Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-09-11
CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS.

CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS.
The people of Ohio county have four
members of the House of Delegates to
elect on the 10th of October. They
have also to assist in eleeting State
Senator; and to elect in the ten districts
into which the county is divided, ten
members of the Board of Commission
ers. These latter gentlemen levy the
taxes-and spend them-while the first
1.-THE members of the Legislature make
the laws. At the same election one
third ofthe members of the City School
Board is to be elected.
The county can have no more inn
portant election than this. The cleo
ton of a Sheriff, or of President, does
not so nearly concern the people whom
we are now addressing.
As the time approaches for the NOM
nation of a ticket to be voted for the
same old cry, heard for years, comes up
from the people, that they want able,
honest, efficient men, and that nothing
short of this will satisfy them. This is
greatly to their credit, but something
else s needed than this crying in the
wilderness, to insure their happiness.
Those who are expected to do the voting
ct the general election must also take
a hand at the primaries and see for
themselves that the right kind of ma
terial is used in the formation of ticket.
Thepeople, who are the soyereigns, have
it in their power to prevent bad
nominations, if they take The trouble
to do it. Because certain persons
want places, whether or not they are fit
to nil them, is no particular reason they
should be gratified. Other eOnsidera-
tons, equally weighty should enter
into the problem. The first and most
important point to be settled in the
status of candidate is favorable an
swer to these important questions:
Is he capable?
l. he honest?
Has he the confidence of the people?
If he does not fully meet all these re-
quirements, he should be promptly dis
carded, no matter who wants him, and
without the slightest reference to whose
political or personal interests he is ex-
pected to serve.
1t too often happens that men neg
lect or refuse to put in an appearance at |
the primaries and then, when anOmi-
nation takes place that is not fit to be
made, they publicly rail at the party
and privately come, to the conclusion
that the country is going to destruction.
If these well-meaning citizens could
only be persuaded to go to the primaries
and aid in sending the proper men to
the Nominating COnventiOns-men
who care more about the interests Of the
public and of their party than those Of
anyparticular individual-much evil and
many heart-burnings would be avert
ed, In answer to this proposition, it
is frequently said that it is really no use
to do so, that little rings are formed in
the interests of aspiring and unserupu-
lous people, and that the will Of the bet
ter classes is unceremOniously trampel-
ed upon.
When such is the case beyond s
doubt, another remedy can easily be in-
voked-a harsh one, it is true, but as
necessary and as perfectly justiiable as
it is To cut out a cancer to save life
to strike from the ticket all such I'M
worthy names and make it as possible
for a camel to crawl through the eye OF
cambria needle as to elect an unfit man
to Office.
The Democracy of Ohio county have
in their crowded ranks plenty of able,
honest. and representative men to
choose from in making up a ticket.
These, and only these, should be TAKEN
and the selection of any other at this
time will certainly imperil good cause
that may be fatally wounded in the
house of its friends. 1t cannot triumph
if it loses public confidence by making
improper nominations.