West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-02-02
THE RAMBLER
Writes an Interesting Letter From
the Capital City on the
DOlEGS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
He is Having a Royal Timo Attend,
ing the Social Functions and
the Nightly Conferences.

Since l last wrote you we have
been having strenuous times in
Charleston. II reminds me of the
conditions in Preston county. The
political situation ] find is very un-
harmonious. We hold conference
every night, which frequently con.
tinues until the early dawn. For
the last two weeks have not been
able to get away from the conference
until after the rooster crows. This
is the only thing about Charleston
that in anyway reminds me of my
country home. Col. Joe Davis just
told me that he is unable to sleep
after the rooster crows. This will
be good news to his friends in Pres
ton and a guarantee that he is
strictly observing rural life, other
reports to the contrary are absolute
ly false. 1t is the pride of Col.
Joe's life to whisper to his colleag-
ues that he is ruralist when they
invite him to join them in a trip to
the Bowery and the red light district
of the city. As for myself l have
too much curiosity and have joined
the boys on several occasions, and
the sights which have gazed upon
cannot be recorded in the columns
OF The ARGUS at the present day.
When | give up chasing the pie l
may write a book. For the present
| cannot place in the hands of my
political enemies the exhibitions
have Witnessed. They would un-
doubtedly place the facts in the
hands of the spellbinders.
To my friends in Preston | will
say that i am the biggest man Char.
lesion. Gov. Dawson always intro
dnces me as the ''Pieless man from
the Banner Republican county of
West Virginia, whose eloquence
and oratory on the stump during
the late campaign saved my tallowl"
They fall all over one another TO
grasp my hand. Such words from
Gov. Dawson. who is the next big
gest man in Charleston, never fails
to open the doors wide open TO me.
/ enveavor to look reserved and dig.
niied when they begin to shower
boquets upon me, but down deep in
my heart feel as though l would
burst from the greatness which has
been thrust upon me.
have made a careful survey of
the political field and am prepared
to say that there is not a pieman in
West Virginia who will feast upon
State pie after the 4th of March un.
less he dances to the fddling of
Gov. Dawson, who Is wonderful
fiddler, having taken his first lesson
from the lamented Felty Stonebrak
er. Strange as it may appear, how
ever, / have found many who posi-
lively refuse to dance to the Cover.
nor's hddling This causes us TO
hold the nightly conferences in the
hope that we may tune their ears to
the Dawson music which has super
ceded the rag time.
But this IS not the only trouble
we are having. There seems to be
an overflow of liquor and the people
are clamofing and insisting that it
be damed up before il foods the
State. DR.. Price, a member OF the
Legislature from Pocahontas coun.
ty, county that was made famous
by John Smith clipping with Poca-
hontas TO escape the scalping knife,
has intronuced what he calls a dis
pensary bill, whatever that is. to
stop the flow Of high balls and Tom
and Jerrys which the members are
becoming very intimate with. The
high balls and Tom and Jerrys can.
not be handled with impunity. I
have a vague remembrance Of what
occurs after I am introduced 10
them, but the honorable Senators
and delegates tell me il is customary
to cultivate the taste until you are
transformed into Statesman. I
never knew before the ingredients
they used to make Statesmen.
DR.. Price, the father Of the DIS.
/ pensary bill, makes the statement
that the liquor in West Virginia is
/ getting into the hands Of irresponsi.
ble parties who are pouring IL into
the streams and rivers and destroy.
ing the fish, for which the saw mill
men have been indicted and prose.
cuted for lie proposes by his bill
to have the State Government OF
West Virginia TO corner the liquor
market and offer a premium to the
one who draws the little brown jog