Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-25
WHY DID THEY D0DaE3



10 the Editor of the Reeister.
Slr:-I refer to those members Of
the Second Branch OF the Council who
Skipped or stayed away last night to
prevent the Warehouse resolution
from being taken on the table and
discussed. Why did they not stand up
x men. if they have any manhood,
n give their reason for not wanting
TO give that petition of forty princi-
pal business men" a respectful hear
ing! Honest men need not be afraid
70 stand to their guns and maintain
their position. 1t looks a though they
were afraid of being beaten and as
though they wanted to wait until they
are assured of a majority, through the
absence of some of the friends of the
resolution, before they take it off of
the table to kill 1t. But / want to
tell them that the people of this city
nave their eyes on that resolution and
II 1t is not fairly treated some Coun-
cilmen will certainly hear some music
IN the future they will not like. Let
the Council treat the resolution on
Its merits and all will be we'll. but let
them kill it through chicanery and
somebody will have to play the fiddler.
1t is either the duty of the Chief of
Police or his deputies to enforce the
ordinances of the city or it is not. If
the opponents of the Waterhouse res
0lutlon can convince the voters of this
ely that 1t is not their duty to enforce
d ordinances all will be well. Every
honest man will be satisfied. But il
they cannot do this, and make no eff
fort to do it, but nevertheless prevent
its passage by cowardly staying away,
or by taking the advantage of the
absence of some of its friends. no
honest man will be satisfied. What
are honest men to think if the City
Council, through %chicanery, blocks the
enforcement of it's ordinances and
plays into the hands of law breakers?
1t is a very plain and simple ques-
ton. 1t is not involved in politics, for
it has friends and opponents on both
sides. 1t cannot therefore well be
made a party matter. 1t is simply,
shall the ordinances of our city be en-
forced, and is it the duty of the Chief
of Police and his deputies to see that
they are enforced? The petition and
resolution refer more especially to the
ordinance against gambling, but the
same principle Of course applies to all
the ordinances.
Shall the laws Of the city be en-
forced? If not, why were they made?
If not, why not burn our city ordi-
nances and discharge our police force
and disband our Council? Shall the
Chief of Police and his deputies en-
force them, if they are to be enforced?
The ordinances themselves answer
this question. They say, 1T shall be
the duty of the City Sergeant and his
deputies, etc." (see the leaflet pub
lished by the Federation of C~hurches).
This contest means a great deal for
the future of this city. We hear a
great deal about bloody" Kentucky.
Why is Kentucky so bloody? One
reason is. law against carrying con-
cealed weapons has been ignored and
not enforced. The deadly weapon is
ever present. and when the occasion
arises it is used. Thus the violation
of n law leads to the violation of
others. 1t is not safe for any COM
lated. Whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap" This is
true of a city as we'll as an individual.
A city that will SOW to the wind will
some day reap the whirlwind. Paris
udS eAptIltuCcu Lie LFulu III tulS law
often, and so have many American
cities.
Why then do these legislators dodge
this question? They do not hesitate
to instruct the Chief of Police in other
things. Last night the minority pass
ed a resolution instructing the Chief
to send his deputies to bring in abb
sentees to complete a quorum. If
49, - H. ..-I.1- -cA1- H~..--l
men they can after gamblers also.
Why do they not do it? That ques-
ton is too easy. 1t needs not to be
answered. And yet If a Councilman
we're to stand up and say" owing to
self interest / cannot vote for that res
olution," he would be respected more
than the dodger. Every body will re-
spect a brave mar more than the
coward. EURIPIDES.