Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-09

Inc IdcL mas leakeQ out Luat tneTe
were developments of decidedly SEN
sational character in the Criminal
Court grand jury room last Monday
afternoon. Prosecuting Attorney Meyer
presented a list of saloon keepers
whom he offered evidence against for
the purpose of securing indictments
for Sunday selling. The Democrats
were in a minority on the jury, but at
least one of their number made the
rather startling discovery that all Of
the forty or more saloonists on the list,
with the exception of two or three,
were Democrats.
The Prosecuting Attorney was called
into the jury room, and report has 1t
that at least one Democrat spoke his
sentiments in very vigorous manner,
alleging that the situation appeared to
justify a charge that there was politics
in the matter-Or, in other words, that
there was an effort to create some par
tisan capital Some jurors appeared
unwilling to believe that it was purely
an accident that so many of the saloon
lists were Democrats, and they were
also 10th to believe that the Republican
saloon keepers do not violate the Sun
day selling law as often as the Demo-
Gratis.
hot nf tho diSnnc sion
in the jury room would make very in
teresting reading, if all the stories
afioat as to what was said are to be
credited. 1t appears that a sufficient
number of the jurors took the view of
the matter which is referred to above,
inasmuch as nearly all the present
ments were returned as mot true bills" "
When the report was brought into the
court room the Prosecuting Attorney
remarked to a newspaper man that he
had made a clear case against all Of
the saloonists, and he added something
soto voce about "a Democratic jury"
Political ingratitude is crime OF
which the Ohio county ring is not
guilty. So long as ofice-holders do
the bidding of the bosses, it is gem
orally understood that the tenure of
their positions is only limited by The
duration of the supremacy of the ring.
Sometimes it is found that it is the
part of wisdom to look after the re-
calcitrants also. Party policy guides the
course of the ring, so long as it does
not conflict with the personal prefer
ment of the leaders. This comes from
a prominent Republican who is not
permitted to enter within the charmed
circle: "They say the ring had moth
ing to do with the distribution OF the
fat places by the present City Council.
That is untrue. The ring selected the
candidates at the primary election who
were slated for success, and the slate
went through. If there was no deal
before the election, can't you see tnat
the Councilman cannot afford to be I'M
grateful afterward? He is made to
feel his obligation, and influenced to
vote accordingly. Oh, the ring looks
we'll after its own, too. Fire Chief
Klieve3 was ousted because he could
not be controlled, and he began to say
ugly things about the bosses. Then
they found a place for him in the
water works. Dave Hahne was turn
ed down, to elect Eddie Elliott, and
he also got a position at the water
works. They bounced Janitor Sam
Sloan, and created temporary place
for him at the gas works. And so it
goes. The only man they have not
provided for, is Tom Bennett. So
long as the ring is in control office
holders will step from one position to
another"