The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-14

eeassul, becapse q tie itat q co-opera-.
ton Of the plFenta.
We nave % the fullest extent poSsl1la
enforced the ordinances intended 70 rFu-
tect boys from these flceS, and We SHAH
mol relax our yigllonce b this respect
but We know that u 70 impossible for
u9 to keep boys entitely out Of ualOont
we would suggest TO your Federation
that II may lie In your power 70 DO more
IN this respect than We can. y yo1 Will
get the boys Into the churches, and
teach them 10 avoid evil wayn. We be-
lieve that Tie church can be q gfeAt aid
10 the law In that way. You can, by
moral suasion and Christian example,
do more Tor the cause OF reform than
can be done by the kind Of radical re-
form by force which yon suggest 70 ~.
In formulating our plans for better
ing conditions In the city. we have been
to a great extent guided by the experl-
ences Of the late Col George w. Waring
In his connection with the Roosevelt adj
mlnlstration In New York City, and we
have, from our experience, been forced
10 tho same conclusion - ne. That no
extreme reform aa possible, and that in
some instances where there are tech
meal violations, they must be permitted
to limited extent while being held in
check. because IN city especially one
like Wheeling, composed Of GLASS OF
people almost entirely OF the working
class there must be something to take
the place Of the social club Of the man Of
means.
We have felt a paTdonable pride in the
iaw-abiding character 0e our city, and
especially In the fact that while the
surrounding cities ana towns have re-
Gently had an epidemic OF robbery, our
city has been almost entirely free from
such occurrences. And IN the matter
Of the minor crimes OF which you COM
plain, we insist that our city Is not
worse than other cities, but, on the cons
trary, Is much better than most cities
Of like population.
The slot machine matter "a one which
win regulate ITSELF and, as shown above,
It's relation to the revenues Of the city,
under present conditions and customs.
makes the question one Of carrying out
business arrangement, and we feel
confident the Ultimate disposition OF
the matter will be not only satisfactory
to your association, but to the general
public as well. To adopt any other
course than as originally proposed
might result in serious financial loss to
the city. And while we shall, AZ we
have heretofore done. regulate and con-
troll so as TO reduce to a minimum, the
evils. Of which YOU complain, we could
not, Il We fully agreed with you, enter
upon the effort at radical reform which
you suggest because, In addition to the
reasons above set forth, we have at our
disposal no funds with which to follow
up the prosecutions. 1t Is not our duty
TO swear out warrants In the matters
you suggest, but we will, as we have all
ready done, promptly act upon any war
rant that may be Issued upon the app
lic0tiOn OF any citizen who Is willing to
become responsible for costs
We fully agree with your view that
the city should not want to raise reve-
nue. from such sources, but 1t is a part
OF the present financial structure OF the
city, though we do not believe the gem
erai public has before understood its
workings.
We have the consciousness Of having
given the citizens Of Wheeling, an adj
mlnistration the best OF which we were
capable, and to have carried out as
nearly as circumstances and conditions
permitted, the wishes Of our citizens.
And we say to you reverend gentle-
men, In conclusion, that we Will do all
we can do under the circumstances 4O
enforce the law in spirit of fairness
and 10 the end that the standard OF viz.
tue and morality may be elevated IN our
city, and we ask Of you that you bring
to our aid the good you can do in tho
pulpit.
We apologize for the length Of this
reply but approaching that your assoc
citation desired TO know the exact con-
ditlons, we have endeavored to frankly
state the facts, not In justification Of
ourselves, but for your information.
Very respectfully,
A. T. SWEENEY,
Mayor.
WIN. II. CLEMANS,
Chief OF Police.
Wheeling. December IL, 1899.