davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

In Fairraont nor profitable, but on tho
other hand somewhat costly In the
loss OF business. II has advocated
cleaner elections and fair play. ii ilas
stood for the rights Of the people
ness: thas lost, with the rest OF the
country some Of It's hardest fought
political battles. but II has never
wayered in its faith I'm Republican
principles. It has come up fighting
after each deieat. smiling with the
satisfaction OF knowing that IL every
fight was won there would soon come
a time when there would be nothing
TO fight, or fight for. N
The West Virginian has been the
mouth.piece through which the PEG.
Pile made their wants known and re.
spected In the defeat OF the water tax
ordinance which the city officials
were forced to repeal, saving the
people $4,000 per year In water tax
on their own water plant. 1t was the
instrument with which the operation
was performed on the old council.
manic Government at Random and
by which non.partisan charter pro.
yiding for eponomy and fair elections
was finally brought into existence.
Looking back upon these active
years to part company with The West
Virginian is like saying goodby to
ones dearest friends. It will take
some time to get the smell OF printers
ink from the editors hair and to grow
accustomed to other surroundings. 1t
would have been a great pleasure, in.
deed to have stayed on the firing line
until after the end OF the campaign
of 1916. when the Republican party
will have been indicated at the polls
and prosperity once more fully estaD-
lished all across this broad land OF
I freedom, but IL that pleasure is not
to be realized there Is enough com.
4 fort in he hope that kind Providence
will be sparing enough to permit your
humble servant to at least be on the
shouting line on that great day.
The writer will always have a warm
spot in his memory for the thousands
OF readers OF The West Virglnian,
with whom he has been In daily com
'munication for SO many years. He will
always appreciate the words of on.
enlargement he has received from
them. and while his view, OF course,
could not always coincide with theirs
OH every question that has been dis
cussed in these columns, he feels that
he has had their sympathy is the
main, which has been evidenced by
their continued support of the paper,
which after all, is the best and only
test.
Breaking the ties of long business
association is not a pleasant thing to
do, aud parting company with the
dear circle of friends who are daily
readers of The West yirginian is q
test that requires courage to meet.
With. hope for the future with a
heart full OF love, and malice towards
none, he is constrained to write, with
Ia vision bedimmed with tears, the
saddest OF all words, Goodbye, with
his humble prayer that God, in His
mover falling benevolehee may con.
tinue to be kind to you aud him.
! L. NJ. DAVIS.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18
GOOD REASONS.

The West virginian has been point.
ing out the 3ustness Ola reasonable
tax on street cars, like other vehicles
for many months. The people are be
ginning to see that nothing but fair
play is asked. They realize that such
tax would impose no hardship on
the company but would help the city
a great deal when 1t is in need Of
money to make necessary improve
ments. They know that such a tax
would help the city a great deal when
1t is in need of money to make neces.
sary improvements. They know that
such tax would scarcely make a
dent in the net income OF the com.
pany which owes its great wealth and
prosperity, not I'd its own afforts,
but to the citizens who have built up
the city and made the business pros.
porous. A street car company, and
any other monopoly. Is different from
other lines OF business. The mer.
chant, the banker, and other business
men are not under the same obliga.
lions to the community, although they
may likewise be prosperous. As the
city has grown they have had others
come in to share their sales and their
profits. They have Of course paid
their taxes, like the street car com.
pany from year to year, but they have
not had the protection that a fran.
chisc gives them and have not en-.
joyed an increase In business in pro.
portion to the growth Of the city
which does apply to any monopolistic
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18
WHAT EVERY CITIZEN OWES
# EAIRMONT.

