Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-24

Chamber of Commerce for the purpose
of considering plans for action in the
present municipal campaign and there
was a large attendance of Wheeling S
professional and business representa-
tives. Resolutions providing means for
reform in the city government were of
fered by the executive committee and
adopted unanimously after spirited
discussion consuming over two hours.
The sections of the plans were taken
up separately and after amendments
were accepted as whole. Contentious
of an interesting nature arose in two
or three instances and views regarding
the requisites of such movement were
very freely expressed.
The resolutions were as follows:
The purpose of the Committee of One
Hundred of the citizens of the city of
Wheeling is to use every legitimate eff
fort to secure the selection only OF men
of good character and ability to the
City Council and municipal offices in
said city without unnecessary interior
ence with political questions. The
evils under which the city has suffered,
the injuries inflicted to it's interests and
property, and the defantly insulting
disregard of official duty, so notorious
in the past, demands the earnest atten-
ton of every honest citizen, no matter
what his politics may be.
We believe that a party nomination
to municipal office can not excuse an
honest man for supporting an UNFIT can
didate. The voter whose extreme par
tisanship causes him to support for
office man known, for any reason, to
be untrustworthy, is unworthy OF the
right of suffrage and when he knowing
ly supports such candidate he com
mits a crime against the public and
debases his own citizenship.
Office holders are invested with great
public trusts, and like all trustees,
should be untrammeled in the admin
istration of their official duties. That
such trustees should be at all times so
situated as to be impartial is both good
law and good morals.
A prolific source of evil in the gov
eminent OF the city has been the party
caucuses of Councilmen. The caucus
enables ring, composed OF compact
minority of the Council, to put many
unfit men in Office and to pass many
extremely improper measures. 1t is
lie instrument of the very worst ele-
ment. They lash their party associates
into caucus and by a mere majority
vote therein bind the votes in Council
of members who are ordinarily true to
their convictions of right. No Coun-
Gilman has a right to surrender his
manhood and cast his vote according
to caucus dictation for improper men
or measures.
Councilmen are elected to exercise
their own best judgments and to vote
according to the best lights they indi-
vidually have, and it is shameful for
them to merely give effect, by their
votes to the will of a caucus against
the dictates of their own consciences.
In order that this organization may
effectively engage in the work for
which it was created, the following
resolutions are adopted, to wit:
l. Resolved, That each member OF
this Committee of One Hundred will at
tend the municipal suggestion meeting
in his ward of his political party, and
secure the placing of the names of gen
tlemen of undou5ted integrity and abil-
ity as candidates for Council and other
city offices. with their consent, upon
the party ticket at his party's approach
ing primary; that each member shall
attend such primary OF his party and
vote for and to the best of his ability
endeavor to secure the nominations OF
such gentlemen and that the cooper
alton of all our fellow citizens OF
Wheeling in such good work is earn
estly solicity.
2. Resolved, That we will not sup
port for municipal Office at the next
charter election in this city any candi-
date whose life, record and reputation
have not been such as to recommend
him as a fit person for the Office to
which he aspires; and that no party
nomination of an unfit candidate shall
in the slightest degree control or influ-
ence our votes and actions at such cleo
ton.
8. Resolved, That We will not coun-
tenance, vote for or support any candi-
date for Council at said charter cleo
ton who will not pledge himself to re-
frain from taking part in any party
caucus OF Councilmen upon the selec-
ton of city officers or any other ques-
ton TO be acted upon or entrusted to
Council.
4. Resolved, That we will not sup
port for municipal Councilman or other
municipal Office, at said charter cleo
ton, any candidate who is engaged or
employed in the business of vending
spirituous and malt liquors, or either
of them. in the city, or interested as
stockholder, officer or employee OF any
corporation engaged in such business.
Resolved That we will not support
at said charter election any candidate
who is an officer, stakeholder or SAL
aried employee of any street or
steam railroad or other public corpo-
ration, using and enjoying franchise
from the city, or who will not pledge
himself to permit the members of the
minority in Council to choose one
member OF each of the city boards
without interference or control by the
members of the majority, or who will
not pledge himself to use his best eff
forts TO cause the suppression of slot
machines, fake hotels and other vice.
Resolved, That the chairman of this
Committee of One Hundred shall ap-
Doiut the following campoifrees rom