Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-03-28
WHY NOT ANSWER?

nv Wv - YIN SUES on Ut tan
gent and fails to answer our ques-
tons In an editorial today it at
tempts to make much of the state
ment that:
I'VE have asserted time and again
that few people had the Repubi-
can party throttled in Bluefield; that
coