davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
HERE is The RECORD.

The measure providing a production
tax on coal, oil and gas came up on
a motion Of Senator Strother to strike
out the enacting clause, or, In other
words, to kill the bill, and the motion
prevailed by the following vote:
Ayes-Beckwith, Billings, Coalter,
Fox, HATFIELD. Hawley, Hogg,
Kump, LOWE, Marshall, Morton, Nc,
Cuskey, Parrish. Rosenbloom, Strother
and Talbott-16.
Nayes--Blessing, Carter, Godbey,
Gcolykoontz. Gray, Gregory, Kelm,
Miller, McAboy. McClunG. McCrum,
Steod, White and England-14.
Perhaps our senator's took the same
view OF this tax as Delegate Aigin, OF
this county, who in explaining his
vote on the measure in the house said !:
"It 1t was not for the coal, oil and gas
interests he would not have any Job,
to which delegate Talbot (Democrat)
Of Webster, replied: II do not owe
my job in this house or at home to
coal, oil and gas interests.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
VAIN HOPES.

The liquor interests, which kept a
big lobby at Charleston to help, block
the passage OF revenue measure is
very we'll satisfied with their accom-
pllshments, although they would have
been much better pleased had they
been able to force a direct state tax
upon the people. Petitions have al
ready been put into circulation at
Wheeling asking for another vote on
the prohibition amendment. the petit
tons stating that this Is the way to
solve the revenue problem. Hope Is
also entertained, It Is reported, that
the governor will include this in any
call he may make for a special ses-
sion Of the legislature. Their hopes In
this respect are in vain.f In the first
place the governor Is not likely to
call another special session and IL
he does he will not include any such
program in his call and has so stated.
The money spent for liquor in this
state in one month under license
would more than Offset the loss OF
revenue for the entire year. The peo-
pie would pay II many fold indirectly
for drink. The prohibition amend.
nfent adopted by this state has not
only destroyed the liquor traffic in
West Virginia but has crippled 1t In
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16

CHER these Inducements TO nanufact-
urers and prospective citizens. Ciarks-
burg Will continue TO grow, while this
city Tags behind. They had this con-
ditIon Of Huntington and the Chamber
of Commerce Of that city. always alive
10 the city advancement. and im6ued
with that civic pride which makes
cities grow, was instrumental In or:
ganizing an ndepende nt gas company
Tor Huntingtoa! Huntington was IN
the grasp OF the Standard OIL
monopoly. but the Huntington citizens
went to Lincoln county, some thirty
or forty miles away, much further
than Fairmont, which Is in the midst
OF the oil and gas belt. would have
to go, and piped the gas in. The re.
suit was fifteen cent gas for domestic
consumption and Ave cent gas for
factories. The gas trust. was forced
TO its knees and begged to be given
some OF the city's business at the
lower rate. The independent gas
company is making for its stockhold.
ers a handsome profit on the invest.
ment and building Huntington up so
rapidly that 1t is now the first city Of
the state in population.
Charleston, which was being sup.
piled by the same gas monopoly, with
the same gas, that was, after the ad.
vent. Of the Independent company
being sold for fifteen cents IN Hunt.
ington, asked the same rate for
Charleston, and they got It.
The West Virginia believes that 1t
can point the way for a lower gas
rate for this city, yet it believes there
are three ways by which this import.
ant question can be solved in the
interest Of the whole people of the
city. Is 1t worth while to save about
half the gas bills to every citizen OF
the city? Is It worth while to have a
gas rate that will bring manufacturers
among US? We believe that the
100000 per yeat profit that is being
paid the gas company here per year
can be saved to the people, but would
1t be considered that 1t would hurt
business to take this matter up In a
way that something can be accom-.
plished. Would business be hurt to
the extent OF $500, 900 II this was done ?
If so, whose business?
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
BLUE BELLS OF SCOTLAND.

