Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-12-19
rns Clrx ELEoTIoN AND THE DUTY
OF VOTERS.

OF tnelr claim.
Tt is a peculiar situation-accldental
purely, since the late landslide, the
mighty effects OF which Republicans are
still relying upon for their success 10
sll their endeavors, good, bad and in
different, would have happened just the
same il the Republicans or any other
party had been in power during the
hard times, for the simple fact OF dis
tress. so the story Of history goes, can
not be combatted by the party in power,
no matter what party nor what the issue
may be. In such instances, which regu-
larry occur with every period OF fnan-
ciaI distress, as in all panics, GOODNESS,
Judgment, reason, caution, regard for
consequences are all thrown TO the
winds, to be picked up again later from
beneath the wreck in a more or less
battered condition. 1t is only because
our form OF government is hedged about
by so many safeguards that the voter
cannot do irreparable damage at
once, no matter how poor judgment he
may exercise ID voting, that such dam
age has not long ago been done. For
tunately for the country the reforms
for which the Democracy has long la
bored were we'll nigh accomplished and
past sudden undoing when the crash
came, else the outlook to-day for our
national welfare would be dark, indeed.
The country has barely escaped that
doom; revenue reform is here to stay,
and we are now confronted by nothing
worse than the prospect Of Republi-
can Congress under the same old long
ago discredited leaders and with a
majority that would be dangerous under
different conditions, but which can do
no serious harm while a Democratic
President occupies the White House and
wields the veto power.
The situation that confronts the State
and the City Of Wheeling, however, is
not so free from cause for alarm. In the
State the Republicans will have full
sway, after having been a minority
party for a quarter of a century. They
will take hold hungry aud greedy; moth
ing within reach will escape them and
the effect Of the change upon the State
and it's excellent Institutions, which
have uniformly prospered under wise
and conservative Democratic rule and
economical management, remains to be
seen.
The ques ton Of vital i'm portance
which will confront the people Of
Wheeling for settlement next month is
whether the coming city election shall
be decided upon the principle of the
selection of the best men for the
welfare Of the city Of Wheeling
and the taxpayers. or be let go with the
November landslide upon the wholesale
and reckless plan or the tail should go
with the hide-whether the coming city
election shall be calmly and nationally
settled upon the basis OF the welfare
of the city and the safe conduct Of its
great and important business interests
or in consonance with the recent un-
reasoning panic at the ballot box that
laid the effect of the worldwide finan
cal panic and even the results of Re
publican misrule at the door OF the
Democratic party.
The Republican leaders OF Wheel
ing in anticipation are gleefully rub
bling their hands and chuckling over
the prospect that the city election will
be settled as the late Congressional
elections were, namely without regard
10 the fitness of candidates.
1t remains for the people to say what
shall be done, whether the Republicans
shall be given unlimited privilege to
turn the city departments upside down
in a rush for the spells of Office re-
CARELESS, or the election decided upon
the merits OF the candidates and their
fitness to act as city officials and ser
Sants of the people.
The Republican ticket is in the field.
Victory is claimed for it by the Repub-
lican leaders on no ground Of fitness
whatever or Of necessity for reform OF
sny-Sind, but simply because Things
are coming the Republican way"
The Democratic suggestion meetings
will be held Saturday. They should be
well and fully attended and the best
men in the party put up for nomina-
ton. Wheeling is naturally Demo
cratic and her best men have come
from the majority party. What has
been true is still true, and the Demo
Gratis can put superior ticket in the
field II they nominate their best men.
To the people Of Wheeling the Register
would say, wait unbiased for the Demo
cratic nominations, and then make your
choice calmly and in the light of your
best Judgment, looking to the best
interests of the city Of Wheeling.
Tur Pev Thomas DiVon bas M nsa