West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-02-08
Is PiniDs 10 Return 10 His Old HanntS
( and Minsle With bis old
Associates.
A LETTER FROM AN OLD COMRADE
Ia Kingw,od Tells Him Of the Won
derful Growth Of Our Town Since
he left-He Finds Promoter
Gale a Source Of Great
Comfort to Him.

1t seems like almost century
since ileft the good old sleepy town
of Kingwood where l was lulled 10
slumber by the katydid, the cricket
aud the bullfrog and came to this
city of gaieiy. film flaming. intrigue
and practical politics. What a
change has come over me. | Jeff
Kingwood simply hearted ruralis,
without any knowledge of the wick
edness of the outside world. Today
am the Temporary Governor. the
owner of a political Machine and
the sole dispenser of the West Vir.
ginia pies and battling with the In
surgents to keep them from com
mittiDg high crime and misdemean.
ors for which l would be compelled
to place them behind the prison
bars. The Bowery and the red light
districts vie with each other in doing
me honor. The society folks recog-
nize me as their equal, because am
clothed with the pardoning power.
am kind OF Town Topics
among the society people who have
their fads and fancies, which all
well regulated society people have.
am second Moses TO the colored
brethren. When pie campaign is
in full blast / lead the colored breth-
ren out of the alleys and point out
to them the booths where they can
deposit their meal tickets and draw
the largest interest without violating
the statuary law of percentage or
preventing them from shouting at
the mid-winter revival meetings.
Since assuming the role of the ward
politician / have to put into execu-
tion much legerdemain to get results
and keep the Machine running. If
/ did not | would have to return to
Preston and go to pee,ing tanbaIk
and sowing buckwheat, for which a
resident in this climate has totally
untitled me.
From the numerous letters which
am receiving from my friends in
Kingwood / infer that would
scarcely recognize the town of tran
guilty and repose. Myl how it
must have grown. Here is letter
from dear friend who enjoys quie
tude and glass of hard cider in
season. He has never experienced
the hilarity of high ball or the
dazzling beauty of an artistic ballet
dancer. Here is what he writes me
which was an eyeopener to me:
"FeelIng that old friendship has
not been entirely severed by your
elevation in the world of politics
and society l make bold to write
you. l am one of the number who
feels proud of your success. From
what the newspapers say you are the
biggest man in the State. And this
is such a short space of time. Be-
fore you left Kingwood you were a
meek and humble follower Of the
Ring who never failed to vote the
ticket staight from President to Con-
stable. I often laugh when / think
how you used to jump on Leader
Shaw when the Leader would buck
against the Ring and claim that he
had right to vote according 70 the
dictates of his own conscience. You
will recollect that you used to tell
the Leader that the Ring was all the
conscience good party man need.
ed. l can still hear you saying to
the Leader: you cannot be Re
publican unless you are loyal to the
Ring That rejoinder would always
turn the Leaders whiskers in the
opposite direction from whence the
wind was blowing. As the argument
grew more animated the crowd in
creased in size, just as our farms
have under the Dawson tax laws.
"Kingwood has grown so wonder
fully since you left. We have rail
roads and Jug trains coming in from
all four corners of the globe, which
causes intense excitement among
the native born who were always ac.
customed to the tolling Of the church
bell calling for them to assemble for
divine service.
"We are actually putting on met
ropolital airs. l; is nothing uncom
70 see the automobiles flying through
the streets and the sons Of Ham and
the sons Of other foreign nobility
calling for the ambulance after the
smoke clears away.
Yesterday we held our munici.
pal election to elect a Mayor and
five aldermen. 1t was regular
Tammany tiger fight from start to
finish, Chief Jim Lenhart was the
standard bearer Of those who be
lieved in Ring ownership of pies
Col. Charley Wolfe was the hero
whom the boys clustered around
and fought under the banner Of In