West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-02-11
Has Another Chat With Leader
Shaw and Sets Him Right on Tax
Reform.

1t is impossible to keep up my
correspondence and get around
amonGthe prospective candidates
when they meet with rebluffs from
the friends of their competitors.
The distance is too far and the
weather is too cold. A little conso-
lation now and then puts renewed
energy into the political Office seeker
who has been told that his chances
for remaining on the farm looks
exceedingly bright. My nature is
to not discourage undiscovered
geniuses who have mastered the hoe
and the plough on the farm, and
who have the reputation of being
experts in handling the fail in the
buckwheat patch. But l cannot re-
frain from vouchsafing the informa-
tan that the chances for breaking
into the penitentlary are not so
numerous IN following Buck and
Berry on the farm as they are after
you have becoming thoroughly in
fatuated and initiated into the mys-
teries of political grating. They
will find that one by one their cher
ished traditions and time hallowed
custom will give way before the en-.
croachments of modern necessity.
Yes. modern necessity will compel
them to forget the commandment
taught them in Sunday School.
Thou shalt not steal" Not that
all politicians are thieves. Far from
it. Some sojourning in Canada,
while some are occupying the ex-
allied position of ruler of some great
political party. There is differ
ence in politicians, as ex Congress
man Briggs can testify to. But l
must aver that have no sinister
motive on calling the attention of
the boys on the farm to keep out of
politics. | receive so many letters
from the boys inquirying, GLOW to
get into politics" that / have not
the time TO write each one indivi-
dually. They must keep an eye on
nay ramblings and note the progress,
of the older ones and where they
land when the tide comes in. They
will find the majority of them in the
docks for repairs.
have been out of town for
couple of weeks and did not receive
the Argus and note the comments of
Deacon Brown on my interview
with Leader Shaw. / find that Dea-
con Brown, like the majority of
critics, misinterprets Leader Shaw's
letter TO the Intelligencer. Now
Farmer Frank Posted Gale, of the
Nowhere Settlement, is about the
only man with whom / have con
versed upon this momentous ques-
ton that seems to have interpreted
correctly Leader Shaw's views on
Tax Reform. But Farmer Gale tells
me, however that the impression
has gotten out, and il is pretty gen.
eral, too, that Leader Shaw is
against Tax Reform. Crush the
thought A man who has sacrificed
his whole life in the interest Of
the people, to desert them when
the hour Of deliversnce is close at
hand Neverl hasten to correct
this erroneous impression.
al have come 70 apologies, i'll
have misquoted you, in our late in
teryiew relative to your longing to
wear the Legislators crown and
your position on Tax Reform. 1t
is highly embarrassing to me to
place you in false position before
the people Of Preston county, If I
have done so. The people have
become so accustomed to you be-
ing misrepresented by your enemies
that they arc little chary in be-
lieying that you could have aban-
doned them in their hour Of con
flict with monopoly. Like Samson
Of old they imagine you all power
ful as long as you are not shorn Of
your hirsute. But all, your friends,
are experiencing much difficulty
in pcrsuading the people thar
your letter to the Inlelligencer
was IN the interest ofTax Reform.
Let there be no evasion Of this
weighty question The people are
not in a mood 70 be trifled with and
you must declare yourself in no am
biguous terms" said, with consid
cradle emphasis, as have always
looked upon him as the arch dea.
con OF reformers.
unfortunately The English Ian.
guage does not furnish the word 10
express my qualification and thank