Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-08-20
Washington Letter.
tFrOm Gee. W. Summer. ]

Anumber Of WestVirginians are among
the Americans who have been incon
yenienced in their travels by the war
in Europe. Some are on the other side
and can neither be heard from by their
friends nor receive word from their
people in thisSs country. Thousands of
requests have been made Of the State
Department by Americans for asslst-
ance in locating friends abroad, getting
money to them and assisting them to
return home. The Department is do
ing all it can to restore communication
between Americans abroad and their
friends on this side the ocean. but it is
difficult to accomplish this in many
cases. It is especially difficult to get
any information as to Americans IN
Germany or Austria, because of the
war conditions and the strict censorship
of those countries and the countries
through whi h.the messages must pass
1t is believed however that no Ameri-
can is in danger. the worst that could
happen being detention abroad and diff
ficulty in getting funds from home.
The Department is undertaking to sup
ply transportation and funds for all
Americans abroad who need assistance
in getting away from the territory i'm
volved in war. Solicitor General John
W.Davis and Mrs Davis. were among
the West Virginians Inconvenience by
the conditions. They were abroad and
were about to return when the war
broke out. On account of the difficult
ty in getting letters of credit honored
abroad they were without funds when
then landed and had to remain their a
few days before starting for Washing
ton. Congressman Nicely has been
asked by relatives of persons abroad to
assist in locating or getting aid to a
number of persons from West Virginia
Those for whom one kind of assistance
or another has been asked include Jacob
Koblegard, formerly of Weston, now of
Springfield, Ohio; and his son, r N
Koblegatd. who are supposed to be in
Germany; j. M Hartley, of Fairmont;
who was in Germany, but reached
Paris in safety; Miss Rose Sweeney
and Miss Grace Courtney. of Morgan
town; Misses Allie Fleming and Louise
Nichols, of Fairmont, and Miss Ger
trude Garden, of Wheeling. who were
at Lucerne, Switzerland; and Miss
Helen Harden. of Wellsburg, who was
in Italy.
Senator W. E. Chiffon and Congress-
man James A. Hughes were West Vir-
ginia members Of the Congressional
committee to attend to funeral of Mrs.
Woodrow Wilson. &
Congressman Brown was 5fiil
in his efforts to have post Office es-s
tablished temporarily at Caddell. Pres
ton county, where the Nationai Guard
encampment will be held.
The European situation and the pos
sibility of emergencies arising in this
country at any time have made it i'm
perative that quorum be maintained
at all times in Congress, and Democrat
ic Leader. Oscar Underwood, made a
special request for members to remain
in Washington. The request was not
needed for Congressman Nicely and
Brown for they have been very regular
in their attendance, only leaving town
when it was necessary, and then for
but few days at a time.
Congressman Sutherland finally filed
his expense accounts with the clerk of
the House, as required by law. but did
it month after he should have done SO.
Taylor George filed his first statement
as required. showing his expenses to
have been $11.50 He is required to
file another statement after the nomi-
nation which has been made in the
Second District.
William James, Progressive, also filed
statement as candidate in the Sec.
ond District, showing he had made ro
expenditures. Hugh Ike Shott's final
statement showed he had spent in all
81, 234. O6, exclusive of his assessment,
compared with $770 reported by Ed
ward Cooper, who defeated SHIFT.
West virginians in Washington are
interested in report that came from
the Progressive convention in the Sec
ond District, at Keyser, when n G..
Keim was nominated for Congress.
The report was to the effect that Geo.
M. Bowers, one of the candidates for
the Republican nomination for Con-
gresham, had declared himself to be
a Progressive. The report is interest
ing as showing the length to which the
average Republican will go to get votes.
George Bowers is regarded here as one
of the most reliable of all Stand. pat
tiers. He is classed with Uncle Joe"
Cannon himself in his adherence to the
reactionary principles. And yet report
has it that he declared that he is q
Progressive while he was at the Pro-
gressive convention trying to have
Howard Sutherland endorsed for Con-
gresham at Large.