KANAWHA A STATE OF MIND

West Virginia is tired of having the virtues and merits of Virginia foisted upon her, and the Legislature of the State is out to put a stop to it. A joint resolution recently introduced proposes to change the name of the State to Kanawha, because, as ex-Senator William E. Chilton says. "West Virginia needs identification."

The population of West Virginia evidently does a great deal of traveling, because one of the chief objections to the present name of the State is that its citizens are taken in the North for Virginians. They are also tired of explaining that Natural Bridge is not in their State, and furthermore, that they do not raise peanuts. These reasons are rational enough. Senator Chilton also ventures the opinion that "maybe a new name would quicken the spirit that languishes now."

What with the vexations of coal mining and being mistakes for Virginians, the inhabitants of West Virginia have only vestiges of booster spirit left. A new baptism under the old Indian name of Kanawha will give the people an opportunity to tell all about the virtues of the State while the new name is being learned. Then they can drift along on that tide of fame, and when it subsides Senator Chilton's argument will still hold and they can have another christening, if it should be necessary.