Oh! where. tell me, where is your
Highland laddie gone?
Oh! where. tell me, where Is your
Highland 1addie gone?
He's gone with streaming banners
where noble deeds are done,
And my sad heart will tremble till he
come safely home.
Oh! where, tell me, where did youl
Highland laddie stay?
Oh! where. tell me, where did youl
Highland laddie stay?
He dwolt beneath the holly trees, BIO
side the rapid spey,
And many a blessing follow'd him the
day he went away.
Oh! what, tell me, what does your
Highland laddie wear?
Oh! what. tell me, what does your
Highland laddie wear?
A bonnet with lofty plume, the gal
liant badge of war,
And plaid across the manly breas
that yet shall wear the star.
Suppose, ah. suppose that some cruel
cruel wound
Should pierce your Highland laddie
and all your hopes confound?
The pipe would play cheering march
and banners round him fly,
The spirit Of Highland chief would
tighten in his eye.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
State Editors,
ALL's WELL-MAY,lR.E.

Well, as far as, The Independent
can determine, the Legislature has
had some tsorms, some lightning
flashes, some comets, has passed some
mighty good laws and killed a lot OF
freaks.
The Republican party, has kept the
Ship Of State sailing the progressive
seas and not anchored in! a lazy haven
or driven upon the rocks. President
E. T. England's Steam Roller singo like
June bug. The Charleston Mail yet
has q bellyaehe. There is no bad boy
standing on the burning deck and eat.
peanuts by the peck. P. w. Morris
Is tickling everybody under the chin.
Sister Liyie Nye Simpson Poffenbar.
ger has one foot on the bunghole. jim
Strother Is getting his moneys worth.
There are no more charters to pass.
Bill MacCorkle invaded Senator Greg.
ory's mug with his fists. Senator
Gregory slashed open the thumb Of
Sheriff Burlington Of Cabell county
with his Barlow knife. In the fight,
the ex-governor lost a pint Of booze.
wasted it.-Pocahontas Independent.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
HOW THE LoeeY WORKS.

The Standard OIL Trust was able,
with its lobby, to kill the tax on gas.
as well as the bill to make pipe line
companies in this state common car.
rters. Do the people see the advan-
tage Of making these lines common
carriers? II that was done any man
could dig his own gas well and sell
his gas in the market and make COM
petition for the gas monopolies in the
sale OF gas. This would, Of course,
bring gas down to the consumer. With
the advent OF the Standard millions
into the state along other lines ave
will In the future experience the sin.
lister influence Of the LOBBY in other
directions also. 1t is fresh in the
memory of the people how the Stand
ard Oil company dealt with Foraker
tRepublican), OF Ohio, Baily Demo
craft, OF Texas, and Sibley Of Pennsyl-
vania. Hearsts magazine published
facsimiles OF the checks, some OF
them for as large sums as $4,000
that the oil trust paid these repre-.
sentatives Of the people. The oil
trust knows no politics. In Repub.
lican states 1t is usual Republican and
in Democratic states It is usual Demo.
cratic. 1t Is like the whiskey trust In
this respect. It always works along
the lines OF least resistance. In West
Virginia the Standard influences
will worlg for Republican legislators
and senators In Republican districts
and vice versa in Democratic counties.
The only place the people can beat
is at the primaries. !. Still we find
some who think we are being greatly
benefited when we encourage In
fluences of this kind to come into the
state to corrupt the legislature adm
own the government Of the mountain.
GERS, and the courts where justice
Is expected to be dispensed.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
IWo RATE DECISIONS.

The United States Supreme Court
on Monday handed down two rate de.
cisions, each OF which nulifies q state
law pertaining in each instance to a
railroad engaged in interstate com.
merce Each Of these decisions Is OF
general interest, as the situation with
which they deal with are not pecnli.
Or but may be parallel IN come tion
With other roads trayersing states that
have enacted laws affecting rates or
otherwise attempting to impose regu.
ladons upon the railroads! The deei.
dons VIII relieve to an extent the EN-.
barrassmert under which the ran.
roads have been placed from operat.
Ing Under a complicated regulatiye
,systen-the federal act in consunc.
lion with various state laws. They
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
The IDLE MILLIONS.

