The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-01-04

the least mean 20 disparase those VINO
diner from US In politics. But the Re
publican party Is the truly great party
0f this country, (applause), and y nas
always stood for q general Alnetl 80
poiiry, f0T genuine Anaefic'l IllNiIi - uliu
for patriotism. II IS the party o. pro
rhess-a narty which meets living IS
sues sduarely-a party which always
keeps It's face squareiy 10 the 'front.' II
is q party Tor young men 70 live N, ana
mr. old men 10 die In. You are q goun8
Republlcap, and there q a great future
for YOU Il YOU will continue on as you
have begun. We have confidence In you
and believe that you Will diacharBe
your duties honestly and faithfully
aud efficiently. now present you WIEN
this Jewel"
Though the genial Mr. Richards was
surprised, he was not at q loss LOT
words and thus feelingly ana appf0-
priately responded:
"Feliow citizens and FriendB-Thls
Is one Of the most trying situations
have ever been placed In, and am on
iy supported by the kindly words OF
nv old friend, the governor OF the
state. and who, years ago, was my tu-
tor in politics. Years ago, when ! first
came into q position to enter Into po-
litical affairs, he was my friend and
advisor. and from him 1 received many
valuable points. He has spoken OF some
things / am glad he mentioned-mat-
tiers occurring during the late cam
paign. To me these things are OF no
Importance, but they are OF importance
N INC Republican party. AS he has
said, some things occurred at the late
election-I may say at the two late
elections-heid in this county within
the past year-the Republican prlmar-
ies and the general election, ana the
criticism promptly made was that there
was a ring, and that the ring must
be defeated for the good OF the parry
For myself, / tried to find out what
that ring was. Ny sole knowledge OF
rings consisted OF what had read OF
their operation In other cities, ana my
idea OF a political ring was an organl-
zatlon which deprived the people OF
their political rights. Here / knew
nothing OF such thing. ! want to fur
Their say that In every lodge, in every
church, for that WATERWAY, in every
household, II It be a large one-there
are duties and responsibilities which
devolve upon q few, and the perform
ance OF these duties and responsibility
les under such conditions constitute
what might be called a ring. You viii
find that ring in the lodge. In the
church, even in the home, and you VIII
find the same thing in politics. and
such management was the only srounu
for the assertions OF the sort heard
during the last campaign. I am no
longer a candidate, yet i have the same
anxiety for the future success OF my
party, whether the contest be munich
pal, county, state or national. Any
statement Of the existence Of any ring
Is, ] am convinced, deliberate false
hood, and Is not supported by one iotn
of truth. Personally. I am gratlled al
this gift aud attention this evening
feel that am not entitled to this con-
sideration and will always remember
II as one of the greatest epochs IN my
history, and shall be glad TO know
that I am held in this esteem as for
this emblem OF office. shall endeavor
to wear It worthIly. and Mt the expira-
ton of my term OF office hope l shall
be able to hand the office
over TO my Republican success
or with record to which
all my friends and the general public
can say amen. I return my thanks TO
the governor for the kind things he
has said, and hope In the near future II
shall be my pleasure to be present nj
an event OF a somewhat similar nature
and / further hope that all who can
new In the history OF West Virginia
the inauguration Of Republican gov
ernor-something, believe, which has
not occurred before for twenty-five
years. Again thank you"
Later in the evening the sheriff and
some of his friends sought the Musee
bowling alleys, where he again dis
tingulshed hlmself-by the remarkably
low scores he made.