The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-11
SEAMAN Man
OF The HOUR
RUGGED PERSONALITY OF THE
SPEAKER ATTRACTIVE TO
THE PEOPLE.

- ."H.aa| HIN.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, Jan. IL
The man OF the hour here is Hon.
James Seaman of Jackson county, who
was elected speaker of the house with.
out a contest. Speaker Seaman, a
man of Abraham Lincoln's appear.
ance, with a personality of the great
est attfactiveness. went into the race.
for the position he now occupies with
out making a pledge to anyone. and
as a result when the selection was
completed by the election, he a en-.
urely unhampered and will portion out
the plums from the house In a man.
ner peculiar to himself, and there. is,
every evidence that HIS way OF hand.
ling the business will be disappointing
to a great many who are here looking
for positions. but will he a matter of
congratulation to the State, as the re.
suit will be that the expenses, Of the
house for the session will be cut away
below where they have ever been at
other sessions.
He has given out the information
that 1t Is his inteatioa t9 cut or a bot
of clerks and others no have been
nothing else but barnacles elinging to
the ship Of state and drawing out the
life by receiving a salary for which
they have done nothing The number
Of clerks and others in the house this
year, according to the programme
which has been mapped out will be a
great deal less than 1t has ever been.
There are many obscure committees
which have had clerks in the past. the
committees meeting perhaps once dur
Ing the session and there are others
which have never met, yet the clerks
have received their $40 per LAY for do.
ing nothing. This needless expense 10
to be cut off this year and committees
which have no need OF. a clerk will not
get them.
There Is something especially at
tractive about the speaker of the
house, despite the fact that as he says,
there is little danger of taking Il
prize at a beauty show" Since he
came to Charleston he has gathered
about him n large coterie of friends
and acquaintance, who are willing to
do anything for him. not because they
expect n reward of any kind, but
through his strong personality he has
made friends with every man, woman
and child in the State capital and with
many others with whom he has come
In contact. There Is something about
Lin which attracts and holds those
with whom he comes in contact, and
once he makes your acquaintance, he
not only always knows the persons eA-
cry time he meets them. but he also
remembers the name of the person ey-
cry time he meets them. and In speak
ling calls them by their name.
This is a compliment which every
one appreciates. 1t is said that in his
home, county Of jackson. there is not
n man, m or child who does not
know Uncle Jim" Seaman.
In handling the ptnms to be given
oat by the speaker OF the house, It is
the !ptention of Mr.. Seaman to distr:-
bate them rs equally throughout the
State as it is possible for him to do.
He will give Ohio county her share:
Harrison county will get what Is com.
ing to 1t, also Jackson county aud
Kanawha, although it is not likely that
either OF the latter will fare very well.
as II IS understood he believes that
with Jackson getting the speakership
aid kanawha the clerk, they ought
not to expect a great deal more. The
other counties Of the state will be talk
en- care of as they deserve, and in the
end there will be no possibility Of com
plant unless 1t should be from a couR-
ty which desires to hog all the good
things and not allow the other a looi5
in.
That he will make a good presiding
officer Is a foregone conclusion. IIe
has the ability. He is a lawyer OF
considerable ability and has been a
member Of the house long enough to
know just what shall be done. He has
promised, and viii give everybody the
best of consideration and 1t is beyond
the question of a doubt hat he will
be the most popular man who has
yer held the position of speaker Of
the house. and 1t is also safe to say
that there will be more genuine bust
ness done In the house under his term
as presiding officer than has ever been
known for a great many years.
SCIENCE PREVENTS Badness.