Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-05

Decisive One - Other Business
Transacted Last Evening.
The Chamber of Commerce held a
highly interesting and important ses-
sion last night.
The paramount question before this
body was the new charter, and what
would be the further attitude of the
Chamber towards it.
This question resulted in large
amount of talk and contention.
The charter was championed prin-
cipally by DR.. r. w. Hazlett and VIM.
Erskine. Col Thomas O'Brien and
Geo. B. Caldwell combatted it quite
forcibly, and Mr.. Caldwell made an ar
gument of some length against it. The
result finally reached was that the
Chambers committee will confine it.
self to efforts to have Council submit
the charter TO the people, and it will
not go to Charleston unless it is sub
mitted and ratified by majority of
the voters of the city, at some time in
the future.
Another matter that formed an in
teresting feature of the meeting was
the question of the Chamber of Com
merce sending representative to the
business mems monetary convention
to be held at Indianapolis on the 18th
of this month. This was strongly op-
posed by Col. OBrien on the ground
that the convention was called for a
political purpose and to fasten the pres
ent gold standard upon the people.
The attendance of members last night
was large. over thirty being prev Mt
Among those there were: Messrs.
Alfred Paul, DR.. r. W. Hazlett, Gen.
T. S. Riley, VIM. McKelvey, VIM. Frs
kline. L. S. Sands, Jos. Brady, d. u.
Phillips, Henry Morris, c. f. Van
keuren, H. F.. Behrens. Thos. O'Brien,
Ran Stalnaker, Anton Reymann, Allen
Brock, Frank Stanton, Joseph Dubois,
B. S. Allison, Charles Bowers, Howard
Hazlett, w. A. Wilson, Paul o. Rey-
mann, George Baird, Frank Caldwell,
c. H. fancy, James Cummins, B. w.
Peterson, NJ. Somehow, Henry Baer,
John c. Riheldafer, Geo. B. Caldwell,
Robert Dalzell, and others.
After the meeting was called to or
| der by President Quarter, Mr.. John
C. Riheldaffer was appointed secretary
pro TEN in the absence of the regular
secretary, Mr.. Howard Hazlett. The
secretary read a letter Of request from
H. II. w. Hanna, of the Cincinnati
Chamber of Commerce. that the Wheel
ing Chamber send representatives to
the monetary conference to be held at
Indianapolis on January 18th. Mr.. j..
c. Brady. who had presented the mat
ter to the Chamber. explained that the
idea Of the convention was to get bust
ness men from all parts of the coun-
try together and divise better none
tary system for the country and to
take the money question out Of poll
tics Mr.. Brady further made the mo-
ton that the president be empowered
to select representatives to the Indian
apolis convention. they to be chosen At
his leisure. He endorsed the purpose
of the convention and advocated the
taking Of the money and banking oues-
tions out of politics. and that there
was a necessity for some financial
measure to be devised that would pass
Congress.
Col O'Brien said he was opposed 70
the convention, and business men TAX
ing part as a body in politics. He
cited the city of Philadelphia as an In
stance where the business men govern
cd the administration of municipal af-
fairs. and great corruption, filth and
pollution existed. He said the trou-
bic with such movements meant big
ger machine than the one to be
abolished. He asked the purpose OF
the convention. and if anybody in the
Chamber could vouch that it was not a
scheme to foist the gold standard upon
the people. If il was, it would not go
down with our people. and that II the
body endorsed it as such this would be
the entering wedge for the Chamber OF
Commerce to end its usefulness. The
matter was further discussed and the
motion of Mr.. Brady was adopted by
the vote of q TO 10. After the matter
had been disposed of another commun-
ication. relative to the same subject,
was brought up, and after some OBJ
lection by Mr.. Anton Reymann and
others. was read. This was an eX-
tended letter from the Cincinnati
Chamber of Commerce, signed by Mr..
Mamma. NJ. z. ingalls,, and others, set
ting forth the objects of said conven-
ton and Stating that it was the pur-
nose to formulate a financial measure
and secure it's passage in Congress,
which would provide for sound and
stable monetary system. The names
signed to the letter and the text OF 1t
proved that the convention was orig
mated for the purpose of preserving
the present monetary standard. Col.
OBrien Indignantly declared it to be
first class political move from begin
ming to end.
After this matter had been disposed
of for good. the new charter engaged
the attention of the body, and consum-
ed the time until adjournment. The
Charter Committee. appointed at the
last meeting. was called upon for
report. Mr.. James Cummins, one OF
the committee. stated that in the alb
sence of Mr.. Erskine, who had been
i'll he had taken his place, and that
the committee had nothing 10 report.
Mr. Erskine was able TO be present
last night. and arose and asked 10 De
relieved OF his duties as a member OF
the committee because of illness ana
hecause people generally had placed
wrong construction in regard to ms
connection with the new charter. lie
said he had been regarded as pro-