West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-03-23
THE RAMBLER
Thinks Country People Have Been too
Severe on the Necessity GrabberS
ATTENDS THE DINNER GIVEN
IN HONOR OF GOVERNOR WHITE.
The Past Week Has Been a Glorious
One for Him-The Inauguration Of
Governor Dawson and the II
augural Ball a Swell Affair.

This has been a glorious week for
us in Charleston. There is so much
10 write about that would interest
the people back in Preston tast /
scarcely know where to begin. The
adjournment of the Legislature will
reduce the revenue of the Bowery
and the red light district, for the
members were among the best pat
rons of these pleasure resorts. The
night before the members left they
called on all the fun-makers and en-
tertainers in the Bowery and red
light district and bid them a fond
adeu. Many Of the members be-
came so hyslerical over their de-
parture that we had TO cali few
hacks TO convey them 20 The depot
and place them in the Pullman cars.
1t was quite heart rending to know
that they had to leave the pleasures
of this city and return TO the farm.
1t is too humiliatng for statesman
to have TO 60 back to farming.
Oratory will cut no figure in the
briar patch. The grubbing hoe and
muscle will be needed there.
We people down here ;hiuk you
cDuatry people are too severe in
your censure of the legislators for
voting few extra dimes for to pay
their car fare You must not forget
that many of the members had spent
their last penny and the grating
season had expired by law, and be-
'ing among strangers their personal
checks had no more value in the
rarket than the Virginia bonds.
notice that many Of the newspapers
speak about /; as The "salary grab. Z"
This is very unkind. Many OF the
members tol me il was necessity
grab" and wiser man than my self
has said that "necessity knows no
law Many of the members were
impressed with the idea that it would
BE- their last grab. The people are
sometimes very ungreatful to the
members of the Legislature. If the
people only knew the many solitary
and weary hours the legislators have
spent studying the welfare OF the
/. people, devising means and plans
whereby the people might live in
contentment and happiness and free
their minds from tax laws, they
would not upbraid the Legislators for
taking a few chances in the grab
bag. 1t comes OF a christian spirit.
In my young days when / attended
church festivals have taken several
chances in the grab bag to swell the
pastors salary or help blild another
church around the corner. So
would say to the people back in
Preston, exercise little of the
christian spirit towards the legisla
tors, they were many miles from
home and they sorely needed that
little grab to release their trunk or
valise whicS was being held by an
unsympalheuc hotel man as a host
age. To return without their grips
would be sure to create a village
scandal. Legislators when placed
in such positions are apt 20 violate
the moral laws. But the present
Legislature was not engaged in pass
ing moral laws They were too
busy lodging the lobbyists and
passing laws TO rednce taxation.
One Of the swell affairs was the
dinner given IN honor of Gov. A..
b. White by his staff Col Clarke
Hamilton, Jr, was The prime mover
in IL. It was gorgeous affair.
Everything that money could pur
chase and ar, could produce was
there in abundance AN The staff
officers in their gold lace uniforms
we're there. Il was a great sight 10
witness ] was there by special in-
vitation. responded 20 the toast
Of ''Buckwhcat, and What 10 Pro-
duces in Preston, and ! made The
hit Of The evening. They fairly
yelled for me 20 go ON when j said
IN burst Of eloquencc, "Buckwheat
has produced so many Republicans
in Preston that standing room is %,
premium ON her fertile SOIL We
propose 20 keep ON producing them
until Gov Dawson cries out, Hold.
enough T." said many other things
which reflected credit upon he
buckwheat. The feast was great,
bot really did MOI enjoy it when j
thought Of my old comrades back
in Preston dining ON corn dodgci
and buttermilk and struggling with