Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-01
MFR. Laughlin's Remarks.

committee.
MFR. Laughlin's Remarks.
Remarks by Geo. A. Laughlin were
made, supplementary to his report. He
said:
LAS one Of your committee, | be-
speak Cor Mr. Thompson your earnest
consideration and cooperation. While
it is true that Mr.. Thompson comes to
us we'll equipped for the work in hand,
yet, If he is employed, your active and
Jealous cooperation Is absolutely nee
essary in order to accomplish pro-
nounced success; this given, wonderful
results are assured to Greater Wheel
ing.
We possess locality unusually
blessed with cheap raw material and
adequate transportation facilities-a To-
cality ideally adapted for successful
manufacturing enterprises, and, as we
can point with pride and assurance to
the magnificent achievements of this
kind in the past, so may We with con-
fidence, lcok to the future for similar
results. Already are we promised di-
rect rail conntction with the great Con-
nellsville coking fields of Pennsylvania,
which means a rate of freight on coke
| TO Wheeling equally as low as to Pitts
burg, thus enabling our iron masters to
produce pig iron at less cost than
their neigh5ors in the Smoky City.
Gentlemen. when we have said this, we
have said it all.
Tor too long a time has Wheeling
hid her light under a bushel. Let us
place it on the hill side, where it will
shine forth and say to the world that
Wheeling, the leading city in the most
progressive State in the Union-a State
that stands first with her sister States
| in the production of hard wood, oil and
gas; second in the production of coal
stands ready to extend a hearty and
generous welcome to all new enter
prises, thus insuring them home in
the midst of the greatest iron, steel and
glass making district Of the entire
| world
With all of our glorious advantages
| let us not in our enthusiasm forget our
shortcomings-our dirty streets, so
| foul as to bring the blush of shame to
every honest face, when he beholds
ladies daily wading through filth and
| mud at the expense of dainty shoes and
| immaculate skirts. No wonder the aw-
| full short skirt is such a familiar sight
in Wheeling. While our streets mu-
| nicipally are bad, our morals munic-
| ipally are no better. From my Office
window in the City Bank building,
can look across the alley and see a
! faro or roulette table daily at work
over the White Front saloon, plying it's
trade night and day without fear of
police intervention. From my home,
corner of Twelfth and Chaplire, l have
| seen Sunday after Sunday groups of
young men, many under age, come out
! of the saloon at the corner of Twelfth
street and the Grand Opera House al
| ley, in different stages of intoXication,
| from liquor sold them in this saloon on
the Sabbath day-all of this in direct
violation of the law
| Il mention this, gentlemen, for the
reason that no community can prosper
commercially that violates both the
Laws of God and Man,
and If our city is to grow, if our Board
| of Trade is to succeed in its efforts, you
| business men of Wheeling, on whom
| the very existence of our city depends,
must arise in your dignity and might,
throw aside the lethargy, inactivity
and stupor that has so long character
lied us, and at once place our municipal
| government on a plane that will restore
to our people the once fair name of
| their beloved city.
| ITO our business energy let US couple
civic pride and cgeatesa eommunity not
only rich in materiH prosperity, but
also in those other riches that will
make us better, both morally and
| spiritually, and where our families can
live and our children be reared in an
atmosphere not contaminated with fla
| grant vice and sin-such a community
as God and our forefathers intended it
| should be-
| Let this be campaign of the peo-
| pie for new public life-for cleanli-
: Jess, for decency and for honesty. Life
itself is not more necessary to US than
the honor of our city, and let us to-
| night enter upon the struggle for it's
| redemption as well as for its CONNER
| cial growth.
Mr.. Laughlin was several times in
terrupted by applause. which was re-
newed more heartily when he conclud-
| ed.
Thomas O'Brien, Jr., then read the
charter OF the Board of Trade and the