Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-05-13

Mr.. Rutlsdge has been through the
political mill and com es cut unscath-
ed. HIS conduct throughout the or
deal has been above reprosch. He has
been put under great pressure during
the past week especially by the rasp-
ing asseVerations OF the pestIferous
SuburbaDite who for several days psr-
sisted in throwing his harpoon butNr.
RuIedge bore himself manfally like
the gentleman he is. He was misguided
and SO far made a mistake. The great
est mistake of the entire campaign
was bringing into the town the force
of armed men who were designed
as watchers at the polls. This we do
not think Mr.. RutIedge was response
BILE for but must be laid at the door
of his committee. If the committee
wanted watchers at the polls why did
they not do the watching them selves?
They knew the people whom they
| thought needed watching and they
were In every way better qualified
to erform such duties than any
strangers whom they might bring
into the town. The second mistake
made was that the men were permitted
to go on duty armed, veritahle walking
arsenals, in open violation of the law.
l his action was resented by the people
I with terrible effect, They saw that the
very men who had started oat to puri-
| fly matters and enforce the law were
the first TO break the law and set it at
defiance. 1t was most fortunate
| thing that the men were picked up
| When they were for it would have been
q miracle if the day had passed by
without collision between the detec-
tiNes and the local political workers
and The strangers being alone would
very naturally have supposed thems-
elves IN danger long before they were
and somebody would have been
killed or cippled and perhaps riot
followed, There Is nothing which peo-
pie will so quickly and mere vigorous
Iy resist than the interference ia their
elections by foreigners.
he scheme was more the action of
set of boys of the dime novel reading
variety than of staid, peace loving bus
iness men aRd good citizens. The pso-
| pie would never have submitted 10 he
slightest interference with their mat
ters toy these men and had they not
have been arrested and removed from
the streets there would have been
| trouble on the streets between them
and the people before noon which
would have doubtless ended in riot and
blood shed. We repeat that it was
most fortunate thing that the men
were arrested just when they were.
w e cannot say much for the discre-
ton of the men who came here at such
hazard or the agency which sent
them. That they were armed is not TO
be wondered at. Who of the gentlemen
who were Instrumental In bring these
menIto Martinsburg would go to Hag-
erstown or any other place to poke
their noses into elections at those
places, knowing that they would
most certainly get the populace down
gu them, without going armed? We
dare say there is not man of them
who would ge on such an GRAND even
with company of the best trained
reg ulsIs at his back. With due respect
for all the gentlemen who were inter
estec in the matter we think it one of
the most foolish things we ever heard
of
The unfortunate men who are now
langufshing in jail are to be pitied.
They seem TO have come there without
any knowledge Of the drastic law OF
West Virginia against the carving Of
dangerous and deadly weapons and
they have the sympathy of the entire
people