Scores of people have compliment.
ed the West virginian for It's advo.
cacy Of some plan that will secure a
lower gas rate for the city. That the
future development Of Fairmont de-
Ponds more upon this than any one
thing is generally conceded. It Is
not only question OF saving the
people who are here now and using
ga sabout half their gas bills, but Il
Is a question of driving factories lc
be located in other towns OF the state
while this city folds its hands In meek
submission, saying, alright, let 'em
go, We will have gas when the other
cities have exhausted their supply and
then we will get them That may be
so, but the most of the present gen.
Grafton will be resting on the hillside
bac kof town b ythat time and will
not be particularly interested wheth.
err or not we have any factories. Many
a bird has been tempted &c. enter un-
der the trap by sprlnklinI a little
meal along the trail. There must be
some allurement to attract business
Just as 1t is with the bird. A bird In
hand Is worth two in the bush. we arc
told, and factory in Fairmont is
worth dozen in Clarskburg. Morgan.
town, Huntington and Charleston. We
do not mean to say that factories
would be trapped by offering five cent
gas here, but II would serve as the in.
ducement to get them started. The
probabilities are that they would have
gas as long as they wanted 1t. The
fields are constantly being widened
and new gas territory developedy II
the gas is not soon used here or In
other cities OF the state, II. will be
pumped to the neighboring states to
build up their manufacturing indus:
tries. And IL the gas supply should
be exhausted within a number Of
years, these factories would still be In
q region OF cheap fuel, they would
have coal at the furnace door and Id
sufficient quantities to last more than
a hundred years. It would be better
for. this section Of the state to even
give Its gas to factories than TO see
them go to other cities or 70 have the
gas continually pumped out Oh the
state. a
That Is the broad view OF the, situa.
tion, and there Is q more iconstricted
view which reaches every family In
the city, and that IS the individual saw.
ing that will accrue to them BY reason
OF q lower gas rate. We are paying
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

the gas company in round numbers
100000 profit per year. an amount
equal to the original capital ktock Of
the company, which is now expected
to pay dividends ON enough water to-
Justify the issuance Of three millions
or stock.
This money goes to Baltimore,
where the majority OF the stock IS
owned and where the company Sc con.
trolled. This might as well be left In
Fairmont to be distributed among the
people, who could add that saving to
their savings account with the local
banks, which would have q tendency
to make money matters easier in the
city. This money could be loaned to
deserving merchants to enlarge their
stores, to those who wanted to engage
In new lines of business or start fac.
tries. It would in the course Of a few
years add very materially In the total
wealth OF the community.
Then there Is another consideration
which should cause every citizen OF
the city to support a movement for q
lower gas rate, regardless Of his busi.
ness connections and regardless OF
the effect It might have on his private
Investments. Every citizen who has
lived in Fairmont and prospered to
the extent Of being able to own stock
In the gas company owes something
to this community. He owes It good
wifi. He owes It HIS best effort to
make It grow. He owes every citizen
who has contributed to his wealth in
the support Of his business all the
domestic advantages he can secure
for him. He owes them bis support
in obtaining lower gas rate IN keep.
ing with that Of other cities and as
equity would seem to dictate by rea.
son OF our close proximity to the gas
field.
We heard discussion a short time
ago a sto what the Y. M. G. A. owed
to Fairmont and what Fairmont owed
the Y. M, C. "A. But an honest effort
to obtain a lower and equitable gas
rate Is what every citizen owes to
Fairmont, regardless Of his own per.
sonal interests.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18
PUBLIC OPINION

Mr.. as. d. Bowen. OF Hoult, for a
number of years . contributor of
new and other matter OF public in.
terest to the columns Of the West
virginian, and who Is. one OF the lead.
Ing farmers and gorders OF the county
abs had his ear to the ground and
communicates what he has heard to
the readers Of the paper. today. Mr..
Bowman undoubtedly reflects public
sentiment In his article.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18
Baby ygorsnss.

At birth a baby's average weight Is
o. to rs pounds; ats twoimonths, aver
nge weight, a'ito 10ii pounds; at four
months, average weight 12n to 1s
pounds: at SIX months, average weight,
IL to 10 pounds; at eight months, aver
age weight, II to IS pounds; at ten
months, average weight, 10 to 20
pounds at one year, average weight,
81 to 90 pounds. The increase in
weight Is slower after the ilrst year.
and the weight at the end Of the first
ssoar Is not doubled until about the end
OF the 9Th year Philadelphia Record.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

his company to handle that heavy coal
traffic. Of normal times. Il being tied
up for lack OF faeillties when he came
TO the road and now II. Just when he
has gotten through making the neces
sary Improvements. he finds the coal
company furnishing the greater part
OF the tonnage. sold to the owners Of
the Western Maryland. a competing
line, he will doubt less feel that some
body has played him q shabby trick
Whether this important transac
ton means any further extensions by
the Western Maryland remains to be
SEEM
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

Under q new act Of congress the
United States navy now has four ad-
mirals-Dewey, as heretofore, and
Fletcher, Howard and cowles. ranking
in the order named, each Of the last
three ranking the next by one day.
Until this month the United States
navy has had but three officers hold.
Ing the full rank OF. ral-Farragut,
Porter and Dewey. The last named
enjoys a rank, as Secretary Daniels
says, unique in the nayies 81 the
world, that Of admiral of the navy
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18
SMILES.

It is the duty of every human being
to create or reflect few smiles each
day. It is within the scope Of some
souls to view life and its varying con.
ditions with a level look and philo.
sophical spirit and to realize that
there is some sweet in every bitter.
ness: that no matter how bad things
may be they might be worse. A smile
Is like the sun breaking through a
cloud; like the warm welcome OF a
soft spring day that follows a March
blizzard; like the beam Of friendship
as compared with chilly isolation. Did
you ever notice how a smile will melt
frosty nature? Did you ever make
up your mind that you liked people
before you knew them because YOU
had become infected with their evi.
dent attitude toward earthly things.
because you saw them smiling? And
did you ever notice that even in a
group OF hard.headed and hard.fisted
men, bent on settlement or trouble,
o smile and pleasant way will go
further toward entering the wedge
OF ultimate agreement than will all
Of the sledge-hammer arguments that
can be applied? Genuine smiles are
to be rated among the worlds most
useful institutions. They will get one
over places where battering rams and
balloons will fail. Heartless, indeed,
and inconsiderate, is the man or
woman who will wreck a smile; and
there Is no degree Of smile that com.
pares in value and righteousness to
the smile of a little child. Robert
Ingersoll made bulls eye when he
said:
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

through some bitter newspaper
and political fights and naturally iii
the heat Of Campaigns and under
stress Of political feeling Hicks have
been given and taken that have no
doubt been unpleasant. but nowhere
will the files Of the West virginian
show that the retiring editor has ever
dragged any dirty personal linnen
from the back yard to be aired
through these columns, and at no time
has Apersonal abuse and yilification
been substituted for Argument.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18
A GOOD PROVISION.

Under the new charter the people
can by an initiative ordinance grant
any new company a franchise to oper.
ate a gas business or any other public
utility, and not only that the people
can regulate for all time to come the
pirce at which any commodity may,
be sold to consumer by such company.
Isn't that fine? ~
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

The Democratic press takes great
pleasure in referring to Senator Wells
Goodykoonts as q Sformer Democrat.
We do not quite understand why they
should throw this UP to him. The
senator Is possibly more ashamed Of
1t than his critics. He has under
gone a political reform worthy OF q
man OF his great ability. z
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

No sane man Will tell you that Fait.
mont cannot have q gas supply as
cheap as any city in the state, being
located as It Is In the midst OF the
great oil and gas belt But aii will
tell you that the city Is not getting
such q rate.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

A promoters salary % paid by the
people who employ him. His. commits
sions are paid by the people who listen
to him.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

His opponents say the Hon. Br,nk
Slough, the weli:known politician,
hasn't been out ofsight Of the grand.
stand In thirty years.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

If it were not for the things said
behind your back" the conversation
would become rnonotonous.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18
When man fails in business his
alibi is that there was q conspiracy
against him.

Nearly ever injustice &c the result
OF an emotional drunk In the Com.
munity In which itEoccurs.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

"A mans frst impulse Is TO .beat it.si
Bravery Is the fear that someone will
see him in the act Of running away.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

Mrs. Tug Watts, who has tried both.
says stenogTaphy pays better than
marriage and that the hours are
ehorteE.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

What has become Of the old.
fashioned man who named one OF his
boys .for" BENJAMIN Franklin?
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

There are various definitions, but a
good legislature 10 one that does no
damage!
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

and the most difficult one for a man
to resist, Is a dangerous woman.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

A girls chief source Of humiliation
is the clothes her mother wears.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

Eph Wiley says half OF the so-called
innocent by.standers are guilty.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

Strike with hand Of fire, oh.
weird musician. thy harp strung
with Apollo's golden hair: fill the
vast cathedral aisles with sym.
phones sweet -and dim. deft
touches of the organ keys; blow
.bugler, blow, until thy silver notes
do touch and kiss the moonlight
waves and charm the lovers
wand'ring midst theE vine.clad
hills; but know your sweetest
tones are dlscords. all, compared
with childhood's happy laugh;
the laugh that fills the eye with
light and every heart with Joy"
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

Smile. 1t is spring. The buds are
ready to open. Let there be good
feeling. Ifyou can not create smile,
now and then, 1t Is your duty to re.
fleet one that is started by some one
else. N ~
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-03-18

[
80
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-21
LEGISLATURE WILL
 RED|STR|CT STATE Sam Will John, Author of One Plan, Says Work
 Will Be Finished

On account of the enormous propor- tions of the task, it has been consid- cred probable that the legislature would dodge the duty of redistricting the state in respect to its congressional subdivisions.
 Sam will John of Dallas, who sat in Birmingham during the past week as . member of the legislatures recess com mittee on Judiciary, says, however, that the work will be undertaken and com pleted.
 MT. John was asked if the work would be done by the recess committee of which he is member. He replied:
 we were not assigned that duty. However, the legislature will redistrict the state during It's present session"
 Several redistricting bills have al- ready been introduced, one of them by MT. John. When the work is begun. 1t is believed that all the congressman will visit Montgomery. for all of them will be affected. All of the bills before the legislature differ in essential re- gard, but in each Jefferson county is made a district to itself
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-21
FEDERAL INQUIRY INTO AGRICULTURAL
 CONDITIONS ENDED
Testimony Concerning the Taft Ranch in Texas Covered in Final
 Session

Dallas, Tex. March o.-rnouiry Into agricultural conditions in the southwest was concluded here today after the fed eral commission on industrial relations had heard many witnesses. Testimony concerning the Taft ranch in Texas. re- garding land tenants alleged to be vic- tims of an expensive middle man system between the farmer ard his market. were covered at the closing session. The principal Taft industry considered was the coleman-Fulton Pasturage company of San Patricio county, consisting of 6ood acres under cultivation. Joseph H. Green, general manager for the Taft interests in Texas. testified the company has % stockholders and the stock Is worth about $250 a share. Tenants and laborers on the farm. he said. are mostly Mex jeans with few Americans.
 More than half the American farmers who have been on the place in the last 12 years. he said. had bought their own farms. Of the Mexicans two had bought farms. He said the company had noti- fled all employees they would be dis- charged if they became candidates for any political office in the county.
 Prof Charles H. Alvord, superinten- dent of the farm, testified he had known only one American farmer permitting his wife to work In cotton fields. Mexican women and youths of both sex worked in the field but seldom young Mexican children. He said Mexican iaborers on the place receive 30 cents a day against $ day last year. Mexican boys be- gin earning the full wage at about A. Most of the labor. he said, was Mex ican.
 Why don't you employ other labor 7'' asked Chairman Walsh of the commits sion
 There is not enough in the country" replied Professor Alvord.
 Judge M. M. Brooke of Dallas, a north Texas land owner. said for several years he had a standing offer to become se- curity for any of his tenants who would save 5000 and buy a farm, backing the tenant until the farm was paid for.
 'I never got one man to accept the offer" he said. Many have made the S1o00, but they would blow it h. The great lack by tenants in this county Is lack of economic sense. I have seen them ploughing wearing patent leather shoes and red socks"
 w. l.. Lewis, president of the Texa s division Farmers Educational and Co operative union, said farm land values and rents had been rising while farmers profits had remained stationary or de- clined.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-21
EUFAULA

