The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-23

The committee Of Island people who
have Interested themselves in an eff
Tort to secure free bridges for foot
passage Is now circulating paper
the siguers OF which pledge Themselves
70 do what they can to bring about the
abolition OF foot toll, and thus place
the Island on an equality with the seven
other wards Of the city. As a matter
of course, all the Island candidates for
council, both Republican and Demo
cratic. are or will be sIgners Of the
pledge. and the committe has received
considerable encouragement on the city
side OF the river.
A member OF the c0mmitte Is reported
By the Register to have expressed re-
. gret that the Intelllgencer injected poll
itics into the movement for the aboli-
ton Of foot toll, and to have expressed
further the desire that at least one
Democrat be elected to council from the
Island. This injection OF politics"
consists In the bare announcement In
this paper last Monday that the Repub-
lican suggestion meeting passed a free
bridge resolution unanimously, and that
the Democrats didn't think II worth
their while to pass such a resolution.
II this be an injection OF politics from
the Registers viewpoint, let that sheet
and the man whom II interviewed make
the most OF it-and at the same time
explain the Democratic Indifference to
Tree bridges, as shown at that party's
Island suggestion meeting. AS TO one
Democratic member OF council from the
Island, this IS right in line with what
THE 1ntefligencer disclosed some time
ngO-the fact that certain Island DEM
0crats, would endeavor to so work Up
their campaign as TO run in q success
full candidate for council ON a free
bridge landslide. Unfortunately for
these cute Democrats. the Republican
ORGANIZATION on the Island Is pledged
To- do all II can for the free bridge
cause, and Republicans would do we'll
10 give the cold shoulder to any free
toll advocate who is unable TO see uhi-
mate success for his cause without the
election Of a Democratic councilman
from the Seventh ward. OF course,
all candidates on the Island are for
free bridges; the only difference is that
the Republican candidates are pledged
through their suggestion meeting and
the Democratic candidates are not
pledged, at least no free bridge resolu.
toln was passed. II there is any eX-
cuse for breaking away from party
ties on this question the Republican
candidates compel support in preference
10 unpledged Democratic candidates.
Aside from the contest being waged
for the chief OF police nomination By
bfessrs. Clemans and BerO, interest in
the Republican camp is centered upon
the several contests for councIlmanic
nominations. and care is being taken
TO insure the selection OF strong tickets
In all the wards With such excellent
suggestions as those made last Satur-
day. 1t will not be difficult to select a
strong ticket for council in every ward.
The Democrats affect TO believe that
they have excellent chances to win in
tie First, Fourth, Firth and Sixth
wards ON council, and that with scatter
ing successes In other wards they Will
SECURE asuficient number Of councilmen
: 10 giYe them a majority. The Republl-
can managers claim their chances in
ALI the wards mentioned. with the eX-
ception of the Sixth, are as good or bet
ter than the Democrats and that there
will be at least two Republicans elected
IN the Sixth. The Democrats will CEN
ter their tight on council. knowing that
their contest for mayor. wharfmaBteF,
Chief OF police and city clerk Is we'll
nigh hopeless. With council in their
control they can see the lions share OF
the fruits OF victory in slght-water
board, city gas board, city receiver,
Sity collector and board OF public
works In immediate prospect, and fire
chief two years hence. The Republic
cans. however. are fully aware Of the
purposes Of the opposition. and will not
lose sight Of the Importance o. looking
after the several councIlmanic contests
even more closely than on the general
result, in which Republican success all
along the line seems assured.