Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-02-10
The Old Soldiers Demand Recognition from
the New Administration.
IN IMPORTANT MEETING HELD,
And Candidates Put Up for Postmaster and
Inspector Of the Port.
THE CITY BOARDS TO ORGANIZE.


er share of the offices to be dispensed by
the incoming administration, and promi-
nent members of the G. A. K. and com
rsdes yet without the pale of that organi-
zation are emphatic in stating they will
have what they want or know the reason
why.
For several weeks past there has been q
very considerable amount of talk among
soldiers upon this question, and finally 1t
was determined 10 call a nesting Of all the
old soldiers in tina city, irrespective of po-
Iitieal or other differences, and take con-
eerted action IN the premises. This meet
ing was held at the G. \. K. Hall, Friday
evening, and was very largely attended.
G. J. Rawlings was called to the chair,
ane Clarence Irwin made Secretary. The
object of the meeting was stated very fully,
and then there was a discussion of the
claims Of the soldiers and the best manner
o. enforcing them, which took up large
portion of the evening. 1t was agreed with
out dissent that the soldiers had bsen used
for political purposes, without adequate
reoompeDse or recognition, about long
enough, and that the time has come to call
halt in this programme, and substitute,
therefore, something radically different
and infinitely more satisfactory.
The outcomeof the discussion was that the
soldiers of Wheeling and vicinity were en-
titled to the POstoffice ard Surveyorship of
the port as their share of the Government
patronage, and this bsing agreed upon, the
matter Of candidates came up.
A proposition to make Col. n. Wilkin-
s0n the candidate for the postoffice met
with enthusiastic approval, and the Colo
mel having signifed his willingness to &C
cept. provided the tender of the nomina
ZION was made unanimously On the part of
the soldiers of Wheeling, his nomination
was formslly declared fixed fact, and he
was assured Of the hearty and absolute
support of every veteran.
The opening for a candidate for the
Surveyorship OF the Port was then taken
up, and was conferred upon J. A. FaIis
upon the same terms and with the same
surances as we're coupled with the Post
mastership.
After the adjournment Of the meeting
one of the most prominent gentlemen
taking psrt said TO reporter for the REG
ISTER:
"The soldiers are thoroughly in earnest
in this matter, and we are going in to get
what we want. We are working as unit,
AID will make ourselves felt, or there will
be more or less trouble in the future. The
whole matter WAS very we'll stated 10 an
interview in Pittsburg paper last Sun
day. We mean business"
A reference to the Pittsburg Dispatch Of
the date mentioned brought to light long
account of this political movement on the
part of the veterans, IN the course OF which
a gentleman who had been questioned was
quoted as saying
''You know very well that the Grand
Army and Veteran Legion do not permit
political discussion, and in order to get the
soldiers to thoroughly understand each
othec aud unite them we organized the NJ.
PIG a secret organization for the purpose
of advancing the interests Of all old soldiers
without regard to their previous politics
81 color. You see, when once we are fully
organized, and We have, as stated before,
nearly 60. 600 soldiers in this State and
about 100000 in the United States, we
have to believe that We will amount to
something in the end.
The old soldiers made it possible to
live in this country, and while they were
preparing 10 20 to the front, and while
they were there, no promise was too great
to make, no pledge too strong, but after
the war the politicians had forgotten all
they said, and with them the old soldier
was played out
"The N. P. G. 8 propose to prove to the
contrary. They dOn't want the earth, but
they do want fair play, and if those who
get into Office imagine they can pull the
strings and make the old veterans dance,
when they feel like it, they will frd they
are greatly mistaken.
I'VE think that with those who can and
will be Influenced by those who made 1t
possible for Legislature to exist in this
Commonwealth, fighting on it's own soil,
we can assert and maintain the rights OF
the soldier to at least moiety of the grand
things promised him in the dark years OF
I the rebellion and those immediatele sue
/ ceeding the surrender of Lee"
The outcome of this matter will be
awaited with interest.