The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-05-27

Correspondence OF tho Chicago Times
Herald;
In 1894 Charles S. StarkweRther was
pastor OF the Church OF the Redeemer.
Eplscopallan. and the most fashionable
in Superior. wis.
In the spring OF 1895 he resigned to
enter the mayoralty contest, was elect.
ed, and three months aftcrward was
impeached by the city council for re-
celvlng money from policemen and fire.
men as reward for theIr positions.
Two months ai,erward the supSeme
court OF Wisconsin affirmed the judy
ment of the city council, and, not salts
He'd with this simple affirmation. admin
lstered an artistic judicial roast to the
preacher-mayor.
In 1896, with reputation destroyed.
with no pulpit or other avocation OPEN
cd to him. the eN-clergyman and eX-
mayor retired 60 piece OF land In the
wilds OF Northern Wisconsin, and with
the mark OF Cain upon his brow pro-
ceeded TO earn his bread IN sweat OF his
brow his wife remaining In Superior and
maintaining his residence there.
In 1897 he returns to superior. con-
duets a campaign slngle-handed and
alone. runs independent and receives
about 5000 votes, defeating both the Re
publican and Democratic Populist can
didates.
discovery newspaper IN the clty-op-
pose him. Not public man speaks for
him. The Republicans. Democrats and
Populists have their best speakers on
The stump. and yet not one Of them Is
able TO gel an audience II "Starkie. old
bow" Is speaking within ten blocks.
40 man ever developed greater quail
tiles As a campaigner. Starkweathcr
saws he was Inspired from on high; that
ne Invoked and secured the assistance
OF heaven. At any rate. Superior Is
willing TO give him the earth, Judging
by the noise and enthusiasm on the
night after his election.
And true Il Is that as a campaign
speaker his Efforts when elected before.
Grrs puny and Lillputian when COM
pared with those he has shown in the
campaiun lust closed. Some men have
vast latent resources, and some. II Is
said. co to their graves without having
them stirred INTO action. Had Mr..
Starkwcather never drunk sn deep In
the dregs OF adversely he might have
died without knowing his power. That
ne has exhibited In this campaign great
dramatic genius and power every one
comedies. His campaign has been spec
taeular and emotional, appealing to the
sympathles and admiration OF his hear
ers rather than to their logical discrim-
ination. Because. when It Is remem-
bered that as mayor he ACKNOWLEDGED
taking money from the policemen and
dremen after theg drew their first
months pay. his position was ditticult
one 10 maintain. He asserts. however
that Il was simply an assessment which
Inc boys voluntarily made 10 reimburse
him for campaign expenses, and that
preachers are so accustomed to accep.
donations that the free Offering Of the
heart could not be refused. II was
also charged In the impeachment trial
that he, as mayor. sold indui4encles to
the saloons and gambling houses to
violate law. but these charges were
never as clearly proved as those OF
taking money from the policemen and
while distributing bags OF candy in
stead OF buying beer, he said: III gave
Won beer you might feel well for
short time. but In the morning. rs a re-
suit you would have a headache, and
would not vote for me, but this CANDY
will sweeten the ChiluTeN uuu uIlhh
cheer to the home" aud yet the saloon
and gambling element voted for him,
He asserted that the politicians had
been against him ever since he entered
POLITICS, and had sought 10 eutrap him;
that municipal politics here had usually
been corrupt. AID TO symbolic that
idea at his last great mass meeting he
Dramatically rolled a barrel onto the
STAGE and proclaimed that he was going
10 open his barrel, to knock In both
heads according to custom. He did so
10 an astonIshed audience, when TO! II
contained bags Of popcorn, which were
thrown among the audience. That he Is
fertile and novel in resources no one
During his period OF burning brush
and cutting trees on his farm he would
sometimes drive to town with a pair OF
mules, assuming the most rustic char
Rcter Imaginable: then a few days at
ter. with his wife. he would appear IN
elk hat and the most fashionable attire
behind pranclng steeds driven by q
CoachmRn.