Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-01-03

GOlQ Onclal Badge - Inc AL
dress Delivered by Governor
Elect Atkinson - The Reply Of
the Surprised Official.
For two weeks past the numer-
Gus friends of Sheriff H. C. Richards
have been getting up little surprise
for him in the shape of a massive gold
official badge. The affair was III the
hands of very competent and discreet
committee, and so well was the little
matter handled that pretty much ev-
erybody in town knew Of what was on
foot except the recipient.
Last evening was the time fixed upon
for the occasion, and about half-past
seven leading Republicans and news
paper men began to drop into the City
Hall, while Mr.. Richards was lured to
his Office, about quarter of eight. up
on the plausible pretcxt Of somebody
wanting to see him.
While au accommodating conspirator
kept the Sheriff in his private office,
the rest OF the crowd repaired to the
large lobby in the City Clerks office,
and there ranged themselves about the
apartment. Among those present were
Governor Atkinson, w. ]. w.
Cowden, John Shellhase, Chief of Po-
lice Bennett, City Clerk Charley DAN
nenberg, Receiver John w. Kindelber-
ger. Assistant Clerk Charles Watkins,
Secretary Schul, of the Gas Board, Gas
Trustee E. Buskman, Morris Hork-
heimer, James p. Maxwell. Superin-
tendent George Varney, of the Water
Works. John p. Glass. City Collector
James K Hall, Harry Hooking, Clerk OF
the Circuit Court c. n. Henning, Clerk
of the County Court Richard Robert
son, City Solicitor S. o. Boyce, Clerk
of Committees Thomas O'Brien, IT.,
City Engineer A. l.. White, and large
number of others. After the party had
been disposed about the room, Lieut.
Max. Supler was sent to bring IN the
victim. and in a moment he entered, es-
corting the Sheriff.
When the assemblage became quiet,
after the movement into the large
room. Governor Atkinson stepped a
little in front of the dense line of men
where he had formerly had place, and
standing within a few feet OF Sheriff
Richards. said:
THE Sheriff of the County has been
brought in here, as though for q pur-
pose. | presume he has not don&a
thing very wrong, has he, Mr.. Police
man."
''Well. CUES he has violated one OF
the city's ordinances, said Lieut.. Sup
Ter, who had been delegated to escort
the Sheriff into the room.
well. hope you will excuse him, as
he is a new officer. There should be
some excuse for initiatory offenses.'
Then. turning toward Sheriff Rich
ards for the first time, the Governor
said:
"I want to say, Mr.. Sheriff, that there
is a hen on These friends of yours
and they are all your friends-have as
sembled here tonight for the purpose
of saving a few words to you, and they
have asked me TO do the talking. L
have agreed to do so, for it is a pleas
ant task to me, and especially when l
consider all the features Of this case.
| want to say to you that / have been
a pretty careful student of history, and
have read pretty nearly everything
about everybody, from Adam down to
Mckinley Qaughter), and my studies
Of
merit is always rewarded. Some
times the reward is a little slow IN
coming-sometimes it comes quickly,
but it always comes in the END to every
one who deserves reward. | want to
saw this TO you, for my friends and for
myself that Notwithstanding the fact
that your majority in this county was
not as great as you anticipated, not as
great as you desired, and not as great
as your friends desired for you'll want
TO say to you what | believe to be
true. and that is, that with all the ele-
ments which were arrayed against you,
and with the whole Democratic party
united upon one man to defeat one
candidate on the ticket. and that can
didate you-yet with nil that against
you you received a majority OF the
votes of your native county-thc best
county in the State (applausc) great
or than that received by any other
Sheriff-at least I doubt if any one here
can remember a greater. | want to
congratulate you upon the great fight
YOU made, and the great victory you
won.
I'VE hear Il great deal about rinsism
in politics. have been in politics and
I have heard a great deal about pol
itics. and when | hear theE talking
about rings l always believe that they
themselves are of a ring, and that the
trouble is. that they are rot in the
right ring or in the big ring. (LauRh-
teri I heard q great deal OF 1t in the
last campaign, and Of your having
boen a ring candidate when the fact
Is YOU were the candidate OF the Re-
nubljcan party-thc best party The
world has ever seen. (Applause.) You
were nominated fairly, honestly and
sauareiy. and you were elected talrly'
honestly and squarely, and 1t IS pc
cause of this that your friends feel
that you are a true man-that you are
all wool. a yard wide and square IN all
YOUR acts. (Applause.) In CONSIDER
alton of these facts, and OF the race
Won ran. and Of the victory you won,
those your friends. have united ana
arrchasc6 q mcmento-a jewel, when
;s is nv privilege and which am
nlassod to now present to you. IL IS
- I'D ricnIv engraved and is