Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-28


There are many reasons for placing the
school 10 this vicinity and none against it,.
An effort should be made. The returns
would repay it, if saeeessfal.
COL BIRDIE HART As a STATE
DEVELOPER.
A brief criticism OF the management Of
the State immigration Society appeared in
the REoIsrEE day before yesterday. 1t
was mId-mauuered sort Of rebuke
avoiding the mention Of names and in
dulging in no personalities aud yet the
article was very firm and earnest in its
declaration aud explanation Of the hc's
and causes which prevented the Society
from getting 30 act passed by the recent
Legislature, whereby the important work
might be begun IN esrnest. and continued
under the sanction and care Of the State
The article buildsd better than it knew.
It hit so hard the vulnerable armor Of the
management chat Col BIRDIE HIATT had
90 write two colamns Of vituperativs mis-
statements In yesterdays issue Of The h-
fsl'gmcer. 10 futile attemp. TO shield him
self from tie criticism he so well
deserved. The REGISTER had no
intention Of dusiog It's lncet into Col.
BIRDiE's yitals, or celebrating upon the
want of confidence in him, as State ode
veioper. so conspicuously displayed by the
members Of the Legislature, but since he
has been so reckless as TO open up the
case. and abuse our best citizens like
fshwomln. 10 would be- a neglect Of duty
not 20 make a few explanations.
The REGISTERS structures on the man
agement of the State Immigration Society,
appearing in the issue Of the 26.h, were
in good faith. 10 insinuaiions were made,
and neither Mr.. BUTCHER. the efficient
Secretary, or any member OF the Board OF
Directors, was criticised. TIE manage
ment alone was referred 70. Mr. BUTCHER
is not part Of the management, and the
Board Of Directors under the skillful ma
nipuaious of the President has become
only periuuCt1ry part.
The article 10 the Ig,dhgmca which
pretends &c reply TO these structures Is the
best proof Of every statement contained in
them. IL Col. BIRDIE HART had some
thing substantial 10 urge against the be-
lief that he hiss attempted to make Che
immigration Society q means o. his own
personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, or If be had ans
proof OF valuable work already done, or
any assurance that more valuable work
would be done in the future, a publication
of these faces would have been a complete
and convincing answer. Two columns Of
a very immature person. conceited vapor-
ings will no. satisfy the people o, the
State. Col. BIRDIE HART may please him
self hy abusing those who raise their voices
ia criticism, bu. he may be assured that
his vocabulary Of abuse viii be exhausted
long before he siiences fair and honest
questions.
The IatN.gncT remarks that no one
should know better than Mr.. J. B. TANEy
the exsct truth. concerning all that relates
to the West Virginia Board OF immigration
aud Development. Nh TANEy' IS memory
does not need TO be refreshed. There are
some facts of public knowledge, which have
not been mentioned by Col. Birdie HART,
and yet make excellent reading. If any
gentleman who has assumed q vast amount
of self Importance over his connection with
the immigration movement is hurt in rep
utatioa or spirit by the publication, he has
himselt to blame for it.
Col BIRDIE HART has irdustriousiy adj
vancad a claim to fatherhood in the soci-
ETY.. This claim has no substantial foun-
dehou The idea was conceived by eN-
Senator HENRY C.. DAVIS, who fret
suggested it,. The Wheeling Chamber Of
Commerce adopted it, and set the move
meat on foot, which finally resulted in the
great immigration convention.
From the time the first pablic sugges-
ton was made, the REGISTER, as we'll az
nearly every other paper in the State, was
actiys in urging the people TO take mp the
work. It is not out Of place TO say that
the columns Of the REaIsrEs gave the
widest circulation TO the movement, as
numerous letters Of inquiry coming fgom
every quarter of the country testified. The
people Of the whole State were aroused
Every county aud town sud village sent
its representatives to the Wheeling meet
ing. oman could De found who did no.
earnestly desire fall fraiGon Of tie move
ment, and lend all the aid IN his power %
those wto were advancing it,
Neither Col BIRDIE HIATT or anyone else
can take personal credit for originating an
enterprise which was conceived by another
or for pashing it forward, when the whole
people Of the State were enthusiastic in the
cause.
Now, let usconsider another phase Of Col
BIRnEHAEr's misstatemeut In order TO
msgniy bis own importance and his al
legged valuable labors, he assumes to ques-
ton the sincerity with which the Ohio
county delegates acted. They sre described
in yesterdays Intelligence az "a gang Of
Ohio county maTplOts Again. they are
these ward heslersos Ohio county, w-o
had dirty work to do, aud ia Mr.. JAS. B.
TANEY they found a tool to their own
mind is evidently very gratifying to
Col BIRDrE HART 20 parade. himselfas the
only ciiizsn of ONO county who had sut