The Democratic press is busy start
ing upN on paper mills and factor.
les, which are receiving orders for
supplies incident to the European
war. We hope that they will be sue
cessful in getting them all to running
full time, but will they? 1t is now
almost universally conceded that the
war has been the one factor that has
saved business from complete col.
lapse. Fit had not been for the great
influx OF foreign orders and the stop
ping OF millions of imports coming into
this country, the industrial interests
could not have withstood the blow of
the Underwood tariff even this long.
There Is no business concern in this
country closer in touch with indus.
trial conditions than the Bell Tele.
phone company with its branches
reaching into almost every hamlet,
cross roads store and big business
center In tho country. This company
makes It business TO have Its 10.
cal managers obtain reports OF bust.
ness conditions generally.
Theodore N. Vail, president Of the
American Telephone & Telegraph
company In the annual report OF the
company has Just stated that there
are now two million persons out OF
work in this country with an annual
wage loss OF billion aud quarter
dollars. These people, he says. are
living upon their meagre savings, or
at the expense OF their friends or the
public. ETe says: what is needed
10 bring about their Unemployment
and the return OF prosperity, is a re.
storation OF conditions which would
inspire confidence In the security OF
public and manufacturing enterprise
TO enable them Io~obtain capital for
extension and improvements"
What has destroyed this confidence?
Certainly II was not the war in
Europe. With Europe clammoring for
our good, and too helpless TO send her
cheap labor product into this coun'
try to compete with American labor,
why should not that tend to estab.
lish this much needed confidence? 1t
undoubtedly does. This confidence
was destroyed when the Democratic
party obtained the reins OF govern
ment. 1t was destroyed by the Under
wood tariff law and the general har.
RAISING of business by congress. 1t
was destroyed by saturnalia OF I'M
precedented extravaganza In the con.
duct of the national government. That
is what is the matter with the coua'
try and nothing more.
Business has had rest. 1t now
needs the stimulent, of a protective
tariff to start it on the road to re.
covery. No big money IS going to
be invested in manufacturing enter
prises on the doubtful prospect OF Or
ders based on the continuation OF the
war which may end at any time.
Business people want more Said
foundation on which to erect larger en-
terprises. They want to know that
they will not be driven out Of bust.
ness after the war ends by the I'M
portation OF European goods.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
uNEARNEp INCREMENT.

The West Virglnian said few days
ago that 1t would be glad to do any
thing it could to help the city com.
missioners solve the riddle of proyid-
ing the necessary funds to make the
preliminary preparations for the new
paving in the city. 1t is said that the
city needs something like $4,000 for
this purpose and that there are no
funds in the city treasury to apply
to the work. The now charter, and
the old charter, under which this work
is being done, provide that the trac-
tion company shall pave and keep in
repair the street paving between the
tracks and two feet on either side Of
the track. 1t is estimated that this
would save the city about $4,000, as
the paving Of eight feet of the street
by tho street car company would be
equal 10 about one.third OF the total
cost. The street car company. VIC arc
Informed. is willing to pave between
the tracks. Why does not tho city
assess the company with the other
four feet on the sides of the tracks
and this would provide about $4,000
OF the much needed revenue. Under
the charter now in force the commits.
aIoncrs have this power. But would
that be Just to the street car com.
p8ny?
viii some one rise up and say to
do this would hurt business?
Possibly they will. but II 1t is lust.
why not do It?
Look over Fairmont avenue. Jack
son street, Pike street. and Locust
avenue. and you will see that the
toughest, most uneven parts Of
these streets arc along between
the rails, and on either side
where tho brick has been taken up so
often to repair the tracks! The street
car company enjoys monopoly of
the transportation business in the city
and pays not ono cent of tribute for
this special privilege. The franchise
OF this company. which was given TO
the company for fifty years without
one penny's cost, could be put upon
the auction block tomorrow and sold
for a cool million dollars. Who Gre.
ated this great value? Was 1t the
street car company or the people who
have built their homes here and made
their investments in business? Is 1t
not the people themselves who ride
upon these cars, have their freight
hauled upon them that have created
this great value? Six per cent in.
tercst upon this great unearned incre.
meut of million dollars would be
100000. Would it not be just and
equitable for the city of'Fairmont to
have at least that much when no
effort can ever be made to have the
principle restored to the people? In
stead OF this equity being done the
people we find that even there Is a
protest against paying small license
tax Of $25 TO $50 per car, as other
cities are getting, although every poor
drayman and hack driver in the city
is taxed with special vehicle tax.
The city commissioners have here an
opportunity to render the people some
real service by collecting from the
street car company its full share OF
the paving instead Of only half and
assessing a license tax. on the cars to
help keep the street in repair along
the car line which has not been done
in the past, neither by the city nor
the company, Us glance along the
tracks will show to anybody.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
THANKFUL FOR IT..

