The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-24
GOVERNOR ATKINSON

And Old soldiers "A Veteran Defends
Him Against the Action Of AIOuhdSviils
g. A. Il. Psst-rhs Heat and TrasGt
Friend oTIhs soldier.
To the Editor Of the Intelligencer.
sIR:-some days ago the q. A r
most at Moundsville. took occasion to
denounoe Governor Atkinson. Now let
us carefully look into this matter and
see who It emanates FROM whether
,rom the soldiers as mass or from six
ar seven soldiers. aided by outsiders,
who are not friendly to the governor;
and who hunted up these six or seven
soldiers and caused them to denounce
,be governor as they did. In the irst
Mace the G. A. r. Is not political or
ganIzatIon, consequently this action GER
,aInly was not taken with the approval
., tbe post. How this unjust work was
acne all good @. A. r. men wish to find
out and the commander-in-chlef Of the
- A r. Will surely investigate and eX-
nose any such work, which IL calculated
10 min the G. A. Il. OF course II does
moi injure Governor Atkinson, as the
soldiers. widows and orphans, as a
mass. will spurn anyone who attempts
10 iniure him or any other man who has
GOOD by them at all times and places,
nprt 10 our lamented Logan, The indis-
nutable proof OF II is that every soldier,
ludlow and orphan that ever asked
sayor of Governor Atkinson while he
<vas In Congress, received reply. He
,sver shirked, but took up their case,
and went in person 20 attend TO II.
Tbere are now about fifty soldiers filling
,,Iaces in washington City, who were
annoInted by Governor Atkinson, more
than any other representative from this
stota secured, Thousands not hundreds
81 the soldier element OF this state to-
day will say II It had not been for the
povernor they would not be drawing
He aid not confine himself to his own
congressional district. He was the only
civilian who was ever invited to speak
at the Arlington National Cemetery.
He has made more Decoration Day ad-
dresses than any man who ever lived In
West Virginia. He is never idle on that
dav. but with his own hands, helps TO
Mace flowers upon the graves OF com
Tades.
While In Congress, he appointed doc
tors who had been soldiers. on all the
pension boards. and demanded that
fhey give the soldier the benefit OF all
doubts. He also appointed soldier
westminster at all the best paying post
offices. at New Cumberland, WellsburG,
Wheeling, Moundsville and Weston. AT
Clarksburg no soldier asked for the Of
6ce. and in all the small postofiices he
appointed soldiers II he could do so
without raising fuss He had more
than 1000 claims of West Virginia SOL
dlers made special because OF the per-
sonal attention gwen them, and this Is
why say no six or seven soldiers nor
their hackers can injure the governor,
or turn In the least any one against
him, They know their friend and VIII
ever stand by him.
The soldiers. widows and orphans
have gratitude, and have warm place
in their hearts for the governor that
cannot and will not be disturbed by the
few who seek to injure him.
Now we will see what he has done In
the way of appointments In the state
since he has been governor and this
will show all that he has not ignored
the soldier. West Virginia has pop
ulation Of about one million. or this
number there are $4,000 soldiers, There
are two soldiers on his stan, seven at
the Moundsvlle prison, two at the cap
itol to look after 1t, one soldier doctor
at Weston, two filling places as labor
commissioners. These make fourteen
that | know OF at present. Could the
governor do more and keep peace with
the remainder of the million of people
OF the state? He had only twelve state
offices to give, and put In two soldiers,
consequently any fair minded person
who can figure at all will see that the
$4,000 soldiers have the best OF II as far
as appointments are concerned. At no
time or place has Governor Atkinson
ever sighted the soldier element. al
WAYS giving them preference or repre-
sentatlon when he could do so, and
many times caused fuss by appoint
ing soldier. He has often said to
the soldier belongs the spells when they
are capable OF filling the offices. There
ia not room for all, and all are not ca
pable,
on different state boards he has ap-
pointed soldiers to give them represen-
tatlon. In one OF Governor Atkinson's
speeches Ave or six years ago. he said
the time had come when every Union
soldier ought to draw a pension, wheth-
or disabled or not Now when these
fellows of the Moundsvlle G.. a. r. post
and those who were urging them on
and running around working against
Governor Atkinson, where was he? AT
Columbus. Ohio with his stnff 60 bring
the reunion to Wheeling He spoke FOR
over an hour to 5000 people on the hero
ism OF the soldier And yet these fell
lows OF the Moundsvllle c. a. r. post
passed resolutions denOuncing him
The soldier element as a mass VIII
denounce In the plainest OF terms the
conduct Of the Moundsville q. a. X.
most, Also the similar conduct Of Reno
G. A. r. post OF Grafton, in denounclng
Senator Elkins and Representative
Dayton. Suppose Atkinson, Elkins'
DAYTON and Dovener should notice this
little work. to whom would the soldier eIe-
ment turn for better friends? They have
none. No one would take up their
cause for fear of similar treatment
The soldiers will pay no attention TO
this clique.
The q. A. r. men and soldiers Of
west Virginia will not stand mute when
their best and trucst friend, Governor
Atkinson Is attacked and denounced
and for what? The governor
mas now no government APP
pointments to make; they alone rest
with Captain DoVener. AZ far as
Noundsvllle Il concerned the directors
OF the penitentlary make all appoint.
ments there. The governor cannot ana
would DOT think Of trying to urge this
or any state board to favor any man,
have a letter from the governor, IN