West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-02-04
BROTHER gardner.
He Addresses the Lime-KIln Club on Old
and New Issues and Starts
Reform.

''De odder night" began Brother
Gardner, as he arose after the
routine proceedings of the Lime
Kiln club had been concluded, ode
odder night, when Pickles Smith
cum ober to my cabin to borry a
dollar, an had few words to say
to him on extravaganza, his excuse
was dat we had new issues befo' US.
81 has bin hearin' bout new is
sues fur de last year. When
warned Samuel Shin agin sitiin' up
nights to learn big words to git off
at the woodward next day he plead
ed new issues.
"When / advised Waydown
Bebee to keep to work at dollar a
day an let ward caucuses run deir-
selves, he flung new issues at me till
! had to run away.
"When l gently limited to Abso-
lutte White dat it didn't make q
cents with of difference to him who
was 'lceted alderman Of his ward,
an his wife was gwine round bar.
fut an his chili'n wanted close, he
brung up new issues as an excuse.
/ ''When / found Giveadam Jones
lettip' his rent git three months be-
hind while he stood on de co'ner an
talked free trade; he raised dc ques-
ton of new issues an was so sassy
bout it dat had 10 take him by
the collar an whop his heels agin
de lamp-post.
cit wasn't two weeks ago dat
went ober TO Samuel Sims house
to find his chill'en cryin' wild hunger
an his ole woman weepin' wild
grief, while he and Kurnel Cabiff
was off somewhat huntin' fur new
issues.
ooh, yes, I'ze hearin' bout new
ISSUES ftra long time past, an de
time has now arrove when propose
to take hand in / agree wild
desc n=w-issue men dat old issue
am dead, but l kin remember all
bout 'em.
81 kin remember when no man
libin' dared charge a political can
dydate wid burglary, arson an
highway robbery.
81 kin remember when de man
who jumped up an wanted nomi-
ton kase he had money to push a
campaign took tumble as soon as
he began to boiler.
81 kin rer.ember when dar was
no SIGH word as "divy" among
Office holders. If city ordered a
sewer or sidewalk dar was no ris-
in to demand 40 per cent from de
contractor.
"Once upon a time in dis kcntry
we had men who couldn't be bought
an sold. Dey held Office year arter
year, an We had no scandals. In
stead Of bein' hunted ober de land
as embezzlers, defauIters an thieves
dey stayed at home an died in DER
beds an was mourned as honest
men.
'1f we had had SIGH political
scandals fo'ty years ago as have
filled de papers fur de last three
years, an of which nobody seems
to take any particular notice. de
public would have got up on DER
hind legs an busted out into reyo-
luton.
'1n de olden time de question
asked bout candydate was: Am
he ht1' In desc days dc ques-
tion am Has he got de cash. We
amt lockin' fur fitness. De ques-
ton Of integrity don't cum up tall.
'T'ze only pore cull'd man, who
put in his first years as salve on a
plantshun, an who nebber had
much to lib fur, but dar am one
thing am proud Of. No man cher
called me a thief. All around me,
since de new issues showed up,
have found white men an Office
holders who didn't care what name
de people an de papers called 'em
50 long as dey got De cash.
eyes, de old issues have vanish.
"a en- We have got new issues IN
der place. It's what dey call pro-
gression In de old days an Office
holder VINO stole 500 lost his good
name an went to prison. Under
dis new deal be steals $40, 600 an
is looked upon as a good candidate
fur a higher Office.
81 don't know wha, de people Of
America am gwine 10 do bout It,
but I am gwine speak a few words
for myself We am gwine back 10
old ideas in dis yere Kiln
club, an we will start in dis VERY
night Ize got deep suspicion
dat Jimwood johnson am cumin' to
me arter the meedn' is ober 70 Iii