The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-29

THE lNTELLlGENCER.
wHEEIrNo, NovEmDEn 40, 1897.


The result OF the election for the ratlfl-
cation or rejection OF the refundIng ordi-
on Saturday was disappointing to
those who were interested In seeing a
progressive financial policy adopted by
the city, but 1t "a not surprising, In
view OF the peculiar campaign that wal
made by the opposition. Lees than one
half the people entitled to vote expressed
any opinion at all at the polls, and this
fact is regrettable, II there ever was a
time when a full expression of the popu-
lar Judgment was needed 1t was on this
occasion, and yet less than 1000 votes
were Isl out of a possible 5000.
The friends OF the ordinance made no
organized effort at the polls, feeling that
It would be best to let the proposition rest
upon its merits. Notwithstanding the
Democratic politicians saw fit to force
partisan politics into the matter, and EN-
ployed paid workers at the polls to de-
feat the ordinance and impress upon the
minds of thoughtless voters, who did not
even understand the nature OF the propo-
sltion, that 1t was a political scheme of
the wicked Republican administration,
the Republican organization made no eff
fort to counteract these tactics. for 1t
did not recognize It as a political ques-
tlon. Who paid the bills for the opposl-
ton workers the public can only con-
lecture.
The result Is not without interest as
showing that the ordinance received its
largest vote In the business centres of the
city, showing plainly that it had the
endorsement OF the business men of the
community, and those who pay the bulk
OF the taxes. The large majorities
against the proposition were in the
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth wards, outside
OF the business section, where the Demo-
cratic politicians rushed in a large non
tax-paying element against It. In the
First. Second, Third and Eighth wards
the vote was pretty evenly divided. In
the Second and Third wards, comprising
a large proportion of the business district
OF the city. this was especially the case,
the Second giving a very small majority
for and the Third a very small majority
against the ordinance. The Seventh,
where a large number OF the business
men OF Wheeling reside and do their
voting. gave a majority for the ordi-
nance. The Eighth ward was about a
~stand-of.
While 1t is 10 be regretted that the
proposition failed OF adoption at this
time, it is a significant feature of the
election that II received It's strongest en-
dorsement from men who are accustom-
ed to view matters affecting the financial
policy Of the city from a business stand
point, and to form correct ideas Of public
economy, and had there been n full vote
the result would have undoubtedly been
quite different.
As It was, every falsehood that could
be ~concocted to deceive the voters was
used by the opposition; partisan preju-
dice against the city administration was
appealed TO-; even some OF the saloon ele-
ment recently indicted for selling liquor
without licenses was told that 1t wac a
chance to get even with a Republican
prosecuting attorney, who. being a coun-
ty and state officer, had about as much
20 do with the refnnding ordinance and
the matter OF shaping a financial policy
. for the city Of Wheeling. as the Ahkoond
Z Of Swat would have.
II is perhaps unnecessary, however, to
discuss these matters now The fact
remains that In a total vote repre-
senting scarcely one-half of the total
number Of votes In the city, a minority,
in fact, the ordinance failed Of ratilca-
ton In the manner noted. The matter
does not end here. The proposition Is
bound to como up again. no matter what
administration Is IN oiilce and what par
" is N control. Perhaps then q decent
sense OF ~propriety will prevail and even
the Democratic politicians win come 10
realize that, IN a case whore the public
welfare IS involved, n proposition TO
tighten b burdens OF taxation should he
discussed on It's merits and not made a
target OF by those lnepircd by malice
against tho powers that formulate IT,
In a matter OF this sort the clty's inter-
Get should no viewed as the individual
would view his own private affairs. Tho
management Of city finances Is n big
business AFFAIR, ais much so as the man
aRement OF the finances Of n store, a fac
tory or a bank, and In the near future
the Wheeling public will be called upon
20 meet It as such. whether the Republl-
can party 90 In control at the city hall or
The Democratic party,
The iHtelligcncer hopes that the action
nj the polls Saturday viii not result In
n neccanry lnctciee In the taxes In or.
dor 10 pay the debt under the present
system, Witch compols IT, payment
faster than the city can AFFORD, but at
prtgcrt II sccms that tho time muHt
come. unless ZONE Buoh measure aS the