Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-01-27
COUNCIL NOT ORGANIZED.
DEMOCRATS REFUSED TO ENTER
SECOND BRANCE BECAUSE OF
ILLNESS OF ONE OF THEIR
MEMBERS.
REP BLICAN PROGRAMME

Members Despite the Fact That
They Had No Quornm-Attempt to
| Force an Organization Failed.
Entire Afternoon and a Portion of
the Evening Wasted.
| Council was called to meet at two
| O'Clock yesterday afternoon for the
| purpose of organizing, but failed to do
so. The Republicans adopted high
| handed methods in an attempt to force
an organization, but failed utterly.
| The principal trouble arose from the
] illness of Thos. w. Killeen, Demo-
cratic member-elect of the Second
Branch, from the Sixth ward. who is
| confined to his home with severe at
tack of the grip. On the face of the
returns, the Second Branch is a tie
/ If the Democrats mad gone into the
meeting without Mr.. killeen, they
would have been in minority. The
| Republicans would have organized the
| Second Branch, and would have had
no opposition to the appointment of
! Committees.
Democrats were not disposed to sur
! render their advantage so easily or so
! foolishly. When the fact of Mr.. Kill
leen's indisposition was communicat-
| ed to them, they declined to go into
! the meeting.
| Republicans raised the point that the
ordinances provide that Council must
meet and organize three days after the
election. They soon abandoned this
bluff contention. however. The ordi-
nances provide that the Mayor must
! summon them to meet within three
days; but there is also a provision
granting Councilmen the right to quan
ify within twenty days after the cleo
! ton, and providing that in case of alb
sence from the city they may qualify
+ within sixty days
Republicans Scheming.
Republican politicians were in con-
! ference all morning. in an effort to
limited to Democratic members that
; unless they consented to a Republican
| organization Of the Second Branch,
the swearing in of Chief John s. Ritz
and his deputies might be prevented
Two O'Clock was the hour stated in
| the call for the meeting. At that
! time both sides were holding separate
conferences. The Democratic mem
bers met in the Office of Sheriff Rich
ards; the Republicans in various other
Offices about the building.
! EX-Sheriff Richards appeared to die
/ tate all the Republican movements,
| having as his advisers City Solicitor
! S. 0. Boyce, eX-Councilman W. G..
| Caldwell and Jacob Snyder, Chairman
/ of the Republican City Committee.
| These gentlemen wore out a bound
/ copy of the city ordinances in their
/ eager search for some provision which
| would enable them to compel the Dem
/ ocrats to attend, or would enable them
I to proceed without the Democrats.
| No move was made worth consultation
! with Mr. Richards, who appeared to be
I the entire push.
! Republican members were acquaint-
/ ed with the position, and there were
| several Intellectual efforts to get to-
gether. The Democrats agreed to meet
/ for organization if the Republicans
| would consent to waive their advant-
! age gained by the illness of Mr. Kill
! leen, and fight it out 10 to 10. This
! was declined. The Democrats agreed
! to give up the Presidency in return
/ for a majority on the police committee,
/ and an equal representation upon or
= dinances and several other commit
! tees. Republican members say they
were disposed to accept these terms of
compromise, but the offer was with
! drawn.
First Branch Meets.
A little after three o'clock Mayor
Sweeney raped for order. He stated
that the meeting was called, in con-
fCrmity with the ordinance. for the
! purpose of organization. He asked
Mr. Hamilton to ascertain if there was
a quorum in the Second Branch Mr.
/ Hamilton returned with the statement
/ that the Second Branch chamber was
! deserted.
! Mr.. Warehouse made a motion to
adjourn.
! Mr.. Chew wanted to amend the mo-
ton to take a recess until such time
as the Second Branch secured a quo
! rum He said the time for organiza-
/ ton was fixed by the ordinance
The Mayor replied that the ordi-
nance simply provided the time for
| summoning the newly elected mem
! bers to meet. If they decided not to
I racooDd IL mos n diffHran+ ouecTio,
I Mr.. Zwicker wanted roll call. The
/ Mayor replied that there was no roll
/ of the members Mr. Hamilton then
moved to take a recess until call of
the Mayor.
4 There was a whispered consultation
among the Republicans over the form
1 of this motion, which was undoubtedly