The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-11-15
WEST VIRGINIA
TAKES PART IN
CAPITAL NEWS.
Events Of Washington, D. c.,
Are Reported by Telegram's
Correspondent There.
sssretslre rnr 1rlranAul

+ 4
M,ASHiNGTON. Nov. 15.--Trnless all
signs fail Col. Robert y. Harper. bank
er and much before the local public
as an aggressive personal force I'M
every civic movement which has been
undertaken in this city for the last
decade, will be chairman or the com
mittee having the second Wilson in
augural in charge. Should that come
to pass as expected. and devotedly
hoped for and earnestly worked for
by Col. Harper's many influential
friends, the second lady Of the land
for one day, and that day March 5 next,
and who Will be officially proclaimed
and recognized as such, will be, Of
course, Mrs. Robert n. Harper
That Will be of interest to West Vir-.
glnians, especially TO the people cf
Petersburg Mrs Harper is a native
of that city. Her maiden name was
Carrie Rousch. Miss Ruusch attended
the public schools in Pnrkersburg and.
was graduated from the ParkersburE
high school with high honors. She
was poor girl, bit very brilliant
one, and local people interested them
selves in her future. They were in
strumental in having the late Senator
Johnson y. Camden secure her a gov
ernment position in Washington and
size came here In take her place and
has resided here ever since.
After a few years in one Of the de-
partments, Miss Rousch was wed by
Robert y. Harper who, at that time,
was the proprietor OF small drug
store. Not long afterward he was
started on the road to riches with a
medicine which he patented and put OH
the market. From that time on his
wealth Increased rapidly He went intol
the banking business. organizing Hhel
American National Bank, which like
magic became one of the biggest. fnan-l
cial Institutions in the city He sold
the control of this bank to the late
Stephen b. Elkins, and il is now re-
ferred to as "the Elkins bank" WithinE
a few hours of the contamination OIL
that deal, Col. Harper the received his |
title from n Virginia governor. Vir-t
ginia being his native state) was hard
at work organizing a new bank. and
within a few days had succeeded. !
came into existence the /
District National Bank, which was a
great success from the start. 1t Is in |
the front rank With the big banks of
this city.
Col. Harper has consistently and
enthusiastically supported Woodrow
Wilson from the time that Col. Harvey
started I'd boom tho then chief cxecu-
tive of New Jersey for the presidency.
lie is credited With having raised large
sums of money for both Wilson cam
pafgns. and With generously coutrihutI
ing himself. Four years ago lie was a
leading candidate for chairman of the
inaugural committee, but local 1eal-
,usf0s arose which made the selection
of a compromise chairman imperative.
Col. Harper took his defcat gracefully.
ind thnt has probably helped to mako
him secm to be practically the unan-
imous choice for the position his tie.
Ike ts the only aspirant out in the open
so far.
It's the custom for the wife OF the
chairman of the committee on inaugu-
raj arrangements TO be second only to
the 'Ifirs IT, Lad! d tho Land N on March
iEot the inauguration Year lit will be
March 5 next YEAR, and friends OF Mrs,
Harper hope that this high honor Will
come to her through the high honor.
which her husband seeks They know
that she is we'll equipped by natural
gifts and social experience to sustain
1T Her home in Sixteenth street. a
palatial establishment, is center Of
social life, her annual bal nlnsque is
la notable event; and her salon is FAM
Gus rs the rendezvous OF people way
mp in official circles and who are doing
things worth While III the professions
President Frank B. Trottcr OF the
Vest Virginia University, is In Wash
iington attending the twenty-ffth an
!nual meeting Of the National Associa-
| ito nof State Universities. The ses-
sions are being held at the Willard
and are closed to the public. Some Of