The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-05-24
why WHEELING W0RKINGMEN
FAVOR JUDGE IRA ROBINSON

year on the workmen's compensation
bureau. and that something over %.
accidents per year are reported. In
other words. for about S3.lO per case the
Norsmcn's Compensation Bureau inves-
tigates. reports on and adjudicates all
the casualty claims in the state. Near
y every case requires a special inves-
ugatton and report. Some require two
or more Investigations. I happen 10
know one Inspector OF the workmen's
Compensation Bureau right in wheel
ING who frequently works Is hours per
day on his Investigations and reports.
For any one TO say that investigation.
report and adjudication Of claims at a
cost OF 1910 per case is extrAvaKant. is
a ridiculous absurdity. Yet that Il
what Mr.. Barton alleges in his letter.
Then Mr.. Barton goes on in his letter
20 tell wha General Lilly Will do to
improve the workmen's compensation
bureau. and 20 improve the law. " he
becomes governor. God help the Work.
mems Compensation law. n Abe" Lilly
and his bunch get into power. The
workingmcn OF the state had to night
for the Workmen's Compensation law.
and every inch OF the way they had TO
hght the very men who are now backing
Abe Lilly for governor. The opposition
10 the Workmen's Compensation law did
not come from the manufacturer OF
northern West Virginia. but from the
coal operators. headed by Tay-
Tor Ninson. and financed by such men as
Nickel and Huston. the very mon who
arc directing Lilly's campaign for gov
crnor. The working men remember. too.
that these men were influential enough
IN the legislature to mutilate the nrst
law. passed IN 1919. and TO force a limit
on the assessments that made II i'm
possible TO collect from the coal COM
panies their fun and equitable ~casualty
charge. They know. too. that when. in
1915. they sought to amend the law. to
make II equitable. they again had to
hght the coal operators who are now
backing Lilly.
The workinEmcn OF West Virginia.
moreover. know another thing. That
Is. in a famous case the martial law
case arising from the Cabin Creek
strike. Judge Ira Robinson. In an at
mosphore absolutely loaded, with hate
and opposition to the striking miners.
had the courage and honesty alone TO
resist the demand Of the coal operators.
and To rcndor a dissenting opinion. vim
dicating the constitutional rights Of
American citizens. M this opinion
practically took 90 miners and sympa-
thizcrs out Of the jails 10 which they
had been sent by drum-hcad court-mar-
tails; that thus opinion Of Judge Rob
inson was commended IN the senate OF
tho United States. and has been uni
Ncrsally accepted. while on the other
hand A.. \. Lilly went before the invcs-
tigating commission appointed by the
United states Senate and spent days
trying TO Justify the martial law pro-
Ccdurcs.
These are some OF the things which
the working men OF this section know.
and they are reasons why tho very
large majority OF them. without regard
20 party. prefer Judge Robinson TO 4. A.
Lilly FOR governor. From Judge Robin
son We expect friendly consideration
and fair treatment. From Lilly. We OK
pect nothing.
Very truly.
'HAS. j.. HIGGINS.
President state Federation Of Labor.