Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-08
DISORDER AT MEETINGS.
The Notorious Republican Policy in This
Line, and the Course of the InteIIigen-

space 10 an ill-tempered criticism of the
Register for daring 10 chronicle the fact
that there has been systematic Republic
can interference with Democratic pa
rades and meetings in this community,
ana casually expressed a very tardy hope
that there would, in the future, be no
further exhibition of bad taste in this
direction. The editorial in question
was misleading, unfair. and was
throughout entirely in keeping with the
spirit which has prompted disorder on
the part OF Republicans in the past. It's
caution to Republicans was not only
wrung from it through the Registers
repeated publication of the facts but
was completely nulllfied by what went
before.
As the Register has stated, in refer
ring to this deplorable tendency on the
part Of Republicans, the trouble began
as far back as the Bell meeting, held by
Democrats at Twenty-sevendh and Chap
line streets. On that occasion several
dozen Republicans did their best to
howl down the speaker, and were only
induced TO hold their peace after the
Sheriff had threatened them with in
slant arrest. Later in the evening a
Republican drum corps par2ded all
around the Democratic meeting, and
caused number of Interruptions.
AT the Turner meeting at Forty
eighth street the same thing was done.
When Mr.. Bryan came here, there was
q concerted effort on the part o. Re-
pubiicans to make themselves as con-
spicuOus and obnoxious as possible. Re-
publican badges were printed and dis
tributed by thousands, pictures of Nc
Kinley were nailed to poles and thrust
into the faces of Democrats, and crowds
of Republicans locked arms and plunged
Through groups of Democrats all along
the streets. When the procession passed
men armed with canes, sticks or clubs
stationed themselves along the line and
knocked the red fire sticks from the
hands OF the boys who carried them,
and at Market and Eleventh streets Re-
publican negroes threw tomatoes at Mr..
BTyan's carriage.
Last Saturday night a member of the
Faulkner club was struck with a brick
and knocked down, Mr. Turner, while
speaking at Fourteenth and Market
streets, was interrupted by young men
who left the Opera House corner for
that deliberate purpose, and there were
other like incidents.
These are the facts. but until the
Register had referred to them, and had
urged Democrats to refrain from such
acts Of rowdyism, the Intelligencer gave
no sign Of disapprobation, and did moth
ing calculated 10 put stop to Republi-
can insults. When it could keep silence
no longer, however, it printed this sort
Of comment editorially:
when the Register confines itself to
condemning an act Of disorder at public
meeting. or an interruption of a public
speaker of either party by the partsans of
the opposite cause. the inteligencer be-
lieves ii is engaged in a good work. and
heartily joins with il in helping to make
the campaign Is pleasant as II can posi-
bly, be made between men who honestly
diner on a matter of principle. But on
more than one occasion recently, and
noticeably in yesterdays issue, il has pub
lshed articles which are calculated. not
10 keep peace in this community, but to
increase disorder
That is to say, when the Register re-
fers to The rowdyism of Republicans, as
above specified, it does something which
is calculated not to keep peace in this
community, but to increase disorder"
Indeed This is strange interpreted
t.ol to put upon the Registers articles.
Why did not the elhgencer editoriaily
chronicle the fact that in every case the
Register has counseled and urged Dem
ocrats TO give no Offense TO Republicans?
We have uniformly done this, and do so
now. And why has not the Intelligencer
done as much with its side? The only
time it has referred to the matter was
two days ago, and then it only did so
after being urged to that course by the
Chief of Police.
a little further along in its editorial
Of yesterday the Intelligencer had this:
The Register would have II appear that
every case of disorder and such things
are common i'm all political campaigns. is
by the act of a Republican. 1t carefully
suppresses or condones such an act when
committed by a Bryan supporter as, for
instance, the attempt that was made to
create disorder In the Bourke Cochran
meeting in the Opera House last week,
and the Kisses and other disorderly con-
duct INDUCED in by the Organizes In the
gallery at the meeting addressed by Cen
eral Alfred Caldwell and Henry Austin
Adams. These acts were not committed
by thoughtless boys on the street. but by
men and voters.
This is a deliberate attempt to BAN
BOOZE the public in a serious matter. !
The Bourke Cochran and Adams meet |
ing5 were Sound money Democratic |
meetings. There isn't enough of that |
political faith in Wheeling to fill one
sixth of the seating capacity Of the |
Opera House, and as the building was
flied on that occasion, even the Intelli
gencar must admit that at east three
fourths of the audience was made up OF
Republicans or regular Democrats. 1t
is true that when Mr. Bryan's name was
mentioned by the speaker there were
cheers. but when Mr.. McKinley's name
was also mentioned the cheers were re- !
doubled because there were more Nc
kinney men in the audience than Bryan
men. II follows from this. that if the
Democrats were wrong in cheering for
Bryan-and the Inteliigencer says they |
were-then the Republicans were
doublv in the wrong, for they made |
twice as much noise as did the Demo-
crT.s Yet the Intelligencer condemns !
the Democrats. and ignores the Republi-
ram violation of etiquette, which IS
thoroughly in harmony with its course |
all along and proves the Registers case. |
The thing for the lnte,!igencer to do |
is to follow the course OF the Register
and advise its partisans to refrain from
meddiing with demonstrations by q
.opDosite party. That will be conducive |
70 peace. good manners and the pleas
AMI campaign to which the Intelligen-
Ger refers. Any other course will only |
encourage Republicans to keep up their
I'D 3 |