The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-02

Business Men In Council scorned
for Alleged Lack Of, Backbone.
Mayor and Police Chief Criticised.
with "The Responsibilities Of Good
Citizens at the Ballot Box" as his
theme, Rev. j. L. sooy, D. D., pastor OF
the Fourth Street NJ. =. church, last
evening gave an earnest talk to a large
congregation. In urging his hearers to
make careful selections at the polls, he
did not advise third party movement,
but suggested voting for the best man
irrespective of party Affiliations. He
dealt chiefly with municipal politics.
"only behave as citizens worthy the
gospel of Christ" was DR.. sooy's text.
The scope Of the pulpit was increasing,
he said When politics owns a slave, It
is the duty of the church to lnterpose
and free the slave. When avarlce and
greed control corporations so that la
borers are injured, It is the duty Of re-
llglon to interfere although in the mat
ter OF the relations between employer
and employe, there might be some DIFF
ference as to how better conditions
such as shorter hours OF labor, were to
be effected.
Continuing, DR.. sooy argued IN behalf
OF the preachers right to speak out re-
gardIng political questions, and said It
was the preachers duty as wen as ms
right 1t was an intoleranle piece OF
arrogance for minister to talk para-
san politics TO his flock. 1t was the
duty OF every minister TO deal win
politics from n higher standpoint, the
teacher of morals in the pulpit should
always lift up his voice for righteous
ness.
The pulpit is not to be what gross
ness desires said the speaker. Some
consciences did not want to be disturb
ed by the preachers voice on certain
questions 1t was better to be the
humbiy clothed John the Baptist IN
the wilderness, than to be the fat
preacher of rich congregation which
sealed the pastors lips on questions OF
government. DIR. sooy spoke at length
In defending a preachers interest and
voice in affairs political.
After stating it was the duty of all
qualified voters to take part in cleo
lions, and regrett.ng that more OF the
better class were not active at the bal
lot box, DIR. sooy went on to'show that
the remedy for complained-of evils
could not come until the better classes
DestIrred themselves. They should mix
up in politics. as 1t were. Politics is a
peculiarly American characteristic.
Politics in Ireland meant Fenianism
and term in an English jail; in Rus
sla, Nlhilism and trip to Siberia; in
Rome, politics meant revolution.
Politics In the higher sense meant
citizenship; so. Dr. sooy said, nm
American was untrue to his trust II he
failed to vote and take part in its
forms. He lamentsd that within the
last three months, good men In Wheel
ing, on being approached. said they
hadn't time for politics, saying they
couldn't afford to drop their bus Gass.
and were satisfied to attend to their
business and let others do the same.
Dr. sooy scored the indifference of
these people. He next argued against
partisan politics and allegiance to the
straight ticket" The man who went
up to the ballot box and voted his part2
ticket straight. without any considera-
ton, dlsgraced himself. said he.
Down in that dirty place, you call n
suggestion meeting, down in that dirty
place you call primary, the parties
fix up the tickets you are supposed to
vote" said DR.. Sooy in appealing for
independent voters. He contcnded for
Independence particularly in municipal
politics, He said no man in these
days could stand for Office unless he
had backing, and candidate beer" was
in evidence in Wheeling, for he had
seen on the streets of this city, kegs
going this way and kegs going that
way"
Or. sooy said business men In council
were afraid to vote right on some ques-
tons for fear their businesses would he
boycottei by the vicious elements OF
the population. Such Legislators were
practically guilty of bribery. Some OF
them were afraid they would lose the
chance Of selling can OF soup to a