Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-20
ACounter Movement.
IT, The Editor Of the Register

S!E-In the So-Called citizens movement
in this city there Is 4 serious revolution OF
our city government contemplated, and
though the revolution is in its infancy, il
has already assumed threatening, ii not
dangerous proportions. First, the few
leaders have masked the revolution with q
name that carries reSTec, with it-"A Cit
liens Movement
Second. il is presumed 10 be for reform.
Reform is q common password for men OF
evil design whilst rushing bal and vicious
laws through legislative bodies.
Tie active leaders Ui this movement pro-
pose 10 diSiranchi>e ali the citizens Of
Wheeling as far as the election of city
officers is concerned, and give the CITY
Council power 20 appoint all such officers
in the future 10 lucrative offices. This
wholesale DISTINGUISHING OF the maSSe~ i
a Obstructive blow aimed at our popular
form OF government. and to speak mildly
about il. il is bold step taken by the
shrewd leaders that worked up this Wash
ingtOn Hall meeting. The most prominent
cause for this revolution. the speaker at
Wash nytun Hall tod his followers, was
that the superintendent; q: tn water works
elected by the people, hadno Omnipresencc.
that is. ne could not re every where at the
same time There i nothing in the past
history s,f Wheeling 80 Justify any such
a revolution of her government as that pro-
To>cd in the preamble and resolutions got
ten up for The Washington Hail meeting.
The sacrifice demanded Of the people is TOO
great without first trying to perfect the
existing evils complained of, under our
present honest form. We believe theEe Is
room for reform about the management o.
our water works system, but we dom be-
lievc that the first step taken in that re-
form should be to diSfranchise the people
bv a legislative act that al the same time
would confer on Council the appointing
power now vested in the people. We be-
lieve that the appointing power would have
no tendency to make our COuncil any more
homes: in the future than they have been
i'm the past. and honesty is said 10 be the
best kind of policy.
But We are told we must have a change
and have commissioners - appoint their
fayOriteS TO offices as they really d.
in other cities. Well, we hal
not much luck with the only one depart
menI uf our city government THAI has been
run by commissioners as for as business Ca
paciiV was concerned. Negligence, free OF
responsibility at one end and systematic
study at the other. and big bonanza i'll the
middle for the lawyers trying to recover
the people's stolen money. Did ever such
A thing happen through the officers elected
by the peoplcP No. Is there a city in the
United states with such u population as
we have better governed by a small polls!
force. Now, granting that those OF us who
are dissatisfied with our present system of
choosing our executive officers would meet
no opposition, would it be possible or prob
able that the present legislature would
pass an act Of DISTINGUISHING. which would
be obnoxious, in our opinion. TO nine
tenths of the voters of this city,,
Let the citizens of Wheeling come aud
reason together on this grave subject let
our Councilman and Legislators, whom We
elected. come rs citizens and reason with
the people. A hearty invitation is extern
ded 10 all who believe in the government
of the people in the State and city. to meet
at ST. Alfonso Hall ON Saturday night, Jan.
Uary p. CITIZENS.