The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-06-03
ROOSB VETS IDEAS
SUIT CONGRE SSMEN

dock-and that is as good proof as
anybody could ask, for the Victor
iania" is some little Progressive per-
son it must be admitted. Take up
the Record and scan its breezy, sclh-
tillating pages for the speeches of
Sutherland, Avs and Moss, and 1t
will be found from such enlightening
and entertaining perusal that the
trend of their ideas are in tune with
the march of these progressive times.
Therefore, 1t is pretty certain to
follow that these three representa-
tives will got the endorsement of the
third party in their districts as they
did two years ago. They were pro-
gressive enough to get it then, and
their course in Congress has shown
that they are just as progressive
now, II not more so. If 1t is sought
ito embarrass their candidates. with a
third candidate, 1t will he a local
movement, in view of Roosevelt's at
titude. Doubtless 1t will receive all
the encouragement and substantial
assistance that the Democratic party
in West Virginia through its leaders
could give 1t. But that is not ex-
pected to prove strong enough to
overcome the expected order from
Progressive headquarters that Suth-
erland Avis and Moss are entirely
satisfactory to the colonel and his
party and should be endorsed. AS a
matter of fact the entire Republican
situation in West Virginia is salts
factory to the colonel. He has been
told and he SO understands it, that
the party organization there is in the
hands of his supporters, and, with
1916 looming up in the offing, 1t is
Just as well not to disturb things
there.
That is how the West Virginia sit
uation is viewed from here by the
society Of native sons in the light of
the colonel's announced policy. They
figure prospects are bright and cheer
full, and that solid Republican con
gresslonal delegation, in the light OF
all the circumstances is not expecting
too much. With first rate nominees
in the First, Second and Fifth dis
trscts they see no reason why this
cannot be realized. Fusion" in
West Virginia reads victory" ito
them.
He did not win his fight to have
section three of the Clayton anti
trust bill altered so as to exclude BIZ
luminous and semi-bituminous Goals.
but Representative Avis did win a
higher place in the estimation Of the
members Of the House. 1t was his
real opportunity, for which every
congressman, If he be wise, patiently
waits. It found the Third district
man willing and ready and able to
meet it and turn 1t to his own credit.
And that was the result of what he
did His three days fight on that
clause may have been wasted in
other respects, but It wasn't so far as
given standing in the House which
ne had not attained in his other
speeches and debates. Here was a
subject that the House wanted to
know all about. 1t showed that when
/ it gave the closest attention, ana
Piled the speaker With all sorts OF
questions. Avis was equal to the
situation. He knows the coal in
6ustry from mine to market, and he
impressed the members OF the House
with that fact before he had pro-
ceeded very far IN mis- first speech.
Not only that, but he showed that he
I was there" when IT came to handling
I the legal side OF the question as II
applied to West Yirginia's greatest
Industry. Here was an important
Section OF the bill, and It was plain
to be seen that the members OF the
House so regarded it. They wanted
the Information they could get on it,
and Avis, representing the greatest
bituminous coal region Of any mem
Der, soon made 1t evident to them
that he was the man who c.Eld give
1t to them. So they piled him with
questions. The fact is that the big
gest part of his first days speech
was made up OF examination and
cross-examination. SO interested
was his hearers, and so satisfied with
the information they were getting,
that the time allotted him was sew
eral times extended by general con
sent. 1t Is only infrequently that
the House evidences such interest,
but when It does on occasion, and
finds man who Can inform them on
a subject that most of then, confess
to know little about, it goes at the
investigation with the attentive
eagerness of a boy taking apart the
mechanism OF his Ingersol or Water
bury watch. And that YVES the way
it was In this case. The majority OF
the members showed very plainly
that they did Not know much about
coal. they did not come from coal
producing states, but they were not
only willing but anxious 10 hear ali
about it from some member who did
know. That proved to be Samuel
Brashear Avis. As a result Samuel
Brashear Avis wears pair OF SPURS
that he never wore before, and he
wears them modestly as becomes the
gentleman he Is. But, nevertheless.
he wears 'em, and he has been show
cred with congratulations because of
It. <tA @ti3i' 9'''s'
And now to close with the moral
(see Ingalls, sonnet on '.opportu-
.nity.") Or il you prefer, President
Wilson's academic description of the
present Democratic hard times en-
titled HPhygocho cRfca1s'' II