The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-28
Repcls the Insinuntlons put Forth
In n Local Paper.
EXPLAINS HOW THE COMPANY
OF WHEELING VOLUNTEERS DID
NOT SECURE PARTICIPATION IN
THE CALL FOR TRooPs-THE
ORGANIZATION WAS MADE
WITHOUT THE CONSENT or
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL-oN-
: LY THE ORGANIZED MILITIA
NEEDED TO FILL THE QUOTA.

Governor Atkinson has been inter-
viewed regarding the silly charges
made through the columns OF the local
evening sheet, relative to his treatment
OF the Wheeling Volunteers In their ef-
forts 10 secure participation IN the
first call for troops. It is but Just to the
membership OF the Wheeling Volunteers
that they do not share the sentiments
and did not make the mlsstatements
they We're credited with making by
the paper mentioned. Most OF them are
sensible young men who do not ap-
prove Of the spleen vented In their be-
half ~ by the evening paper.
Governor Atkinson says:
Some weeks ago, | was Informed
through the newspapers, that several
young gentlemen organized q company
without any authority from the adju-
tant general OF the state, with the view
OF getting said company Into the Ma
tional Guard. 1t Is q fact that probably
ten or twelve other companies were or
ganized In the same manner, oil OF
whom expected TO get into the FIRST cal!
made BY the President for West Vir-
gin!l troops. These companies could
not be considered for two reasons:
First, the President called for state
troops, and we had two regiments OF
state troops on hands, and only one
regiment of volunteers was called for,
and,
Second, none OF the persons who or
g1nized these companies had any au-
ttority SO TO do. The Wheeling boys, I'M
PEELED by patriotic and proper motives,
felt like theT ought to volunteer 10 de-
fend their country. This was all right,
but they should have secured proper,
authority to organize such company be-
fore proceeding. which they did not do.
This clipping which you hand me states
that this Wheeling company refused to
so into the National Guard OF the state,
and gave as reason for 1t that they do
not propose to serve under me, and then
goes on to say that Governor Atkinson
brought disgrace upon the First regi-
ment by his inconsistent action, and by
sending them out Of the state looking
like tramps.'
Anyone who has as much sense as q
peewee knows that did not send the
First regiment out OF the state at ALL
AS soon as they were mustered in as
volunteers they were under the control
OF the President of the United States,
and his secretary Of war ordered them
to be sent to Chickamauga.
Il felt 1t to be my duty to allow the
National Guard OF the state to so 70 the
front on the first call of the President,
Tor two reasons:
First-Because the President called
for state troops, and.
Second-Because felt that the men
VINO had been members of our State
Guard for years,and had sacrificed time
ana money to make soldiers out of
themselves. should have precedence
over outsiders. like the Wheeling com
pany that Is engaged in the business Q.
roasting me. stood By the Guard be-
cause 1t Is right and proper that II
should, and under the same circum-
stances, l would do so again.
- naturally feel friendly toward the
Wheeling young men who desire to get
into the war with Spain The most o Z
them are very worthy young men, anG
g large number OF them being gradu-
ates from Linsly Institute, are well
drilled. but, for the reasons above civ
en-, they can readily see that I could
not allow them TO be taken under the
flrst call, because that would be mani
testify unjust to the State Guard. I.
this clipping, which you have handed
me from an alleged newspaper publish
ed in Wheeling, correctly reports our
wheeling boys, I respectfully beg to
say TO them that so far as know. no
one In authority has ever asked them TO
join the National Guard of West Viz
E!nia, and II they are correctly reported
by the newspaper referred to. it Is quite
likely that they never will be asked 10
connect themselves with the State
Guard of West Virginia. 1t is vera
difficult for me to understand how men
Ean refuse TO do thing which they
have never been asked to do. The state
OF west Virginia is n very large batch
OF territory, and has nSount one mil
hon OF people within its boundaries, and
am quite confident we will have no
trouble In getting all the companies we
can possibly use in our State Guard
without calling upon the gentlemen in
Wheeling who seemingly, take special
delight In roasting him. referring TO
the governor OF the state. II any
company or body of men Is DESTROYS TO
become part OF the National Guard. n
call VIII be presented to them In proper
form by the adjutent general OF West
Virginia. -
This is all have to say"
. y