Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-03
y CARD.

To the Editor of the Register.
Sjr:-in December 1896. the Mayor of
Fulton gave notice as required by law.
that an election would be he'd January :.
1897. the day specified by law. for munich
pal officers Of the town OF Fulton but by
the failure of the citizens of Fulton to
make any nominations up 10 January 4th,
two days previous TO the election, some
citizens charged me, and other Council
men and the Mayor. that we wanted 70
eelctiOn held. and 10 avoid any trouble,
the Mayor called a special meeting of
Council. on Monday. the 4th of January.
two days previous TO the election. TO APP
point commissioners of election. The COM
mittee was then appointed. and Council
man Schenk at the meeting asked about
the ticket and il was suggested TO put all
eligible men for Office on the ticket and let
the voters take their choice. This was
done on Thursday but a ticket with six
or seven names on, and with some names
on IL that no one ever knew that any such
persons livrd in Fulton, was dis
trbuted in the beer mop TO all the
hands who had "a vote. and one man
was claiming in almost every public house
On town that he had seven barres of beer
10 defeat some candidate. Now. if this is
O. legal election. let the public judge. But
this is not all The election was held, the
commissioners Of election gave me the ball
lot box TO preserve, as recorder Of the
town. and only the poll book, no tally
sheet and no certificate Of the vote Of any
person received at the election.
ON Sunday. the 10Th of January I took
sick, and very bad at that on Wcdnes-
day, the 18th, the Mayor and two Council
men went 70 the place where Council
meets. but having no quorum. went home.
and mp TO January 30th never lad 4 quo
rum 10 canvass the vote. But this is not
an on January -Sth, the sergeant Of the
town and Nr. y. G.. Wagner the newly
elected recorder. as ne claims. came to my
room and stated that there were three
Councilmen in the other room, and asked
IL L would consent for them TO come in
my room and make quorum and canvass
the vote. Wagner wanted TO do my work,
while I only should look on.
] said to them it was impossible cor me
TO 10 this. First, I was not able. and sec
oud. it was not the place to do the cam
vassing. The next day 1 looked at the
votes had been cast. on saturday the
20th. Henry Roth. who claims 10 be elected
Mayor. said that he had seen II. NJ Rus
sell and that he should qualify. but l had
nothing TO show as to his election but the
poll book and some Illegal votes. The
book was not properly signed, and he came
/ 20 tie conclusion to take the same course
as few years ago. straighten matters up
right and let the old officers resign and
the new ones take their seats. I would
have nothing to do with Wagener's plan.
ON Saturday night Wagner came to
my room and said if / was not able 10 do
the work as recorder I should hire a man
TO do it, and not delay the Canvassing Of
the vote. and if / would not give up the
office he (Wagener) would call on Monday
% Council meeting and take hold of the
town. / asked him how he knew he was
elected He said the judges of election
had said so. and they would stand up with
him. 1 asked him if he had qualified and
why ne had not deposited the oath and
certificate from the person who had ad-
ministcrcd the oath to him az my office,
as by law required and presented his
bond. as the ordinance Of Fulton requires.
The answer was that he attended TO it
himself
Now let the public judge for itself
have been sick since the 10th of January,
and have not been able 20 so out Of the
house for three weeks. Two members Of
Council have been sick at the same time,
and man tells one I was to blame for the
delay of declaring him TO be elected. If
this man Wagner has no respect for me
AS am officer. ne should at least have re-
spect for the Office that 1 hold at present.
and the law OF the State and the ordinance
of The town that he expects 10 represent
an the future. and after all the warning
by the Mayor against any unlawful action
I'm this matter WAGNER has asked for
the hooks. as recorder Of the town. He
bas deposited no papers nor any bond.
at nv Office. as required by the law Of the
ctote and the ordinance Of the town.
what cam the citizens and taxpayers of
FYiton expect of an officer who would be
that srsspectful.
Respectfully.
MICHAEL STEIN.
Recorder of Fulton.