Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-03-18
POPULARITY CONDEMNED.
THE CITIZENS OF BENwooD IN
MASS MEETING LAST NIGHT
UNANIMOUSLY CENsURE
STREET RAILWAY FRANCHISE
Asking Council of That City to Grant
Them Permission to Remove Their
Tracks From the Second and Third
Wards to the Hillside East of the
Town.

The citizens of the town of Benwood
held mass meeting last evening al
the city hall in Benwood for the pur-
pose OF discussing the proposed action
of the Wheeling street railway to
move their tracks, at present running
through the Second and Third wards
OF that city, to the hillside east of the
| B. & o. railroad tracks. The meeting
was called by Chairman Mahood. OF
the Democratic committee, and Chair
man Riddle, of the Republican COM
| mittee. William Hall was made chair
man of the meeting.
Mr.. Mahood made the opening speech
OF the meeting, stating the matter for
discussion. Continuing the speaker
bitterly opposed the removal of the
tracks from the Second and Third
wards, as it would not only depreciate
the value of the property in that sec
ton of the town, but would be most
inconvenient to the citizens residing
in that section. Also as almost the
entire business section of the town was
situated along the line of the present
route, no little portion of their bust
ness would be removed from them,
and as that element was effected, SO
the whole town would be effected. Con-
tinuing the speaker said that the mat
ter would not be made an issue of any
one political party in the coming town
election, but that all candidates, ire
spective of party, should pledge them
selves to support the action of the
meeting, as it was for the protection
of the interests of all citizens.
Squire Riddle followed with a very
few remarks, terse and to the point.
substantiating the stand taken by Mr..
Mahood.
Chairman Hall then addressed the
meeting, going over the whole ground
from the time the franchise was frs:
presented to the present Council up
until the present. During his re,
marks the speaker said that the COM
pany had threatened to remove then
tracks to the hillside in spite of the
citizens, and it behooved every man
to be on his guard.
IF they will not leave their tracks
where they are at present" said Mr..
Hail. 'let them take them out of the
town altogether"
This remark was greeted with
storm of applause.
The following candidates pledged
themselves to sustain the action of the
meeting: Harry Stewart, candidate
for the Republican nomination for
Council, Second ward; Robert Truax,
candidate for the Democratic nomina-
ton for Council, Fourth ward; Henry
Slippner, candidate for the Republican
nomination for Council, Fourth ward;
Charles Minor, candidate for the Re-
publican nomination for Council, First
ward; Michael Gately, Jr., candidate
for the Democratic nomination for
Council, Third ward.
Mr. Mahood moved that it be the
sense of the meeting that the members
of both new and old councils, ire
spective of party, refuse to grant the
franchise asked by the Wheeling
Street Railway Company for the re-
moval of their tracks, situate at pres
ent in the Second and Third ward in
the city of Benwood, to the hillside
east of the B. & O. tracks. The mo-
ton was seconded by Harry Stewart
and carried without dissenting vote.
The meeting then adjourned.