The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-03
An Outsiders Injustice.

n charleston special IN the PlttsDurgh
Dispatch says there is much dIssatisfac-
ton 1.-THE state, capital Of West vlr-
ginia because the wal department has
ordered the state truops to assemble at
Martinsburg TO await orders to move to
the front, after being mustered in at
Charleston. The Dispatch news does
not say that this dissatisfaction exists
among the volunteers. who. like all good
soldiers. are presumably willing to go
wherever they are ordered. 1t seems
that the trouble Is largely. to use the
words Of the Dispatches special. among
the politicians and business men," and
the statement Is made that they are dis
appointed in being deprived Of receiving
the $4,000 monthly that will be e1pend-
cd by the troops while they remain at
the rendezvous" also that Charleston
estimates her lioss at $780, ZOO. There
fore, the special says. Faulkner and
Elkins, are bitterly denounced,"-thIs
because, says the intelligent staf cor
respondent OF the Dispatch, Martinsburg
is the;"home OF both Elkins and Faulk-
ner."
II this Is all there is in the dissatls-
faction, the state and the war depart
ment will both survive the shock. The
government Is conducting the war. and
not the politicians and business men OF
Charleston. and II the government de-
sires the rendezvous at the most Access
slble point to the national capital, what
have the two senators named to do with
1t? There Is no politics In the matter.
and why should there be? In a time OF
war, why should any political or busi-
ness interest be consulted in the mere
matter OF a rendezvous OF a regiment of
volunteers?
II the Dispatch's staff correspondent
was sent 10 Charleston, for the purpose
OF stirring up discussions there or any
where else in West Virginia. he should
have posted himself better, so that
there might have been some logical and
reasonable grounds stated for the al
legged dissatisfaction. HIS statement
that M~artinsburg is the home OF both
Mr.. Elkins and Mr.. Faulkner. is one
evidence of his lack OF information.
The business men OF the state capital
are naturally disappointed, II they had
hoped to make profit OF the regiment as
sembl!ng there, but why should they de-
nounce political leaders for that disap-
pointment? Is the government. in issu-
Ing war orders. expected to consult the
wishes OF any particular community de-.
string to make n few dollars OF profit, in
designating a place for the troops to as
semble?
We believe, however, that the Pitts
burgh Dispatches staff man has done the
business men Of Charleston an injustice
In advertising them as placing their
wish to make profit OF such an occasion
above the submission to the will Of those
who have the work Of organizing the
volunteer army in hand. AS for the
politicians; We are at a loss to under
stand what political advantage or Issue
is involved in the matter.
The sensational press outside OF West
Virginia Is permitting itself to be gross
ly deceived into believing that the politi-
cal and financial future OF West Virgin
las state capital depends on the mere
concentration OF a regiment OF volun-
teers at some other point. Whatever
dissatisfaction has existed among the
volunteers Is not due to any concern
they have for the politicians or supply
men who were looking for an opportunI-
ty for gain; but to entirely different
causes which have been cleared up, and
are unnecessary to discuss.