Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-21

Mixed Republican Situation IN
This County.
After having had forty-eight Lours
in which to think II over, the Intelli-
gencer yesterday filed its answer to the
allegations emanating from Republic
can candidates for county Offices, and
published in the Register OF last Satur-
day. The reply. although insufficient,
was quite an interesting addition to
the literature of the present campaign,
and was generally given all the weight
to which it was entitled, in Republican
circles. We say Republican circles,
because Democrats were not particular
~ interested in the matters touched
upon. The row originated among Re-
! publicans themselves, who have been
vcciferously alleging that they haven't
had fair deal. and support this assev-
GRAFTON with numerous allegations, all
| OF which appear reasonable, and most
Of which are probably true.
But TO the in,eiigencer's rejoinder:
/. The Intelligencer says: 1T is dis
tinctly not true that the Republican
Committee decided, as far back as Feb
ruaTy last that there should be an
open primary. The minutes of the
| Committee show that at the meeting
| held February Goth the question was
| discussed and action thereon post
pOned. The decision was not reached
| until last week, when it was at once
announced"
This is a substantial concession. il
being admitted that the question was
discussed at the February meeting.
Now let the Inteiligencer admit. by easy
stages, if it pleases, that the question
was not only discussed" but informal
! ~ decided, at least to the extent of its
being apparent that when the time came
the primaries would be open: let it fur
Their admit that this attempted denial
OF practical action was made at the
last meeting of the COMMITTEES. but that
il was there and then shown and ad-
/ mit;ed that what the Intelligencer re-
! 1eTs 10 as a discussion" was virtually
definite action; that the Intelligencer's
attention was called TO this on Wednes-
day OF last week, when it said it could
not be. because information had been
| received 10 the contrary. and that the
case was then proven by Mr. Raymond
! Bauer, IN the presence of a very prom
! lnent candidate IOr a very important
| county Office. Il is likewise true. if
Republican candidates for several of
fices are men OF veracity in important
matters, that certain candidates we're
| informed Of the result Of the "discus-
sion at the February meeting, and
were thereby enabled to have long
| start IN the matter of hiring workers
| az the polls and Of generally getting
/ Things IN shape. The Intelligencer will
! not be allowed to hide behind the min
ule book OF the Republican Committee
majority of the members of which are
! reputed to be very much in favor of
certain candidates and very much on
posed to certain other candidates.
! :. On this count in the indictment
! lne Intelilgencer pleads: 1t is not true
.nac certain candidates obtained
knowledge CT the result and profted Inv
II IN very decided way There woe
no result to know until after the Nee
! ing OF last week. Therefore there wos
nothing to prof, by. Moreover an on,
| primary ballot is as fair TO one capdi-
date as to anotne~ The Democra -ic
| Committee must think so: Otherwise
the Register is bound 10 think tbat lie
party adopted the open ballot TO beln
favored candidates."
Let us examine this. If if is nor tr,,o
thai certain candidates ob.aino5
J knowledge OF the result and p~of-ad
! by 1t in very decided way" then WIN
was all the fuss made about this very
thing, al the meeting &C candidates
ned at the Office CT the Board Of Com-
missioners. within ten days: why was
toe iact OF prior acton and of the result
! ie3klng on, referred 20 in heated terms
Dy candidates at that meeting: why did
a candidate call the attention Of tbe
lateii!Sencer 10 the matter on last We'd
nesday, before final action was ta1-en
by the Committee, and how did il
ccme that The gentleman VINO f~st SIM
! Piled the Information to the Intclliren-
Ger was able TO prove bv another gen
| tleman that what he said was true. and
why oh Why was this very thing the
! subject of hot discussion at the com
mltjee meeting last Wednesday nieht9
! Also, why did at least enc candidate
have workers hired at least two weeks
ago. if he did not know what the final
( action CT the Committee would be-
As to the fairness of an oren ballot
tlat must be conceded. if the general
/ conditions are fair, and every candidate
has the same opportunity Of knowing
what is going on. If these conditions OF
! fairness do not obtain. then any sort
/ Of primary is unfair 10 those who are
! handicapped.
3. The Intelligencer SAYS that in
sted Of printing 100000 ballots il will
only print $4,000. and that its price per
| 1000 is not two dollars. but one dollar.
I Upon this point we will remark that
the Registers information was furnish
4 ed by a Republican candidate for \
! county Office. who stated that his infor-
| nation was absolutely reliable. and yes
| terday another Republican candidate
! for a county Office. referring to the In
telligencer's editorial denial. said. IF
the number of ballots is not 800 900 il
will be very close to that figure" Both
| of these gentlemen have been very
! prominent in Ohio county Republican
politics for years and one Of them has
been eulOgiZed by the Intelligencer it
self as a man who has given freely Of
his time and money to the Republican
cause. We will let the Intelligencer
! and these Republican candidates settle
this little question Of mathematics be-
I tween them.
i. The Intelligencer. after referring
/ -.