Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-07-12
Elected sheriff

In the fall of 1870 he was
Elected sheriff
of that county, and held the office three
wears. In 1874 he was elected Mayor Of
Buffalo, receiving hundreds Of Republican
votes, although he was the Democratic
candidate. As MayOr he confirmed the
good opinion entertained for him by honest
men OF all parties Exercising the veto
power unsparingly, he was the means OF de
teating MANY corrupt municipal Jobs organ
izing in his own Is well Is the Republican
party. and by the utmost care and vigilance
he saved to the taxpayers many thousands
of dollars which, Il he had performed his
duty less consequently might have been
uthlessly Squandered 1t was while adj
ministering this office that he came into
notice Cuisine the city ut his resi3rnCe
When - Successor was ia ~ selected for
Gov. A. b. Cornell Mr. Cleveland was only
mentioned rs "a possible candidate. Cornell
had incurred the bitter hate OF his former
friends and patrons Of the staIwart wing of
the party bv abandoning them during the
first few months OF the Garfield adminiStra-
ton. and they determined to crush him In
this they had no doubt the support of
President Arthur. Secretary FOiger was
selected as the Stalwart candidate. His
was secured bv = most diSreputa-
ole use of the machine and forged proxies
in the nominating convention. When the
public fully understood the matter the IN
dignatiou was great Two Of the nominees
for state offices ON the same ticket with
Folger withdrew refusing to accept nom
nations which thew had reason to believe
were inspired Nv fraud. The republican
leaders were thrown into CONSERVATION.
After MANY vain attempts fill the vaCau-
cies on their ticket. and when almONt on the
pJint of giving pin despair, thew secured
the consent Of two obscure individuals to
stand in the breach. Republicans of I'M
doubted loyalty to their party were ont.
,poken i'm their condemnation OF the man
ayers. who were believed to De responsible
tor the scandals attached to their Organlza-
ton.
The democrats responded by
Nominating Grover Cleveland,
and his election over Mr.. Folger was one of
the most remarkable events in American
poHtics. He carried the State BY ma
ioritv of Ig6, 900. He carried almost every
county in the State. The vote was light,
comparativelv showing that thousands of
Repubhcans remained away from the polls.
Ii IS probable that many Democrats, feeling
confident of the election of their candidate
also failed to vote.
That the character and record of Grover
u l.. / ~ do
collapse of the party in the State there can
be no doubt. His manly bearing, the fail
urc of his enemies to find single vulner'
able point in his record and the fact that
many Staunch Republican newspapers were
enthusiastic in his support, gave him in'
creased strength daily. His partiSanShip
WAS not of the brutal. uuthinking kind, and
that made him more acceptable to fair men
driven temporarily from their own party.
Mr.. Cleveland has found large opportuni-
ties for man Of his mold
In the GubernStorial OHiee.
His thorough legal training has served him
we'll in the executive chair. 1t is some
wears since thorough lawyer-Mr Tilden
last held the office The practice of Gov;
Cleveland is to thoroughly scan all the bills
sent to him. and not to seek the advice of
outside LAWYERS, as some governors have
done. He makes thorough work of this in
spection. and his yetoeS carry conviction
with them There could be no other out
come after his application of a strictly legal
ANALYSIS to the mass of crude legislation
that reaches him. In spite Of the. amend
ment to the State constitution torbidding
special legislation many bills of that sort
have entered that chamber only to be killed.
The same care and pa:nstaking have been
observable when more general interests were
at stake. Last year he vetoed the scent
elevated railway fare bill in justice to
the contract between the corporations
and the State, although he knew il was an
unpopular thing to do. Then he vetoed 8
general street railroad bill because the
rights of the people were too loosely guard
ed, but similar bill more carefully drawn
has received his signature. His veto Of the
Buffalo FIRE department was against the In
terests of certain partI managers in hi:
home CITY, but he vetoed it because it wa:
not in the interest of the people At large
The same care of the public led him to vetC
a bill which removed many Of the presen
restrictions and allowed tie trustees Of saw
ings banks to invest in wildcat securities
The holders OF such securities, Of course
were the advocates Of the measure. Hi
veto Of the prison commission BAL was be
cause he thought the commission oaght Il