The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-09-05


the Democratic caucus of the
Senate, Senator Chiffon had an
important part in framing the
policies of the Democrats which
resulted in the passage through
the Senate Of every tariff reduc'
ton bill passed by the Democrats
in the House. And Senator Wat
son succeeded in passing through
both Senate and House a meas
ure tho passage of which
would have brought unwonted
prosperity to all the coal min
ing regions Of the State. AS
probably the most largely in
terested person in the State in
coal mining, Senator Watson has
held all along that a tariff on coal
is not only not needed for the
rosperity Of West Virginia, but
that free coal from Canada, if it
results in free American coal
for Canada, would greatly benefit
the coal operators and miners of
j the United States, particularly
those IN the southern part of West
Virginia. He persisted in his eff
fort to bring this condition about
till he succeeded in passing thru
both houses of Congress a meas
IRE to admit Canadian coal free
of duty whenever Canada admits
American coal free of duty. The
President vetoed it. Senator
Watson did his part and but for
the Presidents veto would have
largely increased the coal bust
ness Of West Virginia and bene-
fitted every miner and operator
In the State. The Democrats
tried to help these people and
would have done so but for the
veto of Prefident Taft, who had
promised to reduce tariff duties
but failed to keep his promise.
While the Republicans from
West Virginia have steadfs stly
stood for a high tariff on coal as
necessary to the life of the in
dustry, and President Taft has
vetoed the free coal measure,
Senator Watson, as one of the
largest soft coal operators in the
United States, would hardly I'M
dertake to cut his own throat in
a business way by reducing the
tariff on coal unless to do so
would be good thing for the
business. Free coal with Can
ada, which the Republican Presi-
dentvetoed, would have provided
more work and more pay for
every coal miner in the State and
greater prosperity for every coal
operator in West Virginia.
Senator Watson was first of
the West Virginia delegation to
get home after adjournment.
Senator Chiffon quickly followed
him. Then went Congressman
Davis and Brown, Littlcpage
following il a few days and
Hamilton being the last to leave
Washington. He did not leave
till last Friday night, staying 10
finish some public business.
Even after he had gone homo,
Senator Watson's work at Wash
ingto1 is being kept up. His
secretaries, j. W. Weir and j. r.
Buckingham. have gone back to
West Virgi MIA, but his office is
kept open and his clerk, Harry
Tansill, of Fayette county, is at
tending to the business of the
office in the absence Of the Sem
ator and his usual force.
Through the persistence Of
Senator Watson's office, the
Post Office Department has is
sued orders to the inspectors on
the case to expedite as mcuh as
possible the inspection with a
view to establishing a rural mail
route from Fayetteville to Gate
wood, for which there is strong
demand. Should this route be
established, the post Office at
Bragvillc probably would be dis
continued. This is an office
where a great deal Of objection
has been raised to the recent APP
pointment Of a postmaster and
he may be removed from Office
by the abolishing of the Office.