The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-20
A journalists HOld-up.

Never since Cain made his onslaught
on Abel has there been such a vicious
assault made than that of the Register
aimed at the members Of the Ohio coun-
~ Board OF Commissioners in regard
to the reassessment Of property in Ohio
county. The justice or the injustice of
the values put upon property by the as
SCISSORS is left out of the question in
considering the Registers attack upon
the board. It is driveling attempt to
make some political capital out Of a
matter in which politics should not en-
ter. After some inane rambling the
Register says Of the honorable Board
Of Commissioners:
ut is said the Board Of Commission
ers Will sit as a board Of equalization
and appeals upon cases brought to its
notice of unjust assessments. But this
will not suffice. 1t is not in a few cases
but IN practically every case through
out the county that rank injustice is
complained Of, which is shown on the
face OF the enormous increase. More
over. It is common talk in the city
wherever men get together to discuss
this matter that members OF the Board
Of Commissioners backed the represen-
tatives of the state in their increases Of
assessments, that they coached them
regularly and that, therefore, the Board
being practically responsible for the I'M
lust revaluation, 1t would be a manifest
travesty on justice and fair dealing to
have the Board sit In Judgment upon
its own work"
who are the men who got together"
and discussed this matter" and made
the charge that the members of the
Board packed the representatives of
the state in their increases of assess
ment?" VIII the Register name any
reputable citizen that made this
charge? WIN any reputable citizen
come out in public print over his sigma
ture and make this charge?
But see how marvelously insinuative
the Register is: I'VE wish 1t under
stood that 1t Is not the Register that
makes this charge" oh, no! how
could that be possible when It adds: ut
merely calls attention to the fact that
Il is openly made. which must ere this
have reached the ears of the Board OF
Commissioner. The Register. in fact,
does not endorse nor credit the accusa-
ton and directs the attention Q: the
Board to Il that Its members may have
an opportunity to deny these c..-Fscs
over their own signatures. We believe
they viii readily appreciate the import
ance of doing this and making public
denial Of the charge that they thus be-
trayed the business interests and prop
erty owners Of their own county. Not
TO do 80, now that their attention has
been publicly called TO the matter, will
not be calculated to impress the people
with their innocence"
at merely calls attention to the fact
What fact? Why that the Register
Rives publicity to mere rumor which
ynaIlgns every member OF the Board OF
Commissioners OF Ohio county. II will
be borne IN mind that the IHtelHgeacer
q not discussing the merits or dement's
Of the assessment. Il simply calls at
4ention to the implication IN the Ian
Euage used BY the Register in accusing
the commissioners OF an act they were
not guilty Of
what iS the Innuendo? We have an
idea that you are innocent, but
you must prove st." As well might n
policeman walk up to any reputable
citizen of this city, ard say TO him: II
hear you are a thief II you do not
prove 70 me that YOU are not, l VIII run