Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-03-22

These figures illustrate the unbound
ing influence and power of the News,
-12 votes for the removal ticket, prop
er, which was especially championed
by the News, and whose convention
was presided over by the distinguished
editor, out of total of 1917 votes, and
it is said of the IL were cast by rela
tives and employees of the editor, and
Wagner, the head of the removal tick
ct and candidate on the Democratic
ticket. l3S votes behind his associates on
the Democratic ticket.
That was the extent of the influence
of the News two years ago. Now, not
withstanding the powerful editorials of
the News, 1900 people of Peass township,
authorized to petition in such matters,
have asked the General Assembly to
pass the Locke bill, and that, too, on
their own motion, and without any sug
gestion from elsewhere.
The News gabbles about submitting
the question of the location of theseat
of justice to vote of the people. This
feature of the question has been fully
presented in these columns on more
than one occasion, still it seems there
are people who persist in talking
and writing about locating seats of JUS
tice in Ohio by vote of the people, and
it becomes necessary to again call the
attention of such persons to section 80
Of article of the Constitution, and to
the further fact that every bill ever in
trodueed upon this subject in the Ohio
Legislature, until that of the Honorable
D. " gener, of the present session, dis
tinctly recited that the county seat of
such county "be, and the same is hereby,
removed" sc. In the bill presented by
Mr.. Atkinson, three years ago, and
which was so signally beaten in the
House On square vote, these words,
substantially, appeared. And then there
was proviso that the people of Bell
aire should do so and SO, and that unless
they did within specified time the act
should be void and of no effect, and then
further proviso that the act should be
submitted to the people of the county, for
adoption or rejection. Suppose, to il
lustrate, that bill had passed, and that
the people Of the county had adopted it
in the manner prescribed in the act, but
that the people of Bellaire had failed to
comply with the requirements of the
act, would the fact that the people of
the county had voted to ratify it have
removed the county seat? OF coulse
not. That the location of seats of jus
tice is legislative act no intelligent
man who will take the trouble to in
vestigate the matter can for moment
doubt.
This question has become monotonous
with the Legislature, and now that that
body after successive committees and sue
cessiye Legislatures have found there is
no cause for removal, exhibits disposi-
tion to give the matter what the Cadiz Re-
publican terms "heroic treatment" and
put an end to it for all time, this editor,
who did not influence the opinions of a
dozen people Of his township, assails the
committee to whom the matter was re-
ferred, and the Speaker, and, indeed, has
no good word for any one except our es-
teemed Representative, the Hon. d.
Wagener, and then has the charming ef-
frontery to offer his valuable opinion as
to the effect this thing or that thing may
have upon the future of the Republican
party. Did not Mr.. James H. Drennen,
editor of the News. preside over con-
vention which nominated David Wage-
ner for Representative in the General
Assembly? Did he not vote for and
otherwise support Wagner, and that.
TOO. when there were grave fears that
the Republicans might lose member
of an important General Assembly :?
With such a record, what amazing eff
frontery that he should volunteer his
advice to the Republicans of Belmont