The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-08
(contInued from Yealeraay.,


Mr.. Lincoln was his party's eandi4
date for speaker In 1888, but was de-
feated. He retained his old place on
the finance committee and. being the
leader of lbs party, submitted a bill
which he intended as an ~expedlent for
paying the interest on the state debt.
IT failed of passage. being considered
a very poor expedlent. though appar-
emily the best that could be offered at
the moment to avoid the unpopular re.
sort to direct taxation.
Temporary eSpedfents were finally
adopted, and the state managedst to get
along without repudiating Its eblIga-
lions, a course which was boldly advo-
Gated by a considerable humber.
Upon one occasion during the session
of 1901 Mr.. Lincoln and two coll
leagues jumped from a window Of the
church In which the legislature was
sitting In order to reduce the attend
ance below a quorum and defeat a pet
measure Of the Democrats. Mr.. Giles
pie. a fellow member, states that "Afr.
Lincoln always regretted that he en-.
tered into that arrangement, as he
deprecated everything that savored Of
the revolutionary"
Mr.. Lincoln was elected in 1910 to
serve. of course. until the next election
In August, 1912, but for reasons Of a
private nature, to be explained here
after, he did not appear during the
issslon OF 1s41-4o.
Lincoln Never Drank.
~ Tn narnfnltnu tbta nLnaAn. 1.tI.-
leave of New Salem, yandaiia and the
legislature, we cannot forbear another
quotation from Mr.. Wilson, Lincoln's
colleague from Sangamon:
"Ini 1888 many OF the Long Mines
were candidates for reelection to the
legislature. A question OF the division
tf the county vas one of the local is
sues. Mr.. Lincoln and myself, among
others, residing in the portion OF the
county sought to be organized into n
new county and opposing ,the division,
1t became necessary that 1 should.
make a special canvass through the
northwest part Of the county, then
known as Sand Ridge. I made the
canvass. Mr.. Lincoln accompanied me,
and, being personally well acquainted
with every one. we called at nearly
every house. At that time 1t was the
universal custom to keep some. whisky
In the house for private use and to
treat friends. The subject was always
mentioned as a matter Of etiquette, but
with the remark to Mr.. Lincoln, You
Eerer drink, but maybe your friend
would like to take a little I never
any Nv Itnantn 1rinfr J. H. ntsa. &nfa
me he never drank; had no desire for
drink or the conpnnlonsliip Of drink
ing men. Candidates never treated
anybody in those times unless they
wanted to do so.
" 'tafr. Lincoln remaincd In New Salem
until the spring OF 1887. when he went
to Springfield and went into the law
office Of John I. Stuart rs a partner in
the practice OF law and boarded with
William Butler.
During his stay in New Salem he
had no property other than what was
necessary to do his business until after
he stopped in Springfield. He was not
ayaricious to accumulate property, nei-
Their was he a spendthrift. He was al
most always during those times hard
up. He never owned land.
"The first trip he made around the
circuit after he commenced the prac-
tice OF law I had u horse, saddle and
bride. and he had none. / let him
have mine. I think he must have been
careless, as the saddle skinned the
horses back.
while he lived In New Salem he
visited me often. He would stay a
day or two at n time. We generally
spent the time Mt the stores In Athens.
He was very fond OF company. Tell
ing or hearing stories told was u source
OF great amusement to him. He was
not In the habit Of reading much-nev-
er read novels. Whiting pine boards
and shingles, talking and laughing.
constituted the entertainment OF the
days and evenings.
I'm a conversation with him about
that time lie tol2tm that. olthcr-h he
appeared to enjoy life rnptnrously. still
he was the victim OF terrible melan-
choly. He sought company and In