Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-10-02
CURRENT TOPICS.

LIE uuNtttt Is WHOLLY lUCdpdOIe Ol
the truth, and would not be itself of not
personal. Possibly its editor did not
vote afiirmatively on the question of is
suing bonds to build the Northern rail
road, but it is an undeniable fact that
whatever influence he had was against
st. Clairsyille in the trying years of
county-seat removal agitation. Nor is
it surprising that person who does not
believe in the existence of a God should
sneer at the expression "Diyine Provi-
dence."
Without any thought of politics or of
individuals, looking solely to a remedy
for the extreme rate of taxation which
will confront the people in the near fu-
ture, it was asserted that salaries of
some of the teachers in the public
schools are needlessly extravagant, and
that retrenchment should be inaugural
ed there. That proposition the Gazette
fails to meet, but indirectly justifies and
upholds the extravaganza. Granted
that county levies ought to be reduced,
and that economy in county expendi-
lures ought to be practiced; but why not
apply the pruning knife in st. Clairs-
vile, as well, where from 500 to $1,000
are needlessly eaten up in salaries? All,
that cores the Dem ocratic OK. Nomat-
ter about oppressive taxation. The
Democratic pets must be taken care of,
and partisans like the editor of the Gu
zette expect Democrats to sustain ex-
travagance simply because few Dem
ocrats enjoy the usufruct of it.
The editor makes a painful attempt
at irony. 1t appears he voted for the
issuing of bonds to build the Northern
railway. That was clever in him, es-
pecially since he returned not one dollar
for taxation until after he became one
of the owners of the Gazette, year ago,
and now returns at 81 900 property for
which he and his associate paid $4,000.
TAXPAYERS of Belmont county will
take notice that the Republican conven-
tion of their county without dissent
recognized the reasonable demand of
the people for a reduction of salaries
and fees, and that the Democratic con-
vention wholly ignored the question.
Such adjustment as ought to be made
will represent a saving to the people of
$4,000 to S20,000a year. The county
officers receive about $4,000 year-an
average of $4,000 each. The Republi-
cans of the county are pledged to RENE
dy this iniquity. They do not propose
to wait, but will take the necessary
steps Immediately on the assembling of
the Legislature. Men who are in earn
est in their demands for reduction owe
it to themselves to stand by and uphold
progressive party, and at the same
time. ..rebuke Bourbons who pay no at
tentiOn to their reasonable demands.
The 4th day of November is the occa-
sion. No man who has been demand
ing reduction of fees and salaries can
vote the so-called Democratic ticket this
year and maintain his self-respct.
THE utilization of prison labor in the
improvement of roads is partial solu-
ton of the vexed road question. In
some States convicts in the State prison
are hired to work in mines and in the
building of railroads, and the like, while
in Ohio the rule has been to hire their
labor to contractors, who use them in
producing articles that compete in the
markets with the products of the me-
chanics of the State, paying from 8 to
20 cents day for workmen whom the
State feeds, shelters, and clothes. If
used in improving highways of the
State, they would enter into competition
with no class of labor, for the reason
that improvements they would make are
not made, and the State would be great
ly benefited by the improvement such a
large body as the criminal class, well
directed, might make upon its highways.
date for member of the State Board of
Equalization will meet at st. Clairsville
next Monday, October 6. These con-
ventiOns have not always been as dis
eliminating as they should be in the Sc
lection of candidates. This is an Office
of Importance to the people, and they
should see that a candidate is chosen
whose education and training fits him to
represent them in that body. Ten years
ago Mr.. Julius Dexter, of Cincinnati,
had more influence than any dozen men
in the board, because his training and
habits of thought fitted him for the
place.
IT is humiliating fact that the COM
paratively unimportant county of Mon
roe is able to control nominations in
Democratic conventions against the
great county of Belmont. In thirty-five
years from 1856 to Common
Pleas Judges have been chosen as fol-
lows:
1856 to 1861-John W. Okey, of Monroe.
1861 to 1866 same
1866 to 1971-John S. Way, of Monroe.
1871 to 1976-R E. .Chambers,o of Belmont
1876 to 1S01-Wm. Okey, of Monroe.
1881 to 1SS6-St. Clair Kelly of Belmont.
1886 to 188l-John B. Driggs,o of Monroe.
For one term five years. a Belmont
Democrat was nominated and elected,
and for another a Belmont Democrat
was nominated and beaten by ex-Judge
Kelly, Republican. The balance of
the time twenty-five years. Monroe
county furnished the Judge, although
three -fourths of the business of the sub
division originates in Belmont. Now
Belmont Democrats are called upon to
support Monroe Democrat for a seat
in Congress. And so it is with nomina-
tions for that office. Since Ex-Governor
Shannon was nominated lin 1852 no
Belmont Democrat has had a show when
this county was joined with Monroe.
Twice Mr.. James r. Morris, of Monroe,
was voted for by Belmont Democrats,
then the districts were changed lin 1862,
and now that we are back in a district
with Monroe her Democrats bob up
again serenely with the plum in their