Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-29
THE CITY ELECTION.

With the tickets in the field for the
coming municipal election it is time
the citizens were giving attention to
the important duty before them-the
choice of a new city administration
and a new municipal law-making body.
The Importance of city elections is too
apt to be underestimated by the aver
age man, and the r~eprehensible ana
dangerous neglect of duty on the part
of many who are otherwise excellent
citizens is responsible for the deplor-
able pass our municipal affairs have
come to-a condition of things which
must arouse intelligent and thinking
men to realize the fact that radical re-
form is necessary if the funds of the
people are not to be wasted Ill jobbery
and reckless extravaganza and the al
fairs of the city to become hopelessly
involved through ignorance, misman-
agement and general incapacity such
as has characterized the conduct of the
municipal government under the pres
ent ring.
Every citizen, rich or poor, employer
Oh employed, is personally interested in
this matter. The choice of a new local
government is even Of more direct i'm
p~ortance because striking nearer home
thar the great national contests which
Narouse al men periodically to fever
heat. The election of a proper Coun-
Gilman in his ward and a wise and
economical Council in the city is a
matter that more nearly touches the
PERSONAL interests OF the individual
than the election of mis- choice as Pres
ideat OF the United States.
We need not here rehealse the acts
of reckless extravaganza, incapacity
and muth worse things that nave char
acteTiaed the whole career of those
now in control, bringing shame and
%repfoach upon the city and a heavy
buIden upon the taxpayers. The list
is long. Suffice it to say that the old
ASdu6AS SSCuISu " nave Dul one luSd,
namely that they had been elected to
further not the interests of the city,
but their W private fortunes and to
fix things so as to continue their own
select little coterie pCcpetually in office
and to squeeze as much as possible
out of the taxpayers and the city by
hoAl- ~ rAO Onl +h1 -N-+a rar,,
fee and Shameless barter OF the most
important properties and interests of
the pCogle. They have indeed held
nigh carnival while they could. They
have played brakes and ducks with the
municipal lighting plants, sacrificing in
this connection most important city
interests; they have greatly enlarged
and increased the municipal payroll
without a corresponding increase in the
efficiency Of the public service; they
have prated of Improvements that have
never come and made them the excuse
for increasing taxation while they have
allowed Improvements previously ac-
complished to go to ruin for lack of
proper care; they have shamelessIy
given away the valuable franchises Of
the city to private ~monopolies; lobby
lists adept in the art OF legislative
palm-greasing have found Wheeling
under this regime a perfect paradise
and never have had difficulty in en-
cheering through Council any scheme
nc matter how Objectionable and in
imical to the future welfare of the city
and it's people; and in addition to all
this, not satisfied with ~scraping bare
the city treasury and mortgaging the
rights and property of the citizens this
dominating clique at the City Hall has
made several attempts actually to foist
new loans upon the people and to mort
gage the future Of the city for a genera
ton to come.
What intelligent citizen, regardless
of party utilization, can look upon this
record, which we have but family and
imperfectly outlined, and not be i'm
pressed with the imperative necessity
for radical reform in the conduct of
our municipal affairs?
To accomplish this reform now lies
with the voters themselves. 1t has
been uphill work to persuade good and
responsible citizens to stand for Office
to such a pass has city politics come
but we believe that a large measure OF
success has crowned the effort, While
neither desire nor intend Is reflect