West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-07-15
No Carpetbagger.

""N w '"J w hht pcoplt Vi lTcS-
ton county, il it will not CRATE too harsh
ly on the sensibilities of the Journal, that
we have never held public office, never
was a candidate for one, and IL we keep
our equilibrium never will be. The learned
and distinguished editor of the Journal
has told you that we are "carpetbag-
ger, but we deny the soft Impeachment.
We came TO Preston county TO engage i'm
a legitimate enterprise-not seeking POI
litical office. We are reliably informed
that the only genuine "carpetbaggers" in
West Virginia are holding public offices
by the grace OF the Republican party, and
we have it on splendid authority that
Postmaster Whetsell is not averse to Civ
ing "carpetbagger" public office in
preference To the native born. As men
coming from other states have been taken
up by the Republican party and given the
most lucrative public offices in the state,
IT would seem to us that it would be the
part of wisdom for Bro. Whetsell TO re-
main silent on 'carpetbaggers.
No, good people of Preston county, we
are no "carpetbagger." We have cast
our lot among you for a twofold reason
Being practical printer, which the Jour.
nal man is not, We had an ambition TO
engage in the newspaper business. Hav-
ing read about the wonderful natural re-
sources of the state, and the grand oppor-
tunities for those who were not afraid TO
toll, we concluded to locate in West Vir-
ginia and be one of her people. And for
the information of Bro. Whetsell we want
to say that We are here TO stay, and we
are anxious TO meet every Prestonian and
know them. We hope 10 not only make
THE ARGUS paying investment, but to
80 conduct it that it will merit the good
will of the people. We believe that the
interests of the large majority of the peo-
pie OF Preston and our own are identical.
Hence, our object is to get in close touch
with the people that We may reason to-
gether and exchange views. We feel con.
fident that we will both he benefited by il.
We are not politically hidebound and find
no cause to quarrel with those who differ
with us in our political views. 1t is sim
ply an honest difference of opinions.
Among our stanch friends and patrons
we have many Republicans, and we do
not propose to allow honest political views
to estrange us.
We hope, however, to be able to sub
init few sane and cogent reasons, from
e''ic 10 tfffir-I vVsry sv-trv-'fS.--A....--N--
come the prey of the political vultures.
Ancient and modern history will furnish
the facts. We take it as good philosophy
that change in the complexion of our
public officials is a. necessary as the
change in the seasons of the year. We
Will all agree that the sparkling spring
water from the mountain side cannot be
improved on To quench the thirst. But
suppose that our ideas were so one-sided
and contracted that we would refuse "a
partake of anything but the sparkling
water, how long would we survive?
Now, this is about the condition this
country has gotten into by our partisan
politics. We quarrel over politics aud
vote for the party instead of the man and
by doing so we are swallowed up by the
political sharks-the chronic ofiice-hoId-
ers. We have debated this question in
our own mind for years and have arrived
at the conclusion that the best thing for
the American people to do is to change
their public officials every four years. II
appears to us to be more in accordance
with the spirit of republic form of gov
eminent. AS it is today our public Off
Gals want life tenure of office. II we
are to have any reformation in public af-
fairs frequent change must be made in
the personnel of our public servants. Ii
viii hardly be denied that a set of men
who hold public office for a series of wears
become imbued with the idea that they
own the people. And the way things
have been going for the past few years it
Is adebatable question whether they do not.
This political reformation must start
with the plain people themselves; with the
class who pay the taxes in support of the
county, state, and nation. Political rings
and machines, whether they have been
organized by Republicans or Democrats
have but one object in view, and that OBJ
lect Is to perpetuate certain class of men
in public Office. We are just as strenu-
ously opposed to a Democratic ring and
machine as we are to the ones organized
by gentlemen of a different political faith
and will fight them as stubbornly. They
should not be tolerated boy the people, and
they will not be when the people oan di-
vorce themselves from their partisan poll
tics and exercise little common sense.
This is all The ARGUS has asked the good
people Of Preston county to do. It is
honestly endeayoring to better the condi-
ton OF the people and is asking for moth
ing other than that which a public-spirited
newspaper is entitled 10.
|
The editor Of THg ARGUS has never held
public office, has never been an appli.
cant for one and rezar ovroctg a. -