Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-10-07
SAID n THOUGHT

oASOf
All M THOUGHT
in regard to the matter. Men who, if their
names were mentioned, would be univer-
sally recognized as Republicans Of the most
pronounced stripe, thought Chief Smith had
done the proper thing in turning upon his
sccusers, and that the Mayor ought stand
being placed in the pillory with as much
grace as any one, while, on the other hand,
prominent Democrats made no secret OF
~denouncing the Chief for his course in the
matter, and claimed that the Mayor had
been assailed because he had dared to do his
duty.
In expressing these opposite views of the
absorbing question, citizens were, as a gen
eral thing, emphatic and bitter in the ex.
treme, and it seemed to be considered the
proper thing to at once seek out the Official
whose cause they chsmpioned, and person
ally express their
SYMPATHY OR PROMISE SUPPORT,
as the case might be. And 30 it CAM
about that from an early hour in the morn
ing uGtil night had fallen, the place Of busi
uess of Mayor Grub and the Office of Cap.
tain Smith became the scenes of friendly
calls without number and the spots where
many expressions Of regard we're to be
neaId.
But while gentlemen Of all political be-
liefs were either congratuladng Chief
Smith and approving his course, or giving
vent TO expressions of confidence in or re-
gard for the Mayor, a very large majority
of the fIiepds of each took occasion to de-
uOuDce in the most bitter language the i'll
sdVis d and p~artizsn course pursued by the
In,elligencer, from
ITS FIRST ACT DE- HOSTILITY
oward the police force down to the present
,ime. Democrats ~denouncedit, not because
the men it asssiled were of the same politi.
cal faith, nor yet because wrongful accuse,
tons had been made, but because Of thu
total absence of q spirit Of fairness and Of
q sense of right and Justice which has char
scterized its policy. Instead of seeking the
purity IN Office it claimed to desire in E
legitimate way, Democrats thought the paper
had sought to assume the powers Of judge.
Jury and executioner, and aspired to dictate
70 the officials OF the city their tenure Of
office.
With many Republicans the feeling to
ward the In~telligen0er was far more severe
For the sake of selEgloriication and to
crafty an sbnormally developed egotisu
the paper had instituted a persecution Of the
Democratic police administration, conduct
ing its crusade without the slightest regard
for
EITHER FAIRNESS OR DECENCY.
In defiance ofthe protests of all fair minded
men its course had been pursued, and the
Mayor of the city had been unwittiugly
drawn into the fight as the tool of the edi'
tor. As q natural result, he had got the
worst of it, and although they refused to be
lieve him guilty of any of the things alleged
against him, still his family and friends hac
been subjected to agony u~nspesksble, and
he himself injured in q way for which nc
adequate repsrstion could ever be made By
the journal which had led him into the die
Gculty.
Early in the afternoon, yesterday a REGIS
TER reporter met
MAYOR GRUBB,
and asked what he had to say 10 regard to
the charges preferred against him Ia re
ply he said:
with two exceptions they are totally
false. The exception are charges three and
four. 1t is true that / have granted permits
to peddlers to ply their business upon the
streets when l knew they had no license,
out | did so from the best Of motives. Time
after time men have COM to me and beg
ged for q permit to sell suspsnders, or
bandkerchiefs, or penknives, or something
Of that sort. They had no money to pay a
fee With, and we're in distress, and knowing
that other Mayors had issued permits under
similar circumstances, ! did the same.
In regard TO the fourth charge, that
have at various times discharged prisoners
from the w~orkhouse, l must plead guilty.
But / have uniformly reported such dis
charges to Council, and Council has invari.
ably approved of my course.
THE other charges are false, and have
no fear but that / will be able to clear my
self to the satisfaction Of my friends. o!
The Pittsburg matter, the true facts of our
visit will come out, and when they do the
public can form a verdict as to my guilt or
innocence. People, Democrats aud Rspub
licans, have been coming in all day, with
words Of sympathy and encouragement"
Have Tou "A,.-~ council to meet to-mor
row2'
II have. Idesire the charges against me
acted upon by the First Branch, a commit
tee appointed and the Investigate got IN
der way"
will you, at that meeting, prefer { Urn
charges against Captain Smith,"
No, sir; / shall do nothing to interfere
With the investigation of myself"
DO understand that the charges against
the police are 20 be dropPedY'
Just wait"
Anything elss?'
Yes, there is one other thing. l have
been engaged in no personal warfare
sgsinst Captain Smith. / have simply call
ed the attention OF Council to ths charges,
from time to time, ss is my duty"
The reporter next sought
CAPTAIN SMITH,
ard asked what he had tosay of the charge!
preferred.
Nothing" said he, Except that they
viii be pushed. l made the charges and |
will prove them; l will stand BY what l have
done. My friends have commended my
course and think hat ii was eminently prop.
er. Ali day long people have bsen coming
here and c~ongratulatipg me on my action.
There were a tozen of them here early this
msrniug before l arrived. / see the Inteli-
gencer refused to publish my charges in
full. Is that fsirness7 II has not hssitated
at anything which could blacksn the repu-
tstion Of myself or my men, or bring dig
credit upon the police department of the
city, but when the tables are turned it holds
up Its hands in holy horror and passes BY
With finger on nostril. The simplest desire
20 do Justice and set fairly should have ad.
mitted my charge into the columns Of the
~Iptel6gencer in full"
TIE VISIT TO PITTSBURGH.
Among the charges preferred by the