Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-28
AN JTHER INSTANCE OF RING RULE.

CINE house the other day in which
two of his subordnates-one dismiss
ed and the other previously sus-
pended-revealed another instance
of the quality of the rule of
the city ring, which has long
been running the municipal govern
ment as a mere political machine for
the benefit of the ringsters and their
aids and associates in politics.
The statement made by Chief Klieves
after the assault will give the people
of this city an inkling of how the ring
manages, or, rather, mismanages, the
departments of the city government.
Politics and the interests of the ring
come first and the welfare of the de-
partments, the city and the taxpayers
afterwards.
Under pressure from the ring good
men were discharged from the Fire
Department simply because they were
Democrats and inexperienced bench
men of the ringsters put in their
places. Chief Klieves, who retired
from Office last night and consequently
is free to talk openly, says:
The ring is responsible for whatever
ack of discipline there has been in the
department If | reprimanded or suspend
I'd man. he went to his councilmanic
friends, and they waited on me and in
sisted upon the suspension being removed.
In the Porter case, for example, the man
was insubordinate to both his foreman
and myself. and when l suspended him
he cody informed me that he would go off
if the committee said so, but not on my
say. Instead of assisting me in better
ing the condition of one of the most i'm
portant city departments. certain Repuh-
lcan members on committees have done
everything in their power to embarrasS
me.
The fire department is one of the
most important city departments. 1t is
called upon to protect the property of all
citizens, irrespective of creed or politics.
and it is obvious that with so much en-
trusted to it, it should be placed beyond
the pernicious influence of ring politics.
1t will only reach the highest point of
efficiency when it is conducted in accord
ance with the metropolitan idea. Men
who are in the service and prove them
selves capable, should be retained just SO
long they are sober and efficient. En-
perience in lighting fires is invaluable,
and replacing good men with untried ma
NArial is an experiment which may some
day result disastrously, particularly when
sweeping changes are made, as after
change in the politics OF the controlling
power"
These are the words of Republican
fire chief, disguised with the work of
the ring. which, had he truckled to it.
as he, himself, states, would probably
have reelected him.
No such condition of things as he
cites ever prevailed under Democratic
councils rule. There never was a
Democratic fire chief in the city Of
Wheeling who was not sole executive
head of the fire department, uninter-
fered with by any clique or political
ring. For example, under Chief Healy,
the last Democratic head of the fire de-
partment, the personnel and discipline
of the department were splendid for
the reason there was no thought of
politics in the discharge or employing
of firemen, or of anything but a mans
efficiency as a fireman. While, every
thing else being equal, Democratic
chief would naturally give the prefer
ence in employing men to Democrats,
those whom he trusted most and knew
best, yet Chief Healy never discharged
man for political reasons. nor hired
one on those grounds On the con-
trary, throughout the department
many Republicans were retained in Of
flee because they were good men and
efficient firemen, which was sufficient
for the chief. This was true under
every Democratic fire chief we have
had as far back as memory ,goes-sev-
eral firemen, who were active Republic
ans serving under Democratic chiefs
for twenty years, notably the new fire
chief himself, Mr.. Robert Cline, elected
last evening by Council.
What is true of this department is
true. also. Of the police department,