
The State IS valuation on real and personal
property was be abolished The thus off
ded by certain license taxes and franchises mainly by
third of cen, ton on al 600. and n,oD.s
mated at $4,000 annually.
SecOndone half cent barrel produced $780,
ThirdA tax natural Produced $50
Four'hA special tax railroads gross earnings
Now place o the o on the mileage basis at $500 900 annually
sources annually alone
trely from this State tax O" I'll" "'e O'"E 'u Ct"
Then promised should be uniformly as
sessed all over the State, its selling price
81 TO the farmer and real surface
White Dawson Hubbard sugs Commission that
and that only honesty demanded that the
ana hat the farmer should be thus relieved of of the
UNJUST TJ burden placed on him;
White because believed him fearless capable and honest
childhood and had faith promises people for he
We by Holt and Henry Davis their tax
because W ed il was right
The agricultural Overwhelmingly where stood and
especially in this county, in Its support of Dawson.
WHAT WE GOT.
Are we bqncOed7 promise people increase
taxable value of my land to its full value
inaccessible coal unde crying it, has been kept my
f properly real and personal to be assessed at the highest
Court levy extent of 60 cents on the sIoo M
county We RuP e ST.. alone instead of IS cents
compared the of neghbos
is at
cents on the SIoo and pay 5000 per alone
AT the new rate at the highest
per year III neighbour
NINE he Is taxed his coal at its actual
Many OF US have not sold coal will
senator En is to him That though alike
ana poor But 1t is always harder the
But hear you Whe Senator Ens you
coal mat lying idle the ground producer
are also taxed promised they ground
and move out of the State"
Not much. There's the rub taxed alike The
Legislature did not put of production
gas OF on road earnings promised The 100000 annually
PROMISED US from those sources we do Not blasted
Where then does the State from
place OF the In
place this IS cents the 500 taken
TINS year. we 1t all Then gradual
reduction OF this State tax until falls five
Legislature back where
programme This gradual reduction land
No. - F
They did production COAL gas as was promised
No. o. - F
No.
They kept their promise value of all real
estate up to its selling vaue7
Yes.
For this condemn hem utterly!
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

In this issue We publish an arti-
Gle from one of the most promi-
nent citizens and tax payers and
land owners in Preston county on
the SO called "Tax Reform" laws
OF the last Legislature and Daytons
connection Herewith. We ask a
careful reading Of the same by
every voter and taxpayer in Pres
ton county, irrespective of party.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29


To alleviate the distress from
which the Leader seems to be suf-
fering, The Argus wishes to con-
vey to the editors and proprietors
Of the Leader, whoever they maybe
that Il had no sinister motive in
pablishing the item Of news of the
Tumored purchasers Of the Leader.
IL extends TO them the right hand
Of fellowghip aud welcomes them to
the fold. May they live long and
proper Is the wish Of The Argus.
The occasion has never arisen, and
never viii, when The Argus will
become jealous Of It's contem-
poraries.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

Bro. Dayton had better be little
more guarded in his predictions of
reelection. There are too many
clubs looking for that prediction,
and no hand to stay the swinger.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

1t is said that Uncle Joe Davis
and Cousin Baldwin Freeland are
sorry that they attended the extra
ordinary session of the Legislature.
They had no idea that it was loaded
with explosive tax bills.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

Now, frankly, farmers of Preston
county, is IL not strange that Dele
gates Davis and Freeland should 90
TO Charleston and vote to increase
your taxes when they asked your
support on the promise that they
we're genuine tax reformers, and If
given the opportunity to vote on the
subject would vote to tax coal, oil
and gas1 They have fooled you
onee-if they fool you the second
time it will be your fault. Can you
afford for the sake Of politics to vote
for men who increase your taxi
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

When the farmer pays u cents
State tax on the SIoo instead of as
cents as heretofore, he will realize
that he has been reformed proper.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

IT "Old Republican" in The
Leader, is not careful it will make
Uncle Joe Davis climb a pine tree.
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

Wonder why Dayton did not stop
the Fairbanks special at Newburg1
Was it on account of too much
postoffice7
West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-29

The people have been fooled on
tax reform, and they propose to fool
some of the foolers.