The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-05-25

or Cincinnati, that have each more than
quarter OF mllliCn population.
WorklnEmsn consider this new move
rnent with some elaboration and ask
yourselves. n the city Of Wheeling with
her $1,000 inhabitants, prepared to
compete and apo the airs OF n city like
Cincinnati with a population Of 300.000
and give our mayor a salary OF 5000 or
$1,000 a year as dictator and appoint
INK ofiicer OF the chiefs OF police and
fire departments and also the mon OF
these departments, One Of the many
arguments presented to the public by
our wise citizen reformers, why the
election OF a city sergeant should be
taken out, of the hnnds of the people and
his appointment given 20 the mayor; Is
that the chief and htS police cannot
properly or faithfully preserve order
and maintain good government while
the sergeant is depending on the people
for his office. This Is an absurd and
fllmSy plea. because the election Of a
city sergeant under the present law
Is pure and clean in comparison TO what
the election Ot the board Of control and
nlaVOr win he II the new charter IL
adopted. The power given 70 one nu-
nlcipal officer 10 all by appointment
che offices OF chiefs OF police and Are
department and the approval OF the
man under these officers, viii naturally
attract regiments OF office seekers. who
viii resort TO all desperate and demor-
alizinG political trickery, TO elect may
or that win I'LL the Offices with friends
and workers.
III the mayors office is made elective
every two yeRna which II must. at a
salary OF 5000 or $1,000 per year. he will
have to yield 20 the vicious and demon
aliz!ng element for political favors and
his command 10 the chief and his po-
lice foI tendency and clemency. during
hts campaign and that OF the hoard OF
control will be more effective than the
chiefs command TO hts police under the
present law, Reforms OF this nature
in our municipal elections win make no
material Improvement on our police
System. II We take the history OF 9TH
or towns throughout the country, we
viii Dnd tina; the meanest and foulest
acts committed are done under the eyes
Of mayors and controlling boards who
make appointments of police and other
iofllcerS NJ later than few weeks
sRo an old retired polio. captain OF
New York was dragged from his home
before che court he WIS tried found
guilty, was sentenced to serve one year
In the pcnitentiary and pay fine OF
$1,000. Tor taking bride OF one thOus-
ard dollars from Il saloon keeper TO
give him permission to sell beer at for
hidden hours The police officers OF
New York and other cities that were
convicted for evil doing were good Of
fcers, otherwise. The only real danger
that confronted them, was that they
were left too long in Office. II their
term IN Office was only two OF fOu; years
they would not have time to feather
Q 80 1lN.Fh =, much hFibpFV
and corruption.
Opposes Capitalization.
Our present system If municipal cleo
tons may be somewhat distasteful to
some people. hut II Will he 50 much su-
perior 10 the corrupt and disgusting
primaries that will b. held under the
new charter. unless the Australian bal
lot law is adopted. that honorable citl.
zens win bow th-ir heads IN shame and
demand repeal Of such an odious law.
II matters not how many elective OIL
oes you are promised under the new
charter, II Is YOU duty as American cit
izens To retain all you hnvs got. Any
either who will innocently allow him
self to be deprived Of the right to vote
for municipal county state OF national
officers under the pretense Of sham re-
formers who are In the field clamor-
luE 70 luEEt anu PURIFY tNA Jaws tAN''s
the Odious and debasinE practices OF
unprincipaled persons; which the re-
formers themselves In want Of back
bone. have tolerated for years, IS not
worthy lf the right Of franchise.
''rhe civil sorvicG system that eInt
powered President Cleveland, fNw
weeks ago to extend the tine NJ 10000
government employs and retain them
In office during gaod behavior. Is
wronF The centrallzinG os political or
any ether power thal will take the SOW
ereiEn right from the peopl. Ia danger
Gus 10 liberty and good government
The unhlienable rights Of life. liberty
and the pursuit OF happiness should he
tsnIously guarded. as much 80 in muni-
cip1l as in national affairs.
Labor leaders and union working
men have for the last half century
herolcnlly and s;ubhornly fought the
Capitalization OF wealth and sOullesS
corporations. There Is more danger to
the American citizen In centralized
political power. than combinations OF
wealth His wages for time may be-
abridged by combination OF wealth,
but his rights and liberties may De
taken from him for all dime by central'
lied political power. some Of the dele
gates at previous meeting seemed 70
tics would be n good thing for the city.
II may he In want Of consideration or
this Important question that such re-
mprkg wer, made. II It is not. II may
rot be out OF place 10 emphasize the
fact very forriLly. that the European
system OF centralized political bodies
OF dio;ators Is no. needed in this coun-
try. and the sooner a large number Of
honest American citizens open their
eyes to this fact the less win they. In
course of time. have to censure their
former stupidity.
"The ctvii service of the United
States has a classified list now Of $1,000
government offices, sure OF their POSI-
tions no matter Whht political party Is
in power. What was this law intro
duced for In this country II not for IN
directly curtaihnE the workingmeE's
interest and power In politics? When
all the government positions nre filled
md no expectation in future for posi-
ton OF offices, the interest OF the
voters. and especially the workingmen,
will BE- cool and Indifferent. This VIII
please the civil service advocates and
such men Ms rx-CnngressmAn White, Of
New York, who said. in public speech.
the franchise Of the workinEmen OF the
country should be curtailed or dlmin-
islled'
"There Is no necessity for an exolu-
Blvc law that will I'LL government
(ofiiceH for MI time with one class OF
citizens. our great educational insti-
tutions graduates every year thou
sands OF young men who could all these
positions as well as those in possession
OF them. Then what announcement
have our young men to enter politics?
There is no chance for elevation. as all
roads to SUCCESS are nigh blocked.
Applied 10 Wheeling.
,,Aya,,, ,,,t,I 10 ,,DitrHhIn In national