West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-09-22
Fell in With the Socialistic Party
Who Are Forcing the Millennium.

AS this campaign progresses am moving
with IT, and want to say to you. my legion
Of friends, that am moving at a rapid gait
for one who has been campaigning since
the year ISS7 In my tour Of the county
hunting for something good for The ARGUS
dropped into the town they call the Coal
Centre" which was formerly known as
Iunnelton. when Jay Bona6eld. Ben Davis
and Milford Gibson made IL famous for the
number Of coons they never caught They
we're always coon hunting but never knew
them TO catch a coon. They were always
picking up some tyro and initiating him into
the mysteries OF coon hunting. l have a
sad recollection myself when aceompa.
MED them on one occasion. They sent me
special invitation to follow them through
the laurel thicket and briar patches TO
watch the performances OF a coon dog
which Bonaheld had paid roundly sum of
money for. II was sent TO him from the
State OF Georgia and was guaranteed TO
catch any living or dead coon that crossed
its path Every man. woman and child in
Iunnelton knew Jay Bona6eld's coon dog.
y Iwister. ~ | never followed ''Twister."
but one night, and the next time the pen.
sion examiner came around my health was
Impaired to such a degree that got an in
crease in my pension. | have always felt
grateful to Arnold Jacob Bona6eld Chats
his full name) from that night to the pres.
ent day On my recent visit TO the Coal
Centre inquired Of Jay what the prospect
was for coon hunt, but he sadly shook his
head and informed me that he had TO quit
coon hunting or face the divorce court. He
chose the former. This drew a long sigh
from my heaving bosom, as the pension ex.
aminer is due in Preston county within the
next ten days
But talk abont politIcs The Coal Centre
is the storm centre of politics for Preston
even found the women and children dis.
cussing politics. And what an assortment
OF politics they have up in that town
thought was familiar with the different
brands on the market but | found myself
In dense ignorance. They have Demo
Gratis Republicans. Prohbitonists. Women
Sunragists Socialists and several other in.
congruities. Every store box in the town
Is occupied all day long and half of the
night by men discussing politics am not
slow in twisting politics myself when the
decanter Is passed around frequently. as il
was on this occasion, but keep up with the
How OF argument was simply out of the
question. | discussed Democracy and Re.
publicanism with such men as Squire Ioe
Miller. Jimmy Hunt, Frank Gale. Bill
Cruise, Bill Maloney. DR.. Stalnaker. Sam
Montgomery Jimmy Johnson, Squire Nc.
Ginnis. Oscar linn, DR.. Bone. and a host of
others who have been threshIng out this
kind of grist for the last century. am not
sure that they advanced any new argument
that have not touched elbows with in my
rambling Some Of them laid a little more
emphasis on their argument than ! have
heard In Kingwood, unless Leader Shaw
happened TO get cornered. My old friend
Jimmy Hunt. who persuaded me TO 60 to
California with him during the gold excite.
ment in 1919. when thoroughly in earnest.
| can discount Jud Orr when IL comes TO
Chewing the natural leaf Squire Joe Miller
when aroused. is one OF the most pic
luresque men ! have gazed on. He has an
impeachment in his speech and a perpetual
motion IN his chin whiskers. which inva.
riably catches the crowd. Frank Gale, who
is the typical Rube of Yankeedom, silently
stares in space when each man in the crowd
tries to out.talk the other. Bill Cruise. the
laughing machine. starts an argument and
then lays back and laughs until the buckle
and the button give away under the strain.
II old Deacon Brown will sign my parole
papers ! am thinking seriously Of moving
my headquarters to the Coal Centre until
after the election
When the subject Of Democracy and Re.
pubiicanism was discussed from Maine TO
| California. Joe Silvey and Charley Weaver
invited me to discussion Of Socialism.
readily accepted. as have always consid.
cred myself a social lion. / told them il
would be relief from politics was get
ting tired OF politics at any rate and was
ready to enjoy a social chat.
I'VE understand you are the fellow they
call the Rambler" began Joe Silvey. "and
we have been looking for you for some time
You have been devoting great deal Of
space to the two old corporation ridden
political parties and we want you to say
word for the socialisic party. It is the
only political party to-day that embraces
the brotherhood Of man"
Yes, chimed in Charley Weaver I'VE
can prove by statistics which you cannot
deny. that the laboring man receives but
thirteen cents Of the dollar which he hon.
estly earns by the sweat Of his brow"
Both Of the old parties are owned. body
and soul. by the trusts and corporations. ."
piped Mack Castle. earnestly I'VE. the
people. through the Socisllstc party. are
going to change this"
Gentlemen, ] beg your pardon. said
~ was laboring under the impression that
you gentlemen were the only men In Town
who we're free from The microbes Of poll.
tics thought we were TO indulge In
littIe social chat I did not know you we're
loaded with dynamite. bent on blowing me
np Wtll you excuse me while Zee to the
mountains 70
The crowd noticing my dilemma. fairly
rosred. This was the signal for Toe silyev
90 attack me. which hs did. in seven differ.
emf languages
"CalI che ambulance. said iu faint
tone. j ann gcW0g sick
For Che mex. hour was lcft to- wc.p
alone The SociaIistic leaders. Suvey
Weaver and Castle opened their battery
on me. They gave me no quarter. asked
for none. Tor Z was pas, asking
have bumped up against a good many
political parties FOO my time but the goat
they make you ride to Initiate sou into the
Socialist parry Is tLe toughest and hardest
ram { eyer tried Co straddfe 7 ann not
sore tbat Q suadIlcd .t bat as 10 mean.
dercd around Che ring I made several at
iempis 10 ! failed tbc failure was In my