HON. WILLIAM SCOTT JOHN

Submitted by Pat Johns.

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923.  The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II
Pg. 476-477

HON. WILLIAM SCOTT JOHN.  Quoting a recent editorial in the Wheeling 
Intelligencer, "Mr. John is one of the younger men who have come 
conspicuously to the front in the public affairs of this state.  A native of 
West Virginia, educated in the state and familiar with many of its public 
questions, he has rendered very conspicuous service and has made a record for 
clear thinking, earnest endeavor and sincere purpose.  In the two sessions of 
the Legislature in which Mr. John has served, he was one of the most valuable 
members of the House of Delegates, not only on account of his intelligence 
and industry, but also on account of his high conception of public duty and 
his clear understanding of economic questions.  In the passage of a number of 
bills of particular value to the whole people of West Virginia, Mr. John 
contributed perhaps more than any other member of the last two legislative 
sessions."

Mr. John represents an old family of Monongalia County.  He was born in Cass 
District of that county, January 10, 1878, son of Lemuel N. and Julia A. 
(Boyers) John.  His mother was born in Grant District of that county in 1843, 
daughter of Morgan L. Boyers.  The paternal grandfather was Thomas John, 
likewise a native of Monongalia County.  Lemuel John and wife have been 
substantial farming people in Monongalia County all their lives.  Lemuel was 
born in Union District May 5, 1843, and he and his wife still live on their 
farm, at the age of seventy-eight.

William Scott John graduated A. B. from the University of West Virginia in 
1900, received his LL. B. degree with the class of 1902, and during 1902-03, 
while starting his practice at Morgantown, was also an instructor in law at 
the university.  During the past fifteen years he has been rated as one of 
the ablest members of the Morgantown bar, and is also extensively interested 
in agriculture and in coal production.

Mr. John served as assistant clerk of the West Virginia Supreme Court of 
Appeals during 1903-05.  He was elected a member of the West Virginia 
Legislature in 1916, and was re-elected in 1918, on the republican ticket.  
He was minority floor leader in the session of 1917, and was majority floor 
leader in 1919.  He was a member of the committees of the judiciary, 
railroads, privileges and elections and Virginia debt.  He was author of the 
bill enacted by the Legislature in May, 1917, noted as the first compulsory 
work law in America.  Many other states during the war followed the example 
of West Virginia in this legislation.  He was also author of House Bill No. 
104, enacted by the Legislature in February, 1919, making it unlawful to 
display any red flag or other emblem hostile to the constitution and laws of 
the state or the United States.  He also introduced and sponsored House Bill 
No. 59, known as the "Steptoe" Gas Bill, based on the principle that the 
state has the right to control her natural resources in the interests of her 
citizens and extending the power of the Public Service Commission to fix 
rates and other regulations to comply with this principle.  Perhaps the 
measure most prominently associated with him is House Bill No. 30, which 
levies a privilege tax on all natural gas companies.  He was the leader in 
promoting this measure through the regular and extra sessions of the 
Legislature, and his leadership in the House was largely responsible for its 
passage.  The validity of this law has since been tested in the State Supreme 
Court of Appeals.  Mr. John was chosen as special counsel for the state in 
defending the constitutionality of the "Steptoe" gas act before the United 
States Supreme Court, where the case was still pending in the summer of 1921. 
 In 1920 Mr. John was a candidate for Congress from the Second District of 
West Virginia, but was not elected, this being his first campaign for the 
office.

During the World war Mr. John was chairman of the Speakers Bureau of 
Monongalia County, and was county chairman for the Third Liberty Loan drive.  
For a number of years he served as city solicitor of Morgantown.  He is 
president and director of the Mapleton Coal Company, director and secretary 
of the Rosedale Coal Company and also of the Blue Flame Fuel Company.  For 
the past ten years he has been secretary of the Morgantown District School 
Board, is a member of the County and State Bar associations, belongs to the 
Old Colony Club, a national organization, and is a member of Morgantown Union 
Lodge No. 4, A. F. and A. M.  He is a Presbyterian.  December 17, 1902, Mr. 
John married Mary Estelle Cox, daughter of Dr. James A. Cox of Morgantown.