Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-01-28
A VERY WEAK DEFENSE.
The Intelligencer's Poor Apology for
the Performers.
It Makes Faces, Calls Names ana
Says "Tain't So" But Utterly
Fails to Refute Any Fact That the
Register Has Given to the Public

After waiting for eight days after the
Register began its circumstantial expose
of the sham reform and laundering con
duct of affairs at the City Hall, during
the mast two years, the Intelligencer yes
terday screwed its courage to the SUCK
ing point, and on the morning OF the day
before the voters cast their batiotS at
tempted an answer" TO the facts pub
lished by this paper.
This reply. made after n week of careful
thought by the Intelligencer, and presum-
ably with the advice and assistance Of the
Republican City Hall official force was
simply a plea of not guilty. The Register
gave definite facts and quoted accurate
figures from the official publications CT
the city. The Intelligencer did not dare
TO take the course of honest argument
backed up by evidence If the Register mis-
stated the facts or mis-ouoted figures,
the Intelligencer could point out the mis-
statements and Interpretations in detail
and thus prove its assertion that what
the Register said was untrue. This Is tins
course TO be taken when you INT TO
crush the other side TO a controversy and
have the necessary ammunition. II proves
your case and clinches your claim at once,
and conviction follows on the part of the
audience. whether that audience be in
front of a speaker or readers of news
paper Did the IntellgenCer take this
course? 1t did not. 1t could not, for tie
feat is impossible. It's like the case in
Court The prisoner was indicted tor
robbery. and the Judge asked him to plead
Not guilty your honor But you ras-
cal. you have the stolen trousers on 4
know 1t; but you see, your honor, you've
got to convince that jury that I took EN-,
and I've friends on the jury. I'm not gull
ty"
Passing over what the Intelligence saws
about "a constituencies writer which
isn't argument. and it's talk about rug
gled figures" rot "billingsgate,'
rank demagogy," and other ike words
and phrases which constitute the bulk
of the Intelligencer's articles. and which
probably appeal with logical and ire
sisible force to the Intelligencer's Gull
tivated constituency, the paper named
says, i'm the first Of its two attempts TO
apologize for the city administration:
The Tnteligencer has called attention
frequently 10 the comparative records or
the last two administrations. showing now
the present administration has. nOtWi. IL
standing the obstacles 1t has had 10 over
come. in the shape of period or great puS-
mess depression. and the inheritance from
It's predecessor Of unpaid and long overdue
obligations. managed all Departments eco
nomically, conducted the citys business IN
a business-like way, provided for the IN
herited overdue bills. and reduced the pub
lie debt nearly $50
Well. let's see about this.
inheritance from its predecessor Of un-
paid and long overdue obligations. man.
aged all departments economically, con-
Quoted the city's business in a business-l'ke
way provided for the inherited overdue
bills and reduced the public debt nearly
$50 COO"
This reads well. The trouble is. it isn't
true.
Some unpaid bills were inherited from
1894, and were paid in 1895. The carrying
over Of bills has been long practiced, and
the reformers were TO stop it. They said
they would. They stopped it by carrying
over bills from 1895 TO 1886. and from 1896
to 1887 Thousands of dollars Of them.
Why don't the Inteligencer try to be
honest with its readers, and say so?
The reformers promised the people they
would pay all outstanding obligations Of
1894 out of the increased taxation. Did
they do it? They did not The gas works
had an oyercheck of over $4,000 and 1t
didn't get dollar towards it. either in
1895 or 1896. and is $4,000 in debt to-day.
Why didn't the Intelligencer admit this
fact with it's boosted honesty Of purpose
and its gable about "conscienceless writ
ers?"
Managed all departments economical
d. - Int
FACT is. that the department expendi-
lures in 1895 were $4,000 more than they
were i'm 1894. with many bills in the pigeon-
hole at the end OF 1895. and in 1896. they
were equal TO what they We're I'm 1S9t
with so many bills in the pigeon-holes on
the Slst day of last December that $1,000
was expended. outside the Boards of
Water and Gas. in the first twenty days
of the present month Of January, or at
the rate Of SIS 900 a year. And in some of
the departments nearly all Of the sums
intended to last throughout the months
of January, February and March have al
ready been expended. and when the new
Council. to be elected to-day comes into
office. its first task will be TO provide
funds The contingent fund. for in
stance, is already overdrawn 10y the gun
boat Wheeling appropriation. The Intel
lisencer says this is economy, and that the
detailed figures the Register has given
constitute rot" The public may judge.
provided for the inherited overdue
bills" How? Provided for them out of
between $4,000 and $4,000 of increased
taXation-an easy trick-and then carried
overdue bills. not inherited over from
1895 to 1886. and others of Ike nature from
1896 to 1897. Why don't the honest InteIli-
gencer admit the fact?
Conducted the city's business in a
business-like way" Heaven help US! Did
this consist Of increased taxation, in
creased expenditures. carrying over bills,
breaking into the stone bridge appropria-
ton. refusing to lift the gas works debt.
using the City Hall as Republican club
house, the early bad management of the
smallpox. the garbage contract foolish
ness. the city charter episode the build
ing ordinance iiasco. or-what? Where
was this "business-like way manifested.
and Of what did it consist? The lntelli-
gencer might have been specific. instead
of general
Reduced the public debt nearly $4,000"
Wei. the law required YOU to do 1t, and
YOU had more money than usual. the pro-
ceeds Of the increased taxation. 10 90 it
with But perhaps there should be GER
tain measure of credit for the performance
OF one obligation.
In the course of its second article, in its
only attempt to answer the Registers
figures. the Intelligencer says. in part:
The decrease in the amount OF fines and
fees collected. which the Register would
have us believe was due to Republican in
capacity. might he accounted for In num-
- : ,,o.-s parhaDs 40 Indicates de-