Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1916-03-02
Our Washington Letter.
Geo. W. Summers.)

possible war looming On the horizon.
It has been a critical period with cool
heads and calm. deliberately very
much needed and, e time. when every
member of Congress should have
been in his seat. international af-
fairs were under consideration, with
the peace Of the nation threatened,
and wrong step might have plunged
the nation into the horrors of modern
war Party lines were forgotten and
patriotism overshadowed all. =. 1t. may
be of interest to the readers Of the
Independent 10 know how the West
Virginia 'represeHtattveess in the, tNo
houses of Congress acted unde;f; the
strain Senator Golf Vas away from
the city, as usual. He is rarely here
and even at this critical stage in the
affairs of the nation he was not pres
ent. Congressmanat-Large Suther-
land was ont in West Virginia trying
to determine which Office he would be
candidate for at the coming cleo
ton. It was not g question whether
he would be candidate or not, hut
as to which Office he would seek.
Congressman Cooper was in Mercer
county looking after private business
matters, while Congressman Moss has
not sufficiently recovered from his
recent very serious illness 10 be back
in the House. He has been genuinely
sick and was unable to attend to his
duties in the House. Of course. Sena-
tor Golf and Congressman Cooper
may have felt that their private in
terests were OF greater Importance
than the affairs of the nation, and
Mr.. Sutherland may have felt that his
political future was OF greater i'm
portance than that Of the United
States, but Senator Chiffon and Con-
gressmen Nicely, Brown and Little
page did not look at it in that light
and each Of them was here through
out the furry, ready 10 assume his
part CT the responsibility of whatever
it might he found necessary 10 do. Ii
seems little strange that at timc
CT national danger the four Repnh!!-
cans from Wcs. Virginia, in Senate
and House. were all absent and the
four Democrats in he two houses
were IL! present but these are the
facts.
The safety first" policy of the Blu
rcau OF Mines, under the present adj
ministration, is bringing good results.
according to figures given out by the
Bureau of Mines, with respect to
casualties in coal mines. The men
killed in coal mines of the United
States in 1915 is the lowest in the
last eight years. The death rate for
each. ! Onn mon employed in coal
mines is the lowest in sixteen years.
The number Of tons Of coal produced
for each miner killed is the largest
in the entire history Of coal mining
in the United States.
The West Virginia Society OF Wash
ington held its second annual dinner
last Wednesday. Many prominent
West Tirginians scheduled for
speeches were unable to attend, but
Corporation Counsel Conrad II. Sylae,
of Washington. and Congressman ".
G. Brown made addresses. Mr..
Browns speech vas most favorably
received by the West Virgin;ans re-
ga-dlcss Of politics. Mrs. Brown re-
ceived many compliments and great
applause on hcr recitation OF poem
by st. john 3ycr, entitled "Montani
Semper Libcri."
Mrs. John W. Davis. Of ClaTksburg,
wife o! The Solicitor General. was in
vited by Justice J. c. McReylolda, of
the Supreme Court, to act as hostess
for him at a dinner given Saturday
night to Chief Justice and Mrs. White
and the other justices of the Supreme
Court. Being bachelor, Justice Nc
Reynolds called upon the wife Of his
friend, the Solicitor General, TO assist
in welcoming his guests.
In addition 10 their participation in
the consideration Of the international
situation, Senator Chiffon and Con-
gressmen Nicely, Brown and Little
page have been quite busy with other
matters Of general legislation as we'll
as with matters of interest TO their
constituents especially. rs chairman
of the subcommittee that is hearing
the charges against Louis D. Bran
deis, Senator Chiffon has been excep-
tionally busy, with hearings al fire.