Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-16

The Republicans are standing firm
in their programme OF obstruction,
and the business of the municipality
is at a ~standstill in some departments.
The ex-ofice holders who refuse to
surrender public documents, or to re-
veal the combinations of safes and
vaults, are either actuated by base
selfish motives, or are acting as pup
pets OF the Republican bosses. In
either view of the case-and none
other is possiblc-the public Is severely
~censuring the crowd who are seeking
by diSreputable methods to prolong
their tenre of Office.
1t is a sad commentary on the city
government of Wheeling that the VIII
of the majority, and the interests OF
citizens who are not concerned in the
political fight, can be over-ridden by the
minority obstructionists. 1t is a
shameful condition of affairs. The ex-
office holders are placing themselves
in the attitude of defying the power
which appoints them, to substitute
QUIET OlltVdlS. lllCy AofC HSo ~
the public pap bottle SO long that
any other diet is like gall and worm
wood to them. They regard public Of
fee as a private snap, and are unalter-
ably opposed to the principle OF rota-
ton. The Republican leaders and le-
gal advisers marked out a way for
them to get another pull at the public
pap bottle, and they grabbed at 1t
with the desperation of a drowning
man grasping at a straw.
If the minority obstructionists had
succeeded in maintaining possession OF
the offices, there might be some eX-
cuse for them, from a party stand
point, on the principle that the end
justifes the means, but they are not in
possession of the offices, and will not
be, and they are now simply playing
the baby act. A youngster deprived OF
a toy, and pouting and sucking his
thumb, would not be a more puerile
exhibition than the minority Obstruc-
tionists are giving.
The I~ntelligencer, in its frothings at
the mouth, seeks to conceal the real is
sues by a mass of vituperative Ian
guage Mr.. Hill is alleged to have been
treated rudely and discourteousiy. No
statement could be more untruthful.
The public has not sforgotten the spec
tacle which was presented with Mr..
Hill in the chair, and J.. P. Maxwell,
III. G. Richards and Others coaching
him. Mr.. Hill was only nominally
the chairman. The Republican lead
ers conducted the show. The most
narrow-minded Republican partisan
would scarcely have the audacity to say
that Mr.. Hill treated the Democrats
courteously.
But the scene shifted, and the Dem
ocrats and their insurgent allies are
in the majority. Mr.. Hill was I'M
peached for incompetency and unfair
ness, and Mr.. Shafer is conducting the
business without the aid of coachers.
Mr.. HILLS final act of partisanship vas
very properly met by the mayor, who
refused to credit the palpable lie that
the Second Branch had adjourned.
While some of the side dishes may
not be garnished UP to suit the taste
of the epicure, the real issue is the fact
that the Democrats and their insur-
gent allies had the votes necessary
to elect, and did elect new city officials,
at a time when public opinion demand
ed that there be no further political
parleying, and that regular business
be proceeded with. The Democrats
and insurgents in Council still have
a majority. Disguise it as they may,
there is nothing in the programme of
the minority obstructionists but an eff
fortto geta few morepulls at the pap
bottle, or, failing in that, to follow a
dog-in-the-manger policy.