The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-07-12
ginla has issued no bonds and owes no

itatS VI eHS pay liSllt Wy NSot v ll6AH
of any portion OF the Virginia debt
have all been Democratic attorneys, and
the only member of the recent legislA-
ture who voted favorably to recogni-
tlon OF the Virginia debt was a Demo-
crat. who has been renominated by his
party for reelection to the next lesis-,
l1ture.
u The Interests Of Labor. Y s&
a We commend the present state ad-
mfnfstration for the appointment OF a
real laboring man as commissioner Of
labor. who has proved an able and
efficient officer. and whose reports and
investigations rank with the best pub
lished by any state OF the Union.
We commend the passage Of the
eight-hour law. and Its prompt enforce-
ment by the state administration. We
earnestly favor the enactment Of all
Just and proper laws for the benefit
and protection Of labor. a.zt
The Democratic State Record.
: We condemn the Democratic party
for twenty years Of incompetency and
bunglins, coupled with fraud and en-
beZzlement. in the management of the
affairs of the state Of West Virginia.
We call upon the leaders Of the party
to explain why It was that commission
ers of school lands and delinquent
sheriffs were allowed to pocket the
peoples money. and were never called
to account. Why It was tina, tons
and tons Of worthless documents were
annually ground through the press at
enormous cost to the state, only to lie
and rot In the vaults and cellars OF
the state house. Why 1t was that
hundreds Of foreign corporations were
allowed to do business In this state BY
paying only one-fifth Of the amount Of
license taxes required by law. Why 1t
was that the irredueible school fund,
which. during the last four years. has
Increased at the rate Of $50, 900 per an-
mum, only Increased $4,000 per annum
when they were in control. Why 1t
was that they could not construct u
state building without laying special
levy. and making supplemental as-
sessments, and then borrowing money,
while the present administration. ont
OF the ordinary revenues. has provided
for more public buildings than have
ever been constructed In the, same
length of time in the history Of the
state, and has not borrowed cent,
nor increased taxes. Why 1t was that
the Democratic legislature OF 1899 paid
$4,000 out OF the state treasury for
alleged services In collecting an obliga-
ton due this state from the United
States government. which services were
absolutely unnecessary. as the United
States government cheerfully paid the
full amount OF the obligation to the
state treasury. Why II was that the
last Democratic governor Of this state
borrowed one hundred thousand dollars
out Of the irreducible school fund. for
state purposes. paying per cent inter-
est for it. while at the same time one
OF his state officers had thousands OF
dollars OF the states money In his pock-
ct. and was paying neither principal
nor interest. Why Vt was that the
cost of the public printing. binding
and stationery from 1890 to 1896. incli-
sive, under Democratic control,
amounted to a yearly average OF nearly
$4,000, while undor the present admin
istration 1t has averaged less than half
that amount. ,atl4
With the same resources at their
command which the Republicans now
control, they were never able to place
more than s1.400.o00 ut the disposal OF
the. legislature in any two years. while
with no increased taxation and without
borrowing one cent. the present admin
istration In the same period of time
has furnished over 100000 s,
Touch the Chinese Question.
We view with pity and alarm the
conditions of anarchy now existing In
China, affecting the property rights of
Americans In the empire, threatening
the destruction OF their lives and prope
erty. and endangering the rights OF
commerce secured to Americans under
existing treaties and the law OF ma
lions. 1libt1
We express our confidence in the firm
but wisely conservative attitude Of the
national administration In It's deter
mination to preserve the treaty rights
and all other rights Of Americans. ac-
CURED In China under the law OF ma.
tons. s-tsI
We endorse the firm avowal Of the
national government to hold to nc
countnblllty for loss or damage inf1ict-
cd upon American citizens. the author
ity In the empire chargeable with the
maintenance OF law and order and the
guardianship OF the life. property and
rights OF Americans.
Contrasts Made. '5
r We contrast. with confidence In the
peoples approval Of the wise course OF
Republican administration, the condi-
ton OF the state treasury under DEM
ocrltic and Republican rule. Under
the former sums were constantly Dor
rowcd from the school fund to meet
the exlgcncics and cxtravagancics in
the dcmands Of the state fund. and In
some instances. notably from 1881 To-
1885. Illegal pcrvcrsons OF moneys in
the general school fund were made for
the benefit Of tho depleted school fund,
TO the detrment of the free schools OF
the state. while under tho latter there
has always been sufficient funds to
meet all honest anu proper demands
unon tho treasury, with u constant bal
ance In the state Repositories OF nearly
II million dollars. bearing interest. to
the great benefit OF tho people. This
contrast between interest paying ann
interest bearing administration Ia all
the more marked In view OF tho fact
that under both thu rcsntrceg OF revt.