The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-08
AN UNJUST CHARGE

Made by the RrgiAter Bsfutsd by Prssl-
dent n. r. aIeGrsgOr, Ofths Board OF
County Commits slOners-Ihe RsdiStriet'
ing Order not Political Move-A Letter
Which the Register Refused 10 rudiish,
The annexed letter was addressed 20
the Register by Mr. II. p, MeGregor,
president OF the board Of county COM
mlsslmers, In reply to some gross mis-
statements regarding the recommended
lions TO the board that the boundary
lines of the district should be changed,
The Register had edltorially lmpugned
the motives OF the gentlemen Of the
board and charged that the move, which
was INTENDED TO make the districts con-
form to the provisions Of the constitu-
tlon, was scheme to gerrymander the
county, though the Register did not
show how this could be done, The con-
stttHtion provides that the districts shall
contain equal populations as near as
possible, and under the present arrange
ment some districts contain as much as
twice the population Of others Mr.. Ne
Gregor who, as president OF the board
was reflected upon by the Registers ar
tlcle, sent the following letter 10 the
Register which It declined to publish on
the flmsy gound that 1t was mot de-
Gently worded," II speaks for ITSELF
To the Editor OF the Register;
/ consider your criticism OF the action
of the board Of county commissioners
In their proposed change Of district lines,
as contemplate, and very unjust You
lack the political honesty TO look on two
sides OF any question that arises, II
there is any Republican county ring In
this county know nothing Of Il. ! had
the resolution prepared that 60 sllrs
your vlrtuOus soul and am not ashamed
Of Ii, and It was neither suggested nor
prepared by any ring" nor member at
any ring. A party that can carve state
up In congressional districts as your
party has done In this state, should DO
slow I'm condemning an action Of the
board that is clearly a duty under the
constitution. Do you think 1t treason TO
change the line between such districts
as Centre and Webster, the tirst with a
vote of 797 and the latter OF 1876? IL
you do, then make the most OF IT,
do not know what the committee will
recommend, nor what the board Will do
| In this matter, but from what ] know of
them, my opinion Is. they will not be de-
TERED from doing their duty In this, as
well as other questions that may
come up for adjustment, by any such
partisan foolishness as appears In your
| editorial OF this morning.
You reflect on my action as president
| nf the board in making up the commit
| tee. If your party had member OF the
board In the city, whose district would
be affected by any change In the boun-
daries, he would surely have been on the
committee, but the voters OF Ohio coun-
| ty decided year ago they had no use for
Democratic commissioners. and only
elected one in the county, and that by a
very small margin.
Mr., Farls. the only Democratic mem
Der, a very worthy gentleman, by the
way, lives In a distant part OF the coun-
| ty, and could not have any interest In
any change OF lines in the city, but II
any change is made In his district, l am
sure he will be consulted.
consider your criticism of my action
In the matter as very unjust, and not
warranted by the facts.
think the present board will compare
very favorably with some former Demo
cratic boards, in political matters; but
as to this, let the people Judge.
Yours
II. P. McGREGOR.