sergenant Pfc believed in handling
his men firmly. Pausing before one
recruit, he eyed him sterrily.
Nov, then, pull yourself together
he barked harshly; you're standing
all wrong! Your uniforms not put
on right, your buttons are dirty, aud
you're holding your rife like q hay
fork. Let's see II you can march.
Rigrt.about.face!'s =
The recruit stood stock still, and
heaved sigh Of relief.
Thank goodness, he said, with
resignation. srm right about some.
thing, anywayls--London Times.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
Luke MeCuke Saws:

Luke MeLuke Says:
The reason why n gin gets mad
when a fellow she likes kisses her IL
because she would get twice us mad
II he didn't kiss her.
What has become of the old fashion.
ed dinner pail that had a tin cup
fastened on top Of It?
Another reason for the high cost o!
living Is that people give away their
baby buggies too soon and have to
buy others.
Nature Is mean cuss. 1t often hap.
pens that the girl with the dat chest
and the straight hips draws a gen
erous supply OF feet.
1t often happens that the man who
Is too scared to run away wins the
fght.
Every now and then you see wo'
man who Is so fat that the only thing
she can buy ready made is an nm
brella.
When a man acquires his first auto.
mobile It often happens that he needs
n rubber hat worse than he needs rub.
Der tires.
The reason why a woman takes up
physical culture is because she either
wants to make something bigger or
make something smaller.
The fellow who Is always saying
that 1t is no disgrace to be poor Is
never going to be rich.
We are all strong for free speech,
but we forget that silence is Just as
free.
When a princess is wearing new
ring she has to fix her hair about
fifty-nine times a minute.
The closer a woman gets to fifty the
more she tries to dress like fifteen.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
Current Comment.
REoFlELo' MISTAKE.

The efforts OF the Democratic Sec.
rotary OF Commerce to prove that the
Democratic Tariff Is a good thing for
the country has led him to tell the
New Jersey potters that they didn't
know there own business and to ex.
plain to the manufacturers OF Mont
gomery county. Pennsylvania, that
their reduced business Is due to their
lax methods. This moves the Phila.
delphia Ledger to inquiries:
"steels mills were last year opera.
ating only 40 per cent OF their capa.
city. Were all steel makers incom.
petent? Locomotive plants were
working less than third capacity.
We're the chiefs of that industry in.
competent? More than half of the
coke ovens were out of the blast. What
fault was the secretary to find with
the coke producers? Coal mines, saw
mills, leather factories, brickmakers,
and virtually every industry plant was
in 1914 running at greatly reduced
speed. Has all America suddenly be.
come incompetent? We have sup.
posed that the United States has been
right In the van with its Industrial
ingenuity, and that IN a great many
fields we led the world. But in order
to make out good case for his pet
Tariff theories. the Secretary OF
Commerce informs us that our meth.
DDS are obsolete. In short, the as.
tute Redfleld places most OF the blame
for the worst trade depression in
twenty years upon the people who
have billions Of dollars invested in in.
dustries, and yet do not have suffi.
cient sense to operate their own works
successfully"
The boot is on the other foot.
The American manufacturers know
how to run their business. They have
proven their ability to do so. The
trouble is with the Democratic party.
1t doesn't know how to run the govern.
ment. 1t has been demonstrating its
inability with great success for the
past two years.
1t Is perhaps the knowledge Of this
fact which as prompted some highly
intelligent and keenly observant citi.
gems to perdict that the full measure
Of national prosperity will not arrive
until there has been change OF ad.
ministration. There is consolation In
the reflection that 1916 is near at
hand-Connellsyille Courier.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16

lay down the principal that no state
law can require a railroad to carry
q commodity or carry passengers at
loss. ~
Though one Of the decisions per.
tains to West Virginia passenger
rate law and the other to q coal rata
act passed by the North Dakota LEI.
islature. there Is APPARENTLY close
similarity, as to the underlying prin.
cipal between the two cases. The
West Virginia, or passenger! rate de.
cision, seems, however to settle the
controversy as to whether q deacient
rate that Is, a<rate that does not
yield to profit on tho transportation
of the commodityIto which Iit pertains
may be punched inSwith other rates
that do yield asprofit. The decision
must be considered separately and
must not be averaged.
1t was decided in the North Dako
Ia coal rate case as In the West Viz
ginia passenger rate! contest that tlis'
rate named under the state law Is SO
low as to yield the railroad mo return
for the use OF It's property and that
the law, therefore, Is as the railroad
people claim MISUNDERSTANDING,
unconstitutional. Huntington Herald.
Dispatch.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16

the adjoining states. 1t was respon-
sibie for a big brewery failure in Ohio
and ii said TO have hurried the disco
iution Of q Pittsburgh hank allied
with the brewery interests. When
millions are at stake ii may be ex-
ipected that large sums of money win
be spent to protect and save the mil:
lions but &c will add to their losses II
the whiskey4 people continue to iadvo-
cate license for West Virginia. This
generation, at least, Is free from the
curse.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
rHE NORTHERN llaHrsi.

OF this. man whom the gigantic
Big interests sent into West Virginia
Editor Clark, Of the Charlestown Mail,
who has begun to write about crooked
politics In West Virginia, and hasn't
said anything yet. let us not forget
that on April 81, 1910. he was as Gov.
ernor OF Alaska, BURNED IN !EFFIGY
BY AN ENRAGED PEOPLE because
Of his notorious connections with the
Guggenheim interests.
& And this man has come to West
Virginia to write about crooked pol.
tiles! oh, you aurora borealis!-Po.
eahontas Independent.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
Tho syplsy Minstrels.

mo 6ypiay mthttfeit.
"Afr. 1nteriocutor, can you tell me
which is the largest room in the
world?'
"No. Mr.. Tambo, cannot. VIII you
tell us which is the largest room In the
world?"
"The room for Improvement"
VERY good. Mr.. Tambo. By the way,
Mr.. Bones, If you were promised a
baby at your house, which would you
prefer, boy baby or girl bnby?"
"a boy baby, Mr.. Interlocutor."
"And why a boy baby. Mr.. Bouesa"
Because It never comes a.miss."
"As soon as the wrecking crew has
removed the bodies from the debris
Mr.. E. R. Payner will render that pa.
thetic ballad THE Lily Stands For
Purity, but the Onion Stands For
Strength"
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
Tho Icy Sidewalk.
More Rain.

Dear Luke-When you mentioned
Wood Rainwatcr. why didn't you get
the rest OF the firm? We have been do
ing business with the Rainwater Bank
and Trust company for twenty years.
The firmtis located In Morrilton, Ark,
and consists Of Wood Rainwater, pres.
ident; Cloudy Night Rainwater, vice
president, and Night Raiuwater, eecre.
tary and treasurer. Cloudy Morning
Rainwater, the fourth brother, died
some time aso.-The Isaac Fuller's
Sons Co., Cincinnati.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16
Jus',ttSnliles.
JUST SUPPOSE.

The German scout car had blum.
dered into the midst OF "a French out
post, and in a hail ofsritle bullets was
making all speed to get away. Sud.
denly the man beside the driver put
his hand to his shoulder and ishiyered.
why did you SILVER. Baron?v
said the man at the wheel, too busy
with his driving to look around.
II couldn't help t." was he reply:
"a bullet Just went through my arm
and thought what would have hap
pened If It had hit a tire!s-New York
Evening Post.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16

Luke Win Swap Some Fat For Some
Hair.
Colonel Luke McLuke Of the Cincin-
natl (o) Enquirer and Colonel George
Tucker OF the Taylor Press resemble
each other in that they neither run to
fat and do not carry heavy hair. These
deficiencies arc attributed to heavy
work.-Georsetown (Tex.) Commercial.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16

Willie-Paw, In one of my books It
says. Unhappy lies the head that
wears a crown Why is. the head that
wears a crown unhappy:
Paw suppose 1t is because the
crown Rex his peace of mind, my son.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16

1t is easy enough to give dog
away, but II you wish to sell a dog
you must make the deal with a mem
Der of the theatrical profession.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16

There is no particular reason for It,
but the effeminate man is always
called Lizzie"
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16

One OF the poorest limitations is that
given blythe woman who Is trying to
simulate indifference to the fact that
she wasn't invited to the party.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-16

The age of horse is indicated by
its toeth and that Of a man by the
back OF his neck.