Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-04
BENNODD CITY ELECTION.
Matters Of Vital Interest to be Con-
Sidered Tomorrow.

Republican County Officials In
timidating Sa.oonkeepers-- Some
of the Men Who Are Candidates
for Office and Something OF
Their Records- Republicans
Want McMechen Annexed.
Tomorrow Benwood voters VIII
elect an entire city ticket, including
mayor, recorder, marshal. street COM
missioner and councilmel.. The con-
test has been quietly conducted, blit as
the time of the election appf caches the
interest has been greatly Increased. as
the result will be of much importance
to every resident and taxpayer OF BEN
wood. The Democrats were never
more hopeful of winning and the prop
,hility Of Democratic victory has
given the Republicans much concern
r NAV be more than victory for the
Democrats. 1t may be landslide for
them Judging by some of the Topping
that has occurred and the change IN
political sentiment, that mas TAKEN
place.
AS an evidence of the extreme anx-
iety of the Republican politicians the
interference of the Moundsvlile court
house ring in the local politics OF Ben
wood is a point in view. SATURDAY
Prosecuting Attorney Parsons and AS
sistant Prosecutor Evans, OF MOUNDS
VILE. came to Benwood and accompa-
MED by Paul Reidel, candidate Tor
council, and others, made calls upon
local saloon keepers in the nope OF re-
cetving the influence of this element
in behalf of Republican ticket. Ihls po-
luical scheme is not new and Ben
wood Democrats have had to contend
with it before. AS Is well known,
Benwood saloons keepers have no state
license and are therefore subject con-
tinually to the bleeding process to
furnish sinews of war for designing
Republican politicians. 1t IS known
that two years ago SAoo was
collected from Benwood saloonists to
help supply the county Repupllcan
treasury with funds. In this instance
thew are. however, not expected to give
IN money. but are expected to support
the ticket.
There never has been a time when
the Democrats had stronger ticket TO
offer. The majority of the candidates
are men of experience and proven IN
tesrity. Among the candidates for
council are Michael DOlan, August
Hepe. John Cusick, James Barrett and
exIMayor Joseph Mahood, who have all
had several years experience ana nave
shown that they are not only to De
trusted. but have the requisite ability
tn conduct the city's affairs satisfac,
torily The other Democratic council
candidates are luke Sauers, IN the
Fourth ward. and Thomas Roby ana
Thomas Farmer in the First ward.
These are men of sound judgment ana
strict integrity and no public spirited
voter would hesitate to vote for any
one of them. The election OF the Dem-
ocratic candidates for the other city
offices recorder and street commls-
sioner would mean big Improvement
over the present administrator.
Thos. F. Deegan, the candidate TOT
Mavor has been one of the most prom
inent members of the City Council for
several wears, and on all occasions has
shown that he is worthy OF any trust
renosed in him. For Marshal, George
Fnrbee is picked out as sure winner.
If elected, he will give, Benwood what
she has not often had. clean and
soher administration. He is work
ingman and extremely popular with
that class. Joseph Ward is the popu-
lar. Young and capable candidate 1or
Recorder and has hosts of friends.
Patrick Scanlon, the next Street Com
missioner. is already feeling like cele-
brating his election, for there is sure
10 be a change in the street cleaning
branch this time. In striking contrast
with what may be said in favor OF
these men are the decidedly unpopu-
lar records of those who oppose them
for office.
A candidate who has served the peo-
pie before generally has a. record,
good or bad, and in speaking OF sew
eral of the Republican candidates, the
most charitable thing that can be said
is that their records are decidedly i'll
looking. Benwood voters have not for
gotten how the present Mayor. and
John T. Manley, Paul Riedel, w. B.
Leach, former Councilmen, used all
their efforts to abolish an amendment
to the town charter which gave the
town the right to decide what or any
railroads had the right to lay their
tracks in the boundaries Of the town
and where they should be laid This
right was given to the town in 1889 by
an amendment to the charter, which
was passed by Democratic Legisla-
ture. In 1895 this amendment was
knocked out" through the efforts OF
Councilmen Leach, Riedel, Manley and
others, who deliberately threw away
the peoples rights.
Simple to get through the Legisla-
ture an act admitting the Cherokee
Strip to the corporation of Benwood
which was in effect a gerrymander to
increase the Republican vote largely
BY this political deal the people of Ben
wood were deprived of the right to pro-
tect their own property and limit the
privileges of those corporations who
sought an entrance to the town. As
the law now stands any railroad can go
ahead and condemn any property 1t
pleased and the people of Benwood
could not even raise a protest. The
benefit of the amendment, which was
abolished by these partisans, was
shown at the time the Terminal road
asked for the privilege of laying their
tracks. This was only granted after
the company had made satisfactory ar
rangements with the property owners
along the proposed route.
These same parties who desire to get
back into council, are also interested
at the present time in the scheme tc