The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-28
Ghe Gatelliaetrtar:
WHEELING. NOVEMBER as. 1901.
"Political Theft as n Fine Art"

The Philadelphia Times is nominally
an Independent paper, but generally
manages to support the Democratic
pnrty-that is, it Is independent only
whom there is no campaign in progress.
Occasionally it is fair and takes an
honest stand on public matter. Tho
latest instance is to be found in an
editorial on "Theft rs Fine Art" In
this article it says much that is timely
and truthful. The Times calls attention
to the fact that political theft is becom-
ing ono OF the fine arts in American
institutions, AMI says that unless both
parties shall speedily unite to enforce
the integrity Of tho ballot and tho
majority OF elections our free govern
ment must soon become mere mockery.
Stealing, it says, is awfully catching in
politics, and those who dig the pits Of
election frauds are pretty certain to
fall into them sooner or later.
Governor Hill, whose party was sup
ported by the Times in the recent cleo
ton, is pointed out by that paper as
presenting the latest illustration OF
political theft reduced to a fine art.
He has stolen a legislature Cor the
Democrats. Governor Hills action is
thus denounced by the Times:
Governor Hill is an initiative actor in politics
and he hasn't missed trick taught by the late
theft OF legislatures in Montana and New lamp
shire, He Is governor; he has the control of the
state canyasscrs: he can remove county clerks
who refuse to Ger ify returns as amended under
the fine art OF political theft, and he controls
the Democratic machinery wherever 1t can be
successfully employed in the modern art OF re.
versing elections
The returns Of the late election in New York
gave the Democrats nearly 5000 majority for
governor, but the Republicans elected major-
~ OF two IN the senate and Just one.huf the
house, making 1t Tie. Governor iii By the
most artistic use OF state and local power. has
stolen two senators and three representatives
while the Republicans have been able 10 steal
only one representative.
As revised by Governor Hills initiative fine
nrt OF political theft, the senate will be either n
tie or have one Democratic majority; with n
Democratic lieutenant governor 10 help along
In case OF tie vote, and the house will have
four Democratic majority to start with, and add
several TO that number by contested seats.
The honest citizens OF all parties should not
longer close their eyes 10 the fact that political
THEFT has become one OF the fine arts Of modern
politics. and that all parties rs now controlled,
need only the opportunity to steal President,
governor, legislature sr other important political
Office 10 assure the consummaton OF the theft.
The great difficulty in the way OF ac-
complishing the reform suggested by
the last paragraph, is that, while hon
est citizens OF all parties at the time OF
such thefts grow very indignant over
the outrages, they generally fail to take
the opportunity when it is afforded
them to rebuke their party. They are
too willing to condone the offences,
smother conscience and vote their party
ticket, which is perhaps composed OF
the very men who were guilty OF the
frauds. This is not always true, but it
is generally the case.
In its article, the Times enumerates a
number OF cases OF political theft similar
to that witnessed in New York. They
cover instances OF such outrages COM
mited by both parties in many states.
The Times fails, however, to include the
recent theft OF the Governorship OF West
Virginia by the Democratic Legislature,
the celebrated Give" performance OF
the late Governor Wilson OF this state
tho same year, and the rape OF the
Wetzcl county ballot boxes in the First
Congressional district, all OF which out
RACES attracted national attention. Per.
haps it was an oversight on the part OF
the Times. II our esteemed contem.
porary will study the history OF the
political thcits committed by the Dem.
ocratic administration and Legislature
OF 1850 i'll West Virginia, it will find
in it one of tho most interesting texts
on record from which to draw moral,
and to point out to honest citizens, re.
gardlcss OF party, their duty. The
honest citizens OF West Virginia will be
given the opportunity next year to re.
buke those wrongs, and will doubtless
appreciate whatever moral aid the Dem.
'ocratic Times, OF Philadelphia, is pleased
to give them.
Free Trndc and tho Fnrmorc