The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-27
ALL IN THE FAMILY.
A VICE lIFELE DEMochATLo row.
Sort Of "a Tempest in a Tsaeap," over the
appointment of Rl.sal Local Inspector.
The Democratic Party, Hsrstpaftsr
Named, sgighrsd In the Matter.


a so.called ;'open letter" from Luke w.
Stephens, who wanted TO be Local Inspec-
tor OF Steamboat hulls, to, Hon. Americus
Warden, Supervising Inspector, who voted
for Andrew Ritz, was printed yesterday
in the Register, aud caused a little quiet
comment. The letter fairly blistles with
points, a fair sample OF which will be
found in this, the opening paragraph;
My DEAR SIR; Your treatment Of me,
through my friends. MessTs. Smith,
Pickett, shafIsr and Dslbrugge, demands
at my hands statement, which will place
you before the people in anything but y
desirable light. My candidacy lIr tho
position Of Hull Inspector in this district
was we'll known to yOu before your other
appointment was made, and since the va
Cancy caused by the death OF Mr.. Shouse,
OF StenbeDville, Ohio, you have again,
through my friends, been adVis.
cd Of the fact that | was an
applicant for The position. Letters
were addressed TO you in my behalf,
which at frat yOu denied ever having re-
ceiyed, but when hard pressed by the
writer's thereof you unwillipgly admitted
you had received, but did not deign to an-
swer them, A delegation Of my friends,
representative leading nsmhes OF the
Democratic party Of this county, whose
names appear ABOVE in this statement,
called on you In person and were posi-
lively denied admission into your room,
and IL was not until MF, EgerIer put In his
appearance on the scene and G0unseled
You about your harsh and unEsDtlemanly
conduct that you would consent TO admit
them and hold an unpleasant interview
with them in asking you to consider my
claim and tho claim Of the Dem5GcatiC
party Of this city and county"
The fraukneBs which prevades and en-
liyens the letter is we'll shown In these
twoGhOtce bits;
"four treatment OF my friends and
through them Of myself as well, show you
to be unfit for the position you have been
placed IN by some kiud OF special fAyorit-
ism, forI man occupying the position you
do, certainly should hsve, q! least, n faint
idea Of good manners, aud the amenities
and proprietles Of society, to say nothing
about the mechanical qualifications 10.
quired to discharge tbs duties Of the office
you hold"
"In reply to the solicitations OF my
friends In my behalf while nyour august
presence, you told them was entirely
without any qualifications whatever for
the position"
Not only the failure TO appoint Mr.,
Stephens proYOkes criticism. Thdpsuc'
ces6iul reva Ia Rrrsigned on tho serious
Charge that he "is not known as Dsmo.
GRAFT" and Mr., Stephens tells Mr., War
den:
"Your conduct from first to last, about
this matter, had bsen that otnn unfriend-
ly nature, Of prejudice against the Demo
Gratis OF Wheeling, and of well deyelo..
cd intention on your part to utterly ignor,
tho Democratic party OF this city and
county Ia making your appointment"
Mr.. Stephens Withal has his own ideas
OF tho motives which led the American
people to elevate Cleveland TO the Presi-
denCy. These ideas may be gathered
from his remark that 'lf milk and water
Democrats and Outsp0ken and life long
Republicans are TO bs consulted by you,
and their man Is TO be your man, aud your
man is to be their man, then there was
no necessity for the Democratic party Of
this country to have elected Demo.
cratic President, or to have made any
change IN the administration Of the
Government. There should be no Mug.
wumps in the Democratic party"
The letter maintains Its interest even
into the postscript, which contains
this cheerful remark: 'Mr Ritz, your
appotnlee, has never had hall the prsGti.
cal experience / have, ia tho duties in.
yolvsd and devolved BY the position you
have placed him In"
Democrats yesterday were disposed to
be mad, either against Stephens or
against Inspector Warden. Half were
."Cussing" the other hall, while the Re-
publGlns apparently SAW Ia the "open
letter" something to smile at.