West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-01-01
ent coccourt


~ tNNVtlttt Dht ihlrtiAs NlO lbc DtIIi
paying for forty odd years md
never held a public office. asked me why
| did not recognize my old friend,
"Ciover Hay" After refreshing my
memory OF the jolts which "Clover Hay
gave US during our little controversy over
the county seat removal, lie loomed up
b fore mt in all his former prestine glory
when he was the lord and master of the
political buck wheat territory which we
are permitted to inhabit. We are living
in such a rapid age and events are trans.
piring so quickly that l had really failed
20 recognize my old friend. knew he
dwelt in the town where the audit was
made and where a portion OF the popula-
ton was not favorable to auditing, and
knew him to be OF IA sympathetic
nature that his tears Of sorrow would not
be denied those who might be in distress.
l am aware that distress always starts
I ne eye water flowing from my optics
But when duty calls me 1 respond, tears
or no tears, And il it became necessary
for me to insert the knife 10 remove a
portion of the hide OF the former boss
and the editor OF the Republican it would
be inserted as humanity as possible that
the operation might be az painless as the
political crime warrants.
Since the death OF the county ring the
people have been happy and contented.
The men whom we have peer e~lecting as
members of our county court have been
free from boss and ring domination and
have been conducting the affairs OF the
county in a business like manner This
Is due To the fact that the court is com
posed OF both Democrats and Republicans.
They do not owe their election TO any
political party or any clique or ring.
They their election to the people
and the record shows that they have been
servingt the people honestly and faithfully.
And Glover Hay and the editor of the
Republican should remember the in
junction, Thou shalt not bear false
witness against thy neighbor," even
though that neighbor may be laboring
~zealously to convince you that the political
ring which you once managed with such
ear like defiance Of public opinion can
not come back" am philosopher (I
have been reading Bro. Reeds moral,
philosophic and ethical skylights) enough
TO admit that ii is human nature for that
desire and longing TO finger in thy hearts
that the county ring be restored to power
and the people be once more made to
pay the freight.
want to make it clear to my brethren
that ] have no personal or political
motive to crafty in defending the county
court. There is not a member OF the
court that has ever lone me a favor, and
and at this moment Icannot conceive OF
anything happening that would place me
under obligations to any member OF the
conrt. MY defence Of the court is due to
the fact that as a taxpayer / should render
the court that credit which rightly belongs
to 1t for the economical manner in which
handled the finances of this county
I believe in rendering unto Caesar tn
things that are Caesars, and when / sc
the court criticised for no other purpos
than to serve partisan politics and Great
a sentiment that might restore a p~olitica
ring to power in this county, / deem i
tie duty OF every taxpayer OF this COUNT
who is not blinded with political prejudic
to stand by and defend the court.
, Like the average creature of humanit
. / have never derived one penny fron
/, politics. And | am not going to profes
to be a ~star-spangled patriot who i
, bursting his suspenders for che ''dea
people" No, that profession belongs l.
the corrupt politicians and partisan an,
%hidebound newspaper editors. But | will
: aver tl,is, however, hat inasmueh as
am one OF the common herd Ca taxpayer
that ] am concerned about my tax receipt
Here is where / climb aboard the eco
nomical band wagon and begin TO foot
II 1t Is proven to me that the public OIL
Gals are working for the benefit of tn
, taxpayers ! will guarantee you that m
lung power is at their disposal, for / an
just old fashioned enough to believe the,
are working formy benefit as a taxpayer
On the other hand il the tax receip
shows that am not getting value receive,
] am willing TO admit that / am selfish
aud when they begin to yank pennies
nickles, dimes and dollars out OF n,
jeans without value received l am goinI
TO act my vocal organs in operation tina
the other taxpayers may hear me anC
join me. Let us be fair and just in thi
matter. Partisan politics has ruled thi
glorious county Of ours too long. ] an
glad TO bear testimony to the fact tina
there is not a county in the state tina
has shown as much independence in To,
way OF voting as our own good old count,
Of Preston. And every day they are
growing more broadminded Our public
schools are excelled by none. Our teacher.
second to none. Ny. IL We old codgers
could have gotten a little Of this kind oI
schooling ONE City years ago. We
would not have chung 10 partisan polite.
a. long az we did. But the children.
which we are educating, are kindly lead
ing us on T. higher and better citizenship.
Before I close ] want 10 add that Port.
land district never had a better county
commissioner than Calvin DeBerry. And
1 want to emphasize it that Preston never
produced a more honorable and upright
citizen than Calvin DeBerry. We grew
from boyhOOd 10 manhood together and
never heard Of Cal DoHeryv doi,g az.