Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-13
FEW PLAIN M0RDs,


A FEW PLAIN WORDS.
The Register does not defend the last
State administration, which fact is proc.
ably duly appreciated by the members o.
it, but makes sunGry vague allegations
that when the Republicans were in power
previous to 1872, there were dozens OF o.
flee holders who robbed the State of thou
sands of dollars Our neighbor gives no
specifications. Under no Republican ad-
ADMINISTRATION was any State officer guilty
of robbing the treasury, and every admIH-
istration up TO the time the Democrats
came into power quarter OF century
ago was free from scandal.-lntelligencer
The last State administration needs
no defense in connection with the Chill
ton matter, that the present admins
tration does not need in the same con-
nection. That matter, however, is now
settled-much to the chagrin OF the
constituencies Republican organs of
the State, with the Intelligencer at
their head The latters statement that
the Registers allegations regarding the
wholesale robbery of the funds Of the
State by Republican office-holdsss
prior to 1872, when the Republican,
party was thoroughly intreDxned in
power in this State by virtuSof the pro-
scription law and the Fedfral bayonet,
are vague" is worthy II that shifting
and evasive organ yhe Intelligencer
knows, as well as yfhe oldest citizen
among us, that there is nothing vague
about these charges that the State was
-ra1Red of tens 81 thousands of DOL
o9ee-holders. The
Superintendent of
ST., teens with
nces of this fragrant
Ehool funds. And not
defaulters allowed to
n every instance, but in
republican Legislatures
relieve them of their
assertion. It is a
ID record in the Off
blican office-holder
is over ten thou
s. his accounts with
# is II liar that these Re-
efaulters' should prefer to
[ool children and their par
official still holds Office and
settled, and it is not likely
will, but We have yet to
mentioned in the columns
Gus neighbor, which has
ms to bear false witness
solitary Democratic Office
20, during a quarter of CEN
democratic rule in West Vir-
yvhas been found owing the State
penny at the end of his term-and he
has voluntarily and honorably settled
The Intelligencer's statement that
Republican administration in this
State has been '.free from scandal" is
A. the outgrowth of either Incompetent
- sibe ignorance or astounding mendac-
&y. In fact Republican administra-
ton in this State has been remarka-
bic for little else than scandal; and it
began at the very beginning. And,
speaking of loose business methods, it
is notorious that the first Republican
Auditor of the State kept no books, or if
he kept any his successor was not able
to discover the fact, since he could
hardly make either head or tail Of the
affairs of the Office as they were left to
him. This is one instance called to
mind off-hand. If the Intelligencer
doesn't know about these things, or is
in doubt about them, let it wire its
Charleston correspondent to look I'D
the records.
Since the Republicans have regained
control of the State, we have been
treated to another series of rotten
scandals, especially in the legislative
branch of the State government. The
late Republican Legislature was
series of scandals from its opening day
to the close, the lobbyists conducting
a veritable market right on its floor
1t was scandal, fraud, bribery and cor
ruption, from, the school book infamy
to the attempt to saddle the Virginia
debt onto this State Besides this, its
Incompetence was something amazing
Nearly every measure passed by the
>npody was capable of double or triple
appreciation, bulls were in almost
pct and the Attorney General has
pen kept busy STRENGTHENING out
gle; at one the it was thought
extra session would have to
to provide 4 the State mill
for the Com 1snnn of La
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