Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-17

the sunlight OF piety. OF temperance, OF
abundance and of happiness.
Signers to the pledge we're then called
for, and about forty men responded, each
new convert being greeted with loud ap.
plause and clsPp ng OF hands.
Observation-Disclosures vs. POLICE.
An Editor Intimates that He Knows Some
thing. and Is InVited to DiVulse.
The editor Of the Intelligencer is the
proud possessor Of what Mr.. Murphy would
call 9 convenient memory. For many
moons, under the administration OF the late
ly retiring Republican Chisfot-PeGce, gam
bling in almost all It's various forms aou:-
ished in Wheeling as it never fourished be-
fore; every citizen, from the tough man.
a~bouttown to the preacher in his pulpit, and
from the Chief of Police to the newsboy, in
GLIDING the editor aforesaid-yea, even the
very dogs and cats and street car horses
was aware of and commented wouderingly
upon the activity Of the gambling fraternity
and The boldness and assurance which the
knights of the green cloth displayed, but
never an intimation came from our Repuo-
lican contemporary that the Republican
Chief-ofPolice was not doing his whole
duty. AS this Republican administration
nesred its end there seemed to be a quiet
determination on the part of the gamsters to
work the thing for all it was worth. aud
with the advent of cold weather q yertable
! gambling boom seemed to have struck the
town. The demand for cards and checks
was unprec edented. Stud poker became
the rage, and gambling room after gambling
room was opened-some OF them sparsely
and poorly furnished, and others arrayed 10
gorgeous msgniGcence. But nobody said
nuthin'," and the boys labored in sweet
security.
Byaniby the Republican Chief ofPolice
stepped out, and his Democratic successor
| stepped in. The new administration at
once made Its mark as a most efficient one,
the city having been better polieed than
ever before, and more arrests made for ser
ious ofenses in the first six weeks than in
n corresponding period in the previous
! four years. Suddenly, however, the editor
of the ~Intelligencer remembers that gamb-
ling exists in the city, and without stopping
to think either ofunder what circumstances
it had its growth, or that the new police re-
CINE should have q fair chance, he proceeds
to haul Captain Smith over the Goals for
deerliction Of duty. We, with pleasure, in
troduce that gentleman, who will speak for
himself in reply tothe charges preferred
against him:
WHEELIyO, March l6, 1885.
Editor Of Register:
Since the election of a Democrat Ser
geant the editor of the ~lntelligencer has
been seized with q sudden attack Of virtue.
He has become censorious and o dis
| covers mares nests where formerly every
thing bore the color of the rose and was
entirely ard altogether heavenly. The
virtues and vices of the city are to day just
what they were under Capt. Benefits ad.
minis,ration and during that time the editor
had naught but words of praise and eulogy
tor the Captain and his police force. The
editor not only endorsed the Captain
through his editorials, but voted for and
| urged the election of a Chief who would be-
yond doubt have retained a large portion
Of Captain Bennett force.
The undersigned is new to the Office and
has hardly as yet had an opportunity to fully
ascertain whethe, four years of Republican
rule has led to a frighttul state Of affairs or
not. So far as any comment made by Mr..
fart on the condition in which Captain
Bennett left the morality and decency of the
city would indicate, that state of morality
| and decency must have met with Mr. Harris
concurrence and endorsement
If not. Why did rot Mr.. II. speak out and
read the riot act to my worthy predecessor?
| can vouch for it, that If morals have not
been improved in my six or seven weeks
tenure of office, they are certainly no worse
than they were upon my entry into office.
If they are no worse to-day than upon my
entry into Office. why should Mr.. Hart single
me out for attack when he thought the same
matters under Republican rule were all
right? ] desire to enforce all of the city
ordinances so far as the matter of enforce
ment falls wi, hin my province, but it is not
my duty until evidence of the viola
ton of a law is before me to enact the
role Of either L prosecutor or prosecutor. l.
! Mr.. Hart has any information that gamb
ling heiis are in full blast and will come be
/ lore Clerk Ddrrah end make affidavit to the
same, giving the names and location of the
parties, | think that Mr.. Darrsh will give
! him a warrant, and | know that the Ser
geant Will 40 DIS uuty. 1 nave uO uOuOi
that Mr.. Darrah will issue q warrant at the
instance of.any responsible or reliable per.
son who will make the proper affidavit.
1t is my desire to enforce the law and
DO what l can to protect the morals Of the
city, but at the same time no one can eX.
pect perfection from a new sergeant who
has had hardly sufficient time to fsmiliarize
himself with all the current wickedness. In
the meantime | hope that so gooda conserv-
ator and guardian Of the public morals as
Mr.. Hart will not attack me wsntonly and
maliciously through the public prints, but
will be so kind as to point out those haunts
Of wickedness which may escape
my knowledge through the proper
chsnnels-that is, afidavits. He
will always find my office open and an
officer ready for duty. / also hope that the
police badges" will not cost him any un-
e~asinesS, aud thai h. will not harrow up his
slumbers with feyered dreams or undue rest
l~pssness. Mr.. Hart is a truly good man,
and we all know, a pious editor. Will he
not grant me q little charity, and not be so
! quick to censure, and 80 ready to criticise?
Respectfully, etc,
Porter SNlrd.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.