Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-02-26
AN OPEN LETTER
From L. W. Stephens to Supervising In.
spector Americas Warden.

AN OPEN LETTER
From L. W. Stephens to Supervising In.
spector Amerio us Warden.
M DEAR SIR:-Your treatment OF me,
through my friends Messrs. Smith, Pickett,
Schsffer and Delbrugge, demands at my
hands statement, which will place you
before the people in anything but desir.
able light. My candidacy for the position
of Hull Inspector in this district Wss well
known to you before your other appoint.
ment was made, and since the vacancy
caused Oy the death Of Mr.. Shouse, Of
Steubenville, Ohio, you have again, through
my friends, been advised of the fact that |
was an applicant for the position. Letters
were addressed to you in my behalf
which at first you denied ever having re-
ceived, but when hard pressed By the writers
thereof you unwillingly admitted you had
received, but did not deigp 10 answer
them. A delegation OF my
friends, representative leading mem
bers of the Democratic party OF
this county, whose names appear above in
this statement, called on you in person
and were positively denied admission into
your room, and it was not until Mr.. Eyer
ter put in his appearance on the scene and
couaseled you about your harsh and un-
gentlemsnly conduct that you would con-
seat 10 admit them and hold an unpleas-
ant interview with them in asking you TO
consider my claim and the claim of the
Democratic party of this city and county.
You told them that your mind was made
up as to your first, second, third and
fourth choice, aud that | was
not one Of your selections at all.
Your treatment o! my friends, and through
them Of myself as we'll, show you to be un.
fit ior the position you have been placed
in by some kind of special favoritism, for,
a man occupying the position you DO,
certainly should have, at least, faint idea
OF good manners, and the amenities and
proprielies Of society, TO say nothing
about: the mechanical qualifications re-
uurcd to discharge the duties Of the office
you hold That your mind was inmovs-
bly, and uuchaDgeably G1ed on your ap-
pointee, is ss certain as anything can be
certain. In reply to the solicitations Of
my friends in my behalf, while in your au.
gust presence, you tod them was entirely
without any qualifications whatever for
the position. Who told you'
To ask you to reconsider your already
preconcaiyei and preexpre;sed opinion
about your own candidate, was bU; waste
OF time, !or, in your own peculiar way Of
communicating your purpose about the ap-
pointmsut you mad already made in your
own mind, you gave my friends 10 under.
sand that it was worse than useless 10 urge
auT claims before you, as | had none 10 be
recognized by you, or would be recognized
by yoa 1t certainly must, and will strike
with great force the minds o most people,
tha. whatever your mechanical qualiiica.
ions may be, certainly your so1lal ones
unfit you for the place you now tiIi. Your
couduct from first TO last about
this matter. has been that Of an
untriCndly nature, Q! prejudice against the
Democrats OF Wheeling, and Of q we'll de-
veloped intention on your part TO utterly
iguorc the Democratic party OF this city
and county in mahing your appointments.
Your appoin'so, Mr.. R,'1 il not known as
a Democra' in this ely a. all. During
your unwllIiHgly granted audience with
ms friends you took occasion to urge as an
objection to my appointment that ! was
without experience ,prscnrR'l. J. ard there.
fore waa UNI. .GT lie position. Did you
have anT experience AZ to the duties oil
your position, before you entered upon
them? The came rule Of logic YOU used
against my appointment could and should
have been used against you when you ap'
piled for your paSltlon.
If milk and water Democrats and out
spoken and life long RcpubEcrns are 10 be
clnsulted By you, and rhei: man is TO be
your man, and your man - 10 he their
man, then there Was 10 nccspsity for the
Democratic party Of this country TO have
elected Democratic President, or TO have
made any change in the administration Of
the Government. There should be no
mugwumps in the democratic party. Is he
capable? Is he honest and his allegiance
10 the Democratic party been without
fauI'2 These are the only questions to
ask. Y.urs respectfully,
J.. w. STEPHENS.
Wheeling, February q, ls-G.
p. S.-By way Of postscript / will add
tha, Mr.. Riz, your appointee has never
had half the practical experience have
as TO the dutie5 involved and devolyed by
the position you have placed him in:
l.. W. S.