Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-01

Failed to Reach an Agreement
Situation is Very Complicated.
There were important W. on the
local political ~chess-board yesterday,
and a decidedly chaotic condition of
affairs prevails. 1t is common report
that Messrs. Chew, st. Myers and Mar
shall made a proposition to the Dem
Dcrats Wednesday night. The three
boiling Republicans emphatically de-
NY that any proposition came from
them. The story is credited by Re
publican Councilmen, nevertheless.
Ind it has cast a gloom over the City
Hall that is thick enough to be divis-
Fble by q knife. 1t is a condition which
The strategists CD are free to admit
hat they cannot control by trickery.
They are up against cold, hard facts
his time, and their co~untenances be-
tray their discontinue.
The story, which gained wide circu-
lation and general credence, was to
the effect hat the three boiling Repub-
hcans, either personally Or by their
representatives, offered to vote with
the Democratic members in filling all
the offices within the gift of Council.
with the following reservations. name
ly:
That John Corcoran, of the Fourth
ward, Democrat, be chosen City Col
lector.
That Eugene st. Myers, one Of the
boilers, be elected City Receiver.
That M. A. Chew be permitted to
name the members Of the Water Board.
and that he be chosen as Secretary Of
the Board.
That Ross T. Chew, ex-Councilman
from the First ward, be the first assis-
tant to the City Collector.
Democrats VIII Not Talk.
The Democratic members of Coun-
oil refuse to either affirm or deny the
report. 1t was industriously circulat-
ed by Republican politicians, and
friends Of the boilers say it was spread
for the purpose Of prejudicing the pub
lie against the three Republican Coun-
cilmen.
The story is plausible, and whether
or not 1T is true, dove-tails so nicely
that it was not questioned. Mr.. Coco
ran is a distant relative by marriage
OF Councilman James Marshall.
But there is another side, SO fatty
contradictory that only time and cir
cumStances will develop the truth. A
Register reporter saw the three bolt
ers last night. They emphatically de-
MED that they had made a proposition.
They could establish an alibi if neces-
5ary. They were equally emphatic in
saying that they had not authorized
any person to make the offer to them.
Il am not a candidate for any office
within the gift of Council said Mr..
Chew.
Nor l." said Mr.. st. Myers.
And | will say the same said Mr..
Marshall.
Mr.. Chew added that he would not
be a candidate in any event. He was
asked if he would be a candidate in
the event that he and his associates
vote, with the Democrats. ard he re-
piled with a positive negative.
The boilers say that they will stand
firm Upon their original proposition,
even to the point of voting with the
Democrats. This is a sufficiently bit
ter pill for the bosses to swallow. with
out the story of the deal with the Dem
ocrat5, but the Republican leaders be-
lieve, or affect to believe the story
that the boilers are actuated by selfish
motives, Notwithstanding their denials.
There were conferences during the day
in every nook and corner of the public
building which has not been coniscat-
ed by the Democrats.
Republicans Angry.
Republicans were angry, as a mat
ter OF course. The consummation of
the plans of the boilers must be pre-
vented at any cost. The particular
object of their venom was NJ. A..
Chew, and they were prepared to
make concessions in order to defeat
his plans, as they blamed him for
bringing about the existing state of
affairs.
At the suggestion of a Republican
Office holder in the county end of Il
Building, so it is said. the Republican
leaders began to hint broadly that
they might be willing to give the
City Collectorship to August H. Weld
ebusch, if the Democrats would re-
ject the overtures of the boilers and
turn a willing ear to them. The pro-
position didn't come from any official
source, but was sent out as a 'feeler''
and was so understood by the Demo-
Gratis. The proposition was a very
nervy one, in comparison with the al
legged deal the boilers offered to make,
and leading Democrats stated that the
Republicans would have to offer a
great deal more than the collectorship
if it came to bidding for the Demo-
cratic vote.
Still another deal was attempted.
1t is understood that an effort was
made to get a Republican who is
very close to Mr.. st. Myers to enaeav-
or to get him back into line. This
would spoil the plans of the boilers,
as the Republicans would then have
a majority. The "go4between" was
offered the secretaryship of one of the
city boards, for his services, and was
instructed to offer Mr.. st. Myers any
thing he wanted. st. Myers turned a
deaf ear to these propositions.