Eufau1a, March 20.-(Special. )-The Eufaula Commandery of Knights Tenn plar held their annual election of of- ficers last night. S. Mabry being re- elected eminent commander, while prac- tically all the other officers were chosen for another years service as follows: Generalissimo. J. M. Blackmon: captain general. c. F. Darnell; senior warden, J. T. Minor; junior warden. S.. c. Walden; recorder. J. P. Hill; treas urer. T. Pruden; prelate. H. B. Bowling; standard bearer, Hugh Gay; warder, J. F. Rhodes; swordbearer, J. R. Hat field.
 The Eufaula chapter of Royal Arch Masons will hold special conversations next Tuesday and Wednesday nights to confer degrees up to the Royal Arch upon six candidates
 The churches of the city are planning beautiful services for Easter Sunday. The choirs are now practicing upon special music which will be given at the morning and evening services. A number of tho churches are now holding services during the week. while holy week will be the occasion of daily ser+ vices.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-21
FEDERAL TREASURY DEFICIT WILL NOT BE OVER S26,O00,0OO
 SENATOR SIMMONS
Chairman of Senate Finance Committee Takes Issue With Prophets of Large
 Treasury Deficit
SENATOR SIMMONS

Washington. March M.-Chairman Sim
 mons of the Senate finance committee
 took issue today with prophets of a large
 treasury deficit in a statement saying
 his investigations at the treasury have
 convinced him the deficit will not exceed
 $26. 900, 900.
 Senator Simmons said there had been
 so many conflicting estimates of the prob
 able deficit, some as high as $13O. 900 GOO.
 that he decided ito ascertain the real
 facts"
 During the past week. he said, q
 have been closely Investigating this mat
 ter. and as a result I feel safe in saying
 exceed s2e0Oo, 900.
 "of course, this does not include the ex penditures on account of the Panama canal. These expenditures are otherwise provided for by law and are not required to be paid out of the current funds of the government"
 Total Receipts Total estimated receipts in September 1913, were s73s,oOo,oOO. Senator Simmons said, and estimated expenditures s71S.-
 100000, showing slS,oOo,ooo excess of re- ceipts.
 "The receipts from practically every source" he added, have not fallen be low the estimate, due 10 depressed busi-
 ness conditions on account of the war in
 Europe. Although the revenue derived from internal revenue tax probably will
 be increased by the emergency revenue act over the estimate by about $20,000, GOO thre was on March 15 excess of ordi- nary expenditures over receipts of approx imately $S5,000000, against a deficit of $24, 900, on the same date last year. "The estimated receipts for the remain der of the fiscal year total s266, ,0Oo. coo while the ordinary disbursements will amount to $207,000,000 an excess of re- ceipts over expenditures for the remain der of the year of $59.C00,000, showing a
 net deficit of $26000,000 at the end of the fiscal year. The increases Ire due in part to the normal growth of the government and part are due to conditions arising out of the European war ana the aunormal conditions in Mexico.
 The Income Tax When the fact is considered that the income tax is not required by law to be paid until about the end of the fiscal year, June 3O the circumstance o1 an excess of disbursements over receipts for the first haff of the year and an excess of re- ceipts over disbursements during the sast half of the year, will be readily under stood It also will be apparent that any estimate based upon the assumption that
 the proportion of the receipts and dis
 bursements will be the same during the second half of the year as during the first half is both misleading and erroneous