Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-12-23

Like so many Of the proverbial
Kilkenny cats were the workers at
the polls in the Republican primary
election held yesterday. 1t was the
warmest political fight conducted in
Wheeling in many a day. There were
charges and counter charges in circu-
lation throughout the afternoon, threats
were made, and in many instances
the workers would have come to blows
but for the interference OF others. 1t
was great day for that portion of
the population known in sidewalk par
lance as "grafters." The money put
into circulation by the candidates ag-
gregated large sum, and if there
were any bfbulously inclined Republi-
cans who went to bed thirsty, it was
because they were too diff1dent to So
licit the price.
Representatives of the Committee Of
One Hundred and the Federation Of
Churches were more in evidence than
at the Democratic primaries, but their
influence was more than Offset by that
of the regular ward leaders. II they
did not accomplish much along the
line of electing candidates whom they
endorsed, they have at least learned a
valuable lesson in municipal politics.
The fighting was not confined to any
particular district. There was a bit
ter contest in every ward over the
Councilmanic ticket, which in some
instances was manifested in such a de-
gree as to relegate the interest in the
head of the ticket to the back ground.
When the polls were opened, the
workers were present. Not at a gener-
al election has there been such large
crowds surrounding the voting places.
The socalled modification" of the
Australian ballot, simply meant a so
foot line, but in the heat of the fray
the workers utterly ignored this re-
striction.
At some voting places, notably at
the market house in the Second ward,
the workers fixed the tickets. and
then accompanied voters to the ballot
boxes to see that the ballots were
not shifted. you've got to put the
ballot in one hand and hold the vot-
er's other hand all the way to the box
to prevent EN- from shifting said a
Second ward worker to a Register re-
porter. The crowd at the upper mar
ket house was stretched out to Elev-
enth steet, and during the afternoon
two evangeliStS, and street fakir as
sisted in making the scene very pic
turesque. Benefits headquarters were
in this ward, and one of his chief
lieutenants was eX-OffiCer Walker.
During the afternoon Capt Bennett
and Lieut.. Ed. Michaels had a wordy
war which created some excitement.
and other workers for the respective
candidates for Chief of Police develop
ed very quarrelsome disposition.
Colored voters of the Second ward
hung about the market house all af-
ternoon, and nearly every solicitation
for their votes was met with a request
for the price of a drink or a little
stake to play pokah" with. There
were three separate states for the Sec
ond Branch of Council and the ring"
slate was given some very hard slaps.
In the First ward there was a rather
acrimonious fight for First Branch of
Council between Capt. Otto and Ross
T. Chew, and it is said the old water
works fight figured in it, Capt Otto
representing the faction favorable to
Supt. Oliver. There was also a de-
termined opposition here to the Sec
ond Branch candidates who had the
"One Hundred endorsement.
In the Third ward there were some
exciting incidents about the polls. The
Rev. Joseph Speer5 and the Rev. Sam
uel Schwarm stood about for some
time, and the former entered the po-
lice court room. This action provoked
: vigorous protest from some of the
candidates. The fights for City Clerk
and First Branch Of Council were par
ticularly interesting. II. w. Fair was
the only Second Branch candidate who
had the endorsement" but his name