The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-14
POLTTICAI,.

The ranks OF the Democracy ofthis city
ire at present in the midst Of most
Icrious domestic broil-one that seriously
threatens lis peace and prosperity. satur-
lay last, as is well known, the primaries
Tor city officers were held, and resulted in
great dissatisfaction to numerous jealous
for public favor. Saturday
night or rather Sunday morning, when
The result was announced at the city build.
ing, the first breeze Of discomfort was dis.
cernable, and during Sunday the disaHect.
ed parties gained largely in numbers.
What was said and done, however, was
In a quiet way, It being expected
that q recount Of the vote would DO made,
and that SO far as regarded the office Of
City Sergeant, between the candidates for
which the trouble arose, all questions Of
difference might possibly be amicably nd.
iusted. But recount was denied, and the
maelstrom which had so darkly threatened
trouble began to boil in all its fury among
the faithful, The painful suspense which
had existed because OF the uncertainty rs
to what would be finally done in the
premises gave way TO disorder, and the
hue and cry was soon raised by the tlisaf.
tected that to support the regular Demo.
cratic ticket rs returned by tic Judges Of
election would be TO uphold political
ctookedness and corruption. The leaders
Of the party have vainly attempted to
check the career Of the boilers, but with
Indifferent success.
A representative OF the INTILiIGENcPR
set about the task Of developingthe true in.
wardness OF the trouble, and the readers
OF the lNrELLI1ENCER are entitled 10 the
result OF his labor. The city building
was the first place visited, in search OF
Sergeant Smith, Entering that palace OF
economy, the scribe cast his eyes in all
directions, but failed to see the genial Ser.
geant. The Mayor, however, was on hand,
and in company with numerous deputies
and others was discussing very warmly
the merits OF Major James Sweeney's (not
majoriimsweeney's) card, announcing his
intention to free himself from the shackles
Of the cliques and rings through which
fraud was practiced, and become an indie.
pendent candidate for the Sergeantcy.
The Mayor was quite severe in his denun.
citation of tho attempt to go behind
the returns, and said that the
Majors proposed compromise was
q decided impossibility, i. e., that the
Democratic party could not allow the
voteto be rc.canvHssed and Republican
votes cast for both Smith and Sweeney
thrown out. Hesaid that to besur there
were Republican votes cast, but there was
no remedy. With tho Mayors views all
concurred with singular unanimity, and
appeared to greatly fear that the result Of
this announcement would result in the
utter defeat Of Smith, a gentleman in the
room 'remarking, mo matter who was
nominated by the party-even il it were
Toby lance-he should receive the full
support OF the party.p ag 81!
Passing on In quest OF further public
opinion, the scribe encountered another
prominent gentleman Of the Democratic
party--one whose views differed widely
from those ofthe Honorable Mayor. Ifs
impression was that great fraud had been
practiced; that Major Sweeney had been
NSttatAiy oNhlulGu OuL OLLle uOIulUHtlOn
"Why," said he, Jump in my sleigh
here, and take a trip with me through the
different districts ""I suppose you know
said he, "that the Sixth Ward Is the bone
OF contention. In that ward more ballots
than voters have been cast. Shutting
has been carried on to a great extent, and
unless Major Sweeney insists on re-
canvass OF that vote, or runs independent
shall lose all confidence in him."
BY this time We had arrived in the Sixth
ward where the cry OF fraud was long and
loud, and our reporters ears were greatly
astonishGd thereat. But passing on down
into the Eighth ward the dlafIectior
seemed more general. In the two ward.
named, and the Fifth, but few came in
our way who did not favor the boilers
Before returning 10 the central portion Of
the city Major Sweeney himself was on.
countercd, and talked quite freely in jus
titicatIon Of his course, stating in substance
about as follows: -. -..
Rep.-Well, Major, do you intend to re
pudiate the action OF the primaries and
consent to the us0 OF your namo Us an in,
dependent candidate Tor Sergeant?
Major-Yes, will submit my claims tc
tho suffrage Of tho people, and MOTTO one
or two Of them. l have positive EVIDENCE
that the vote was not fair one.
Just at this point gentleman came up,
and in the presence of the Major stated
that the report was current that the Sixth
ward ballot hox was missing, and TINT
some cvil-disposed person had even start
ed the rlmor that it had been taken to the
Register Office, where it still remained
minus the ballots. III.
Rcp.-ln that event, Major, you cannot
recanvass the Vot01
Maior-That Is the point. There can be
no rccanvass, and my proposition to that
effect, and to abide by an honest decision,
Is perhaps not now in the power OF the
Judges Of election. 8N'Fi
Rep.-Then there is no possibility what.
ever OF your reGonsidortng9 .sr.
Major-No; my friends advise me to run,
Rep.-But will not TINT course split the
vote between Smith and yourself and elect
an outsider? 'tg -r al
Major-Not a bit of it; am confident Of
success y, {. 4. hut road NY cRFd and YOU will soc
AEnumbor of gentlemen and promi.
inent member OF Council OF the South
Side were also interviewed, who expressed
great surprise at the rupture between the
two factions. Among these WAS Sheriff
George K. Tingle, whom the scribe sue.
ceeeded in button-holing at a late hour
last evening. s. ~! .a'1 ~ Pm (
"Mr. Sheriff." said the reporter with a
tblandlike smile, "could you be persuaded
to tell what You know about municipal
asher1E-some things, q suppose you
hear all sorts Of stories. Now, take Porter
Smith, for instance; he helped me to be
elected Sheriff, and helped him 10 defeat
Jim Sweeney, Why shouldn't n Sweeney
Is n toolin Little AL! Caldwell's hands, and
because Porter Smith threw AL. Caldwell
overheard for Senator, Caldwell Is running
Sweeney TO defeat Smith, and at the same
timo punish mo, CaId,RN Neyer ,Vlel a
straight Democratic iickCt III hh nfs, and you
can say so. There's Andy Sweeney, too
He informed Capt. John Mcclure that in
case no lSEpeney) failed to get the nomi.
nation Tor Mayor, that he Sweeney