Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-04-17
Martinsburg "reminiscences.
30. Iv.


1882, in which Gen. A. Jackson was
candidate. Situated and having
my home at the head quaters of the
Democratic party, afterwards known
as "Tammany Hail." in the old Bill
mire Hotel, where Mr.. G. w. De-
Grange, does business, could not
be otherwise than Democratic in
sentiment In the campaign allud-
ed to, the party was known as an
advocate for hard money, and on
occasion OF barbecue, some days
before, medium-sized hickory tree
in foliage was placed upon four
horse wagon and the night before
the assembly, there was gathering
in the Hotel yard, and the tree was
decorated with silver coin. The old
American dollar, with white, red and
blue ribbon run through hole in
the coin, was tied on every twig,
limb and branch of the tree. On
flag staff, proudly waving, was the
stars and stripes, and on each side
of the wagon, was printed in large
letters-sThe Union must, and shall
be preserved" l can recall the
pleasant feelings with which the
sound of the jingling coin on the
tree, filed my heart, and to-day |
question the Democracy of any one,
who desires to rid our country of the
dollars of our daddies, by demone,
thing silver
In 1886. the canvass between Demo-
Gratis and Wings, was very exciting.
Nearly every week, discussion of
political questions were held. 1t
was no one sided affair. Both par
ties had their champions and would
discuss questions of government and
policy and in every quarter where
men met and conversed. the subject
was invariably political, The can
vass Of 1910, in which w. III. Harri-
son and John Tyler, were candidates
of the Wing party, and Martin Van
Buren, and II. M. Johnson, Of the
Democratic party, capped the eli
mas for excitement. log cabins,
hard cider and coon skins could be
seen everywhere, as representatives
of the Wing party, and the Democ-
racy were only known by name, and
frequent assemblies where roast OK
was the attraction. The Wing par
ty builta log cabin on the site now
occupied by the brick house belong
ing to Mrs. John Dunn, on east King
street The separation Of parties
was very wide. Democrats and
Wings would not deal with each
other, and many warm friends be-
came direct enemies. This reached
all classes We boys had Democrat
ic Club room in the building now oc-
cupying the site of King Street Hall.
The Wing boys met in the Club
Cabin opposite. They having pre-
pared for procession, by erecting a
log cabin on small wagon, us Dem
ocratic boys determined to vex them
by disabling it, which we did by the
removal of one or more wheels from
the wagon. The Wing boys deter
mined to clean the Democrats out;
they made an assault on some who
we've assembling; the fight was q riot
on small scale. One Wing boy,
James Campbell by name, was caught
by the Democrats. Taking him by
the feet, as many as could get hold
Of him, dragged him with head and
shoulders, on the ground, moving
rapidly down past the Jail with the
intention of ducking him in Tuscaro-
ra. The Wings rallying, recover
ed him about the corner of Spring
Alley, and commenced stoning the
office of the Democratic paper, on
the corner. Large crowds Of men
assembled, and began to take part
in the general fight. A Democrat
seeing a Wing, without provocation,
or Wing seeing Democrat, would
strike at each other, resulting in
many bruises and bloody noses,
Some of your older citizens may re-
call the circumstance 1t is very
vivid to my mind. Then comes the
memorable canvass of 1914 between
Clay and Polk The excitement was
great, but less on the foolish order
fuss and feathers. Henry Bedinger,
Democratic elector and Andrew
Hunter, Wing elector for district,
met in discussion of the Tariff, and
| believe they both understood the
question more thoroughly and dis
cussed it more intelligently than the
average congressman seems to I'M
derstand it to-day. The election
was close, depending for long time
on the vote of New York. We had
no telegraph at that day to give us
information. Being at the time