West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-11-25
NATURAL GAS
Commodity Should Be Prohibited from
Leaving State.
CHEAP FUEL BRINGS FACTORIES
Suggestions May Set Brslny Men TO
Thinking OF the Future-Our Own
People Should Benefit.
HEAP FUEL BRINGS FACTORIES

4 viz bththA VI H. why cAihutt oul
wealth to build up Baltimore, Pittsburg
and CINCINNATI II attention be sufIi
ciently arrested such action will be taken
as will enable our own people 10 reap thi:
crop. This proposition is not receiving
the attention it deserves because the aver
age business man regards it as a scheme
10 strengthen the Elkins- Dawson machine.
Honest effort in this behalf would be
made If we had a competent state admin
istration thinking only about the COM
mon interest and not thinking about its
gang retaining power for another four
years TO disburse a revenue from taxation
which already exceeds two millions and
IS increasing faster than population.
1t seems that about seven men have
optioned gas territory and expect fortunes
by selling gas stock. Without vouching
for its accuracy an illustration is given.
Mr.. Blank paid 5000 for the gas right
to 5000 acres and proposes to issue half
n million of preferred and million of
common stock. The preferred stock will
pipe to Cincinnati, leaving the common
as profit" This makes one millionaire.
but how does it benefit the body of the
West Virginia people? A palace sur
rounded by huts is the opposite of the So
cial conditions franklin and jefferson
had in view.
If we had in the public service few
master minds concentrated on the COM
mon veal, a way would be found to keep
gas within this state for the benefit Of the
people living in it.
Lawyers with creative minds, iron con-
stitutions, and prodigious industry, but
strangers to self-respect, obtain fortunes
by inventing methods whereby the multi
millionaire class absorb 60 per cent of the
three billions of increase annually in ma
tional wealth, and such lawyers are today
suggesting obstacles to any proposition
securing West Virginia gas TO West Vir-
ginia people. Hence, the problem is to
enlist for the public some of the sort of
talent that is now in the exclusive employ
OF the Morgan Rockefeller class. But,
when looking for this talent, steer clear
of lawyers who have already sold their
brains, and their souls, to so-called public
service corporations, because observation
teaches that, after serving an apprentice
ship to a railroad or trust, a LAWYER is
seldom, if ever, in sympathy with any pro-
posal having for its object only the COM
mon interest. Not only so, but observa-
ton also teaches that no multimillionaire,
or his parasites, can tolerate or compre-
bend an educated, brainy, fearless man.
who is industrious and thinking in be-
half OF the public interest as distinguished
from private interest. And vet these
millionaires are constantly confronted by
men like Bryan, Roosevelt, and La Fol-
lette; men whose intellectual makeup is
such that no earthly reward would tempt
them to ferret out pretext whereby
courts may sanctiiy an illegal scheme to
plumber the very people among whom
they are living.
The multimillionaire class often halts
because unable to find an honest partner
for swindle. But faithful public service
has fascination that entices heightened
men of real ability, and it cannot be
doubted that we'll directed effort by bust
ness organizations, like boards of trade.
would concentrate some of our best talent
Tor movement to prevent gas from leav-
ing the state 10 build up outside commu-
mites. The mere announcement that the
honest part Of the intelligent class was
organizing in this behalf would upset the
scheme to distract attention from the real
issue by talking about wasting gas and in
favor of a small tax, whether used at
home or sold abroad.
Doubtless certain politicians of unsavorv
repute, periodically paraded in party
organs as eminent lawyers, and laughed
at by real lawyers, will prattle about the
constitution, but students Of the present
political situation know that the court in
Washington will hesitate long time.
when this American people are in their
present temper before il ventures 20 full
inmate legislation preventing state from
securing to her own people her own re-
sources.
Nothing is invented and perfected at
the same time, but possibly some random
suggestions may set 10 thinking some
brainy business men with sufficient in.
formation to foresee, and vision 10 az.
preciate, The conditions which will exist
ten years hence An observant. long.
headed business man Of 90 can contrast
conditions which will exist ten wears
hence, If this gas il utilized within the
state, with the conditions which are i'm.
evitable If it is expected 10 build no cities
outside Of the state.
One.-It jig eminenuy proper that the
boundary line between West virgpia
Pennsylvania, and Maryland, should he
marked with certainty. Hence. bet the
state acquire title 10 a strip Of land one
foot wide along her boundary. It win
puzzle corporation lawyers 30 pipe
through, or pipe over, this strip without
direct and explicit legislative permission.
Two Enact that rivers bounding the
state shall BE- kept clear Of appliance for
transporting gss.
Three DO not tax gas used in the
state Cheap fuel brings factories and
keeps our poor warm. But, if gas leave
Tie state, tax u 40 the cost n making
ga from coal
-Four Appoint q commission 10 man.
age this matter composed Of one ecberr
Republican who was always outspoken
against EIkins for the senate. and sor,a
clean Democrat in the lower part Of the
state who wac outspoken for Bennett Elk