Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-30


caucus, Saturday night, was naturally
the leading topic Of conversation in
local political circles, yesterday, al
though the h~igh-handed action Of the
Republican majority in the Second
Branch, Saturday afternoon, in refus-
ing to permit a recount Of the ballots
in the First ward, and allowing the
members whose seats were contested
to vote upon their own case, in refus-
ing the Democratic demand, came in
fol a good deal of red-hot criticism,
both Saturday night and during yester-
day. 1t was the unanimous sentiment
of fair-minded people that if there was
anything wrong in either the First or
any other ward, it should have been
the first duty of Council to have
investigated, rather than to declare
men elected and use their votes for
the election of city officers before the
cloud was lifted from the title to their
seats. The failure of Chairman Max
well to entertain Mr.. Healy's motion,
although it had two seconds-a fact
well known to everyone watching the
proceedings, except the chair-created
a decidedly bad impression, and
caused a ~deep-seated conviction that
the majority intends to run things with
a high hand, and to be determined to
hesitate at nothing to subserve party
and partisan ends. This plan of con
Quoting affairs may succeed, tempCrar-
but in the end it will add strength
to- the minority, for the people love
ia ir-play, and will see that it is given.
I'll is now too late for Democrats 10
urge a recount in the First, as was
intended Saturday, for to-morrcw
the Republican caucus nominees
will be presented and will be e~lecleG.
and subsequent proceedings, even Il
they should develop facts w%arranting
the unseating of one or more Council
men, will scarcely effect the titles OF
the officers to be elected in joint ses-
sion within twenty-four hours, no mat
Ter how plain a case may be made ont.
The Republican leaders well knew this,
and hence their haste Saturday 10
swear in all those having a majority
on the face OF the returns, and to slave
off or wholly prevent any investigation
behind the returns. Their haste is d
virtual confession that the ballots and
returns will not stand an impartial aEi
fair scrutiny, and the public have
noted the fact.
There were some smiles and COM
ments, Saturday evening, over the way
President Maxwell, of the Second
Branch, headed off any possibility of
Mr.. Chew, CT the Third ward, getting
on the Committee on Committees. Mr.,
Maxwell does not care to have Mr..
Chew on that committee, and virtually
said so when he made his selection Of
the four Second Branch members. 1t
will surprise no one if Mr.. Chew is
not compelled to play second fiddle
all through the present Council.
The caucus results fell like a wet
blanket, in many localities, when the
details became known yesterday morn
ing, to the voters at large. There was
a good deal of dissatisfaction Satur-
day night, after the adjournment, and
many accusations that members had
violated promises and pledges, but
yesterday the kick vas visibly larger.
On the Island there was a loud halo
of rage, because that ward had been
left off the Board Of Public Works,
while it was distinctly charged that
although Mr.. Bachmann was an in
fuential Republican, the Board would
be run over his head on many ques-
tons.
AS to the Collectorship many Re-
publicans did not hesitate to say out
loud that the result of the caucus has
sounded the knell of the Republican
party in this city. THE next election
we won't carry a ward outside Of the
Second" said one leader. "and we
will carry that with the colored vote,
which can always be handled. Mark
my words, we will lose the Eighth as
sure as shooting" Another said: IF
it is necessary to sacrifice the Republi-
can party in Wheeling for two years
to break the ring, then l say let the
party go. We have got to get rid Of
these people somehow, and any old
will do. The fifth ward has re-
pudiated the ring, and the Third and
Eighth will follow next time, and even
the Island won't be sure for any Re-
publican on the ticket two years
hence. The Eighth and Seventh are
always depended upon to save the day,
and some other ward, often a Demo-
cratic one, carries off the p1ums. Take
the Eighth this time. We sent up five
Republican members Of Council, and
those five make up the Republican ma
iority on joint ballot, yet when We