Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-15

The centre of local political interest
shifted, last evening, from the city to
Elm Grove, and for time that charm
ing suburb was filled with excitement
and eloquence.
The evening was tided over without
anything more serious than a lot OF
harsh language, but at first there was
every promise that a strictly first-class
row would result, and this was prob
ably only prevented by the fact that
the anti-Richards people did not APP
pear in force. AS it was, the meeting
was turned into Richards demonstra-
tiOn. the practical result being a flash
in the pan for the ants.
The trouble had its origin in more
or less definite charge which has been
in circulation for quite time against
Mr. Richards. the gist of which was an
allegation that some years ago he was
instrumental in giving the miners short
weight at the Kasley & Brooks mine,
whereby the men lost three hundred
pounds on each and every car. This
having been used against the candi-
date in the city for all it was worth,
the assertion was formulated into an
affidavit, signed by a coal miner named
Robert O'Hare. and was yesterday pre-
Sented 10 the Secretary of the Elm
Grove Miners Union, it is charged, by
O'Hare and Lem Barrett. The Rich
ards men got wind of the matter good
81, nj loo. hat u
in force at Elm Grove. Detachments
went out on the seven, eight and nine
o'clock motors, among them being
quite a lot of Republican candidates
for county offices, Messrs. Israel. Davis
and Hennig being among the number.
The meeting convened in KimmonS'
Hall, and the affidavit came up in the
regular order of business and was read.
Then the fun commenced. Mr.. Rich
ards was there in person to confront
the charge and its patrons, and the aft
davit was pronounced untrue in every
particular, the man signing it was de-
nounced in language not at all mild,
while Lem Barrett, Henry Tippany
and others alleged he behind the pa
per were handled without gloves.
Speakers upon the platform charged,
with no mincing of words, that Mr.. Tip
pany had bet a thousand dollars against
Richards. and that one of the objects
to be attained was to defeat Richards
for the nomination so he could win
this money, and it was further charged
that when he did win it the whole pile
was to be used and bet against Chief
of Police Thomas d. Bennett at the
| coming city election. These charges
and assertions were very literally APP
plauded by the crowd, and the climax
was reached when Mr.. Richards took
the affidavit and went through the au-
dience. pointing out that Mr.. O'Hare
had signed the paper with cross
manipulating unable to read or
write, that someone else had drawn UP
the document, and asking everywhere
if it was probable that a man who could
not read or write would be able to act
as check-weighman. detect inaccura-
cies in the scales, and make up a case
of the nature set forth in the paper
He denounced the whole thing as a con-
spiracy of the basest sort, and
| the crowd cheered and applauded until
all other sounds were swallowed up
| and it was evident that the bomb
thrown had a damp fuse.
A number of other addresses were
made, and the meeting did not adjourn
until after eleven o'clock with the
Richards men decidedly on top.
Some of the language used by speak
ers was decidedly harsh, with swear
words sprinkled through it literally
and the temper CT the assemblage was
none of the best as long as the subject
of the affidavit was before the meet
ing. Among the speakers for Richards
was the district president of the union