The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-03-22
GEO. M. SHOOK co.
Washington News OF
Interest To West Va,
spectaI Dispatch to tho lnteill&knesr.

, WASHINGTON, D. G., Mar. 2i;-
Had there been a railroad strike,
which happily has been averted, rail-
road men here are of the opinion that'
as in the great strike or 1877, Its Dc,
thinning would have centereQ IN Hnu
about MartinsbUrg, w. Va. Thus, ms
torv would have been repeating itself.
This opinion Is based on the lacl
that on Sunday 1000 employees, on me
Y. & O.'s Brunswick Cum periana
branch, 100 miles, we're out all tnat
day being unaware that the toTt!,
eight hour postponement oroer hau
been issued.
Martinsburg was the first storm
confer of the great 1877 strike. 1t
started there and spread rapidly, Gull
minating in the riots, incendlariSm
and great destruction OF property al
Pittsburgh, which brought in federal
Regulators 10 restore order, the state
militia refusing to obey orders, the!l
sympathy being with the strikers;
This was what happened at Mat
tinsburS also, although federal troops
iwcre not sent there. But the vs.
VIRGINIA militia, the first ana only
time in Its history, practicaily lnui,,
MED They responded promptly
nnongh but do strike duty they would
MOT On the contrary. they not only
refused TO fire on mobs OF strikers put
actually Joined with them in stopping
trains and destroying property.
In the light OF the present day CON
1itions the men in that iar-distant
YEAR had real grievances. They were
irreruiarly employed and irregularly
Maid, They were kept away from
home in idleness and 1t their own
nynense DAYS at a time. Work and
honrs we're Increased with no increase
in wages, Heavier trains, involving
Longer working hours, made no chanGe
lin tho nav check, wages being based
solely on mileage. The final straw
was 10 per cent wage reductlon'
Then began at Martinsburg the great.
cst railroad strike in the history or
his country, greater than the 1874
strike, which centered at chicago
Senator Sutherland has been mott
fnd bv the pension bureau that an
Increased pension Of $50 month has
been awarded Mrs. Martha X. rage
nj Parkersburg. \ claim for an IN
crease WAS filed in behalf OF WIN. L.
Swiger, Of Lumherport.
FlayIus H. Cecil has been appointed
the first postmaster OF Il new ol'Ce
which has been established IN N!nh
ing county. ". Va. and officially chris
tened Caloric.
When the West Virginia members
of cungrcss-srnator and represents,
tiyes-return here to actively TAKE up
their duties. each will find broom
stick, bearing complimentary L35'
III corrvi,,c, with II an argument lOT
military preparedness as Impressive
nc any speech ever written or pam
nhIet published In an effort 10 ger the
rational government 10 pull us
ostrIch.like head out Of the Sano o.
snug security and miscellaneous pac!i-
ism. Every member OF congress nds
ono of these broomstick souvenirs
awaiting him. ,:,.o
These broomstiCks have 4 history.
They have been In USE sine" last May
nv members Of the Officers reserve
rnrns and candidates for that organ
iya,ion drilling at Governors lSlanu.
The government couldn't furnish these
patrints rifles. 50 they used pro0si'
sticks Nor is the government ape
to supply them with rifles now, huL
rnn hrrnm9lirks were discarded last
wopk for wooden guns.
The West VirginianS in congress, II
NAV be added. are forchanded men,
mractical 10 the core. They have
voted for every measure looking 10
military and naval preparedness which
has been before senate anu mousse.
Large slices OF Tho private fortunes
OF Nicholas. dcpnsed car OF RUSSIA
and Wilhelm, emperor Of Germany