The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-08
"sTOP, THEFT"
Ths UnGSasIlpE Cry of Porter smsIh-B!s
Folly.

..,.rT,n ,,,,,,t,sn,
Aor, lnLHF
Ths unHyAGlIpE Cry Of Porter smlIh-EIs
Folly.
To he Editor Ofhs Ia,eQlpaner.
SR.-While | Approve of the motive
,o,rot;ro tbo tvrr,, ,o,xrpp in Ito arroi,n.
'''u"'is wv Nv -'.'''I 80 -. - s' =,
ment ana exposure Oh fot'er su''h ana
his mRl-administration and the moral
erooSedness OF his deputies, l think more
oonlJ h.yo beor ,ncomnIisboJ ,,,inst
Sou'N I' $3.50 e., -
MN anu nlS uePu''es ny pursuing "no'siVf
course, which was simply to furnish the
evidence on which tho charges were
Lo.od n ,I,o Nfovor aud ;or tho Mnvor IN
'A''N w -"
nave preferred theu, rs n"u 10 oe u"he
before they were actionable before Coun-
Gil. This mode OF proceeding against the
Sergeant aud his force would have been
more effective aud final than the contia-
ued publication OF the Sergeant and his
force before the public, which was well
calculated to Greats feeling OF sympathy
however false and undeseryed it might
bel for him. both among his immediate
partissns and personal sympathizers.
AS 10 tue cnafses PEeIetTeu aSalusI tue
Sergeant and his force, | suppose there
are but few indeed, in the city in both
parties, but what believe they are strictly
true, aud that Council made grave mis-
take, inflicted Il great and grievous wrong
upon the people oil the city, when 1t, by
strict party vote, arrested the investl-
cation by recalling the COMMITTEES. This
action OF Council leaves the Sergeant and
his lorce in u much worse condition than
when the investigation hVst began. In
law, this is equivalent TO confession and
positive conviction.
It's a common practice among wrong.
doors TO attempt to divert the attention Of
those who are pursuing them by calling
somebody else chiet, 80 that they may
escape. The Sergeant has p'aced himself
in this prediCament now. He has pre-.
vailed upon 3 Democratic Council TO can
Gel the appointment OF iisown committee,
and be then boldly bteps into the breach
and, for the avowed purpose OF dNertlng
public attention from Ills own selt'con-
fessed guilt, prefers charges against the
Mayor. This cowardty conduct Of his
only has the effect among decent people
to sink him still deeper in his own SELF
made quagmire OF guilt.
Why did he not let the investigation
proceed? As an officer, Us husband, as q
parent, as q good law-ablding citizen, all
these considerations, il they had or have
any weight with him, should have and
would have prompted him to court an IN
vestigation and not 10 employ his party
majority in Council to shelter hlm and
his deputies from investigation. Amino
cent man is not atrsid Of consequences, but
guilty one breads them. Why did the
Sergeant wait SO long before he preferred
his charges against the Mayott Was no
not along with the Mayor in Pittsburgh :?
II the Mayor committed a crime there and
then 10 not Porter Smllh guilty oil the
same ctime2 Was he not presentS
1t is too late in the day Tor Porter smith
to charge the Mayor with Such stun, Tor 1t
is but stuff. As sworn officer oil the city,
il he knew that the Mayor, or any one
else, ives guilty OF violation Of the ordi-
nances, it was his plain duty, TO prefer
charges against the Mayor, and 70 arrest
all others who had violated the ordinances.
Did he pursue this course? NO. But
after partisan Council had recalled the
committee Of investigation he then, Tor
the first time, although knowing OF these
wrong.doings OF the Mayor, brings them
before the attention OF his partisan Coun-
Gil. Like the man in the .quagmire, when
he raises one foot the other sinks down
still deeper, and 60 on, until he is lnexirl-
cably lost. This is precisely Porter Smiths
fate today. Crying, stop thleiE doesn't
relieve him in the least from the odium he
has brought on bis own head and those
who are supporting his badly shattered
administration. II he would listen to the
suggestions Of common ecnse, ao!flespeGt
and the welfare oil his party, ms family
and personal friends, ne would 10 one oil
two things-rtsiSn, or let the investigation
proceed.
Nothing new has TRANSFERRED IN the ad-
mipistration of Porter Smith. The few