The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-23

"The Ideal City Mayor" was the
theme of an interesting sermon last
night. at the First Christian church. by
the pastor. Rev. c. NJ. Oliphant. The
sermon was Of general application and
was free OF direct local references. 1t
argued for God-fearlng man as may
or Of a city and for n people who would
assist the mayor In enforcing the laws.
The apathy of the good citizens was
largely responsible for defects In mu-
niclpal rule. The Scriptural figure In
the sermon was Nehemiah, who did so
much for Jerusalem, as It's ruler. There
was large congregation present.
The head OF Il government, said Rev.
Mr.. O!!phaat, determines to great ex-
tent. whether that government shall be
good or otherwise. The mayor will re-
fleet his government and his govern
mcnt of city will reflect its mayor.
First, the Ideal city mayor ought TO be
patriotic. His patriotism may wave
before the rid!cule Of the boss and the
politician. who ask him to do their bid
ding. The average city mayor repre-
scnts the lower clements of society and
the city. Elected in the interests OF the
few. he becomes the tool Of political
ringsters and ward heelers.
The ideal mayor will be dominated by
principles. He will have q high stand
ard Of public opinion always. standing
before him as n guide to follow. He
will not compromise. but will stick out
for the right, and not sacrifice his spirit
by tempting bride or by intimidation.
In n word, he will have backbone. Not
slender gelatinous thread, but back
bone that means something.
He will learn that public trust IS
not "a private snap" but that 1t Is 4
Godgiven trust. Too many public SER
wants. continued the speaker. are like
the willow instead OF being Ike the
oak. An ideal public official will rot b.
"for sale" Now 1t Is not uncommon
for glass Of beer to buy Il mans man
hood-but there isn't much manhood to
dispose Of in these cases. grimly re-
marked Rev. Mr.. Oliphart.
The ideal city mayor will desire the
protection and safety of the people in 4
way that will show MIN to be an advo-
cate ut all times Of certain safeguards
and protection. The city will have
Slt's, At all ldlllDtU CluSSlIlSS. he ltItul
city will have its streets so ruled that
4 lady will not have to go out irto tho
middle Of the streets TO pass the crowds
of loafers on the curb. and policeman
will always be near when wanted. And
gambling will not be tolerated whatev-
err and a temptation to the youth will
thus be wiped away.
City officials ought to execute the
In pThnv ,-ill hot
consequences will be: not what the vio-
lators think. In speaking of the en-
forcement of the law. the speaker took
occasion to intimate that immortality
was not revealed. nor punished rs 1t
ought to he. He also spakc of the des-
ecration OF Sunday. which was the out
come Of the American peoples desire
for pleasure, The large number of
pleasure seekers forced more men 10
work on the Lords day. Selfshncss
was another cause: one man kcc0inG
his store open because his neighbor did
The speaker wanted to know why so
many men had business in the saloons
on Sunday. What did Inc number Of
drunken men on the streets on that day
mean. These SpectacleS SiCnificd that
the mayors of the cities did not have
the backbone to enforce the Sunday
CLOSING; laws, Civil and religious laws
were broken by violations of the Lord S
day. but the mayor could get more as
sistancc than he does from the citizens.
Rev. Mr.. Oliphant blamed much of the
trouble due to the 1etharGy Of citizens.
The citizens should report violations of
law to the mayors. Mayors were the
kind Of men the people made them.
Therefore, the people have n duty to
perform. They should attend the eau
cuses. the suggestion meetings and the
primaries. instead OF. finding fault after
all was done. The speaker believed the
people must share in the blame If their
city government is not nearer perfect.
Closing, Rv. Mr.. Oliphant said the
ideal city mayor would be an upright,
God-fcaring man. courageous and ever
ready to speak out. He will have Il
character, n man OF men. And he will
have the support of the people. loyal
supporters Of him in the execution of
the law. With such mayor at the
helm and with the people nj his back.
Gods will will be done. Then and no.
until then, will there Dc ideal city gov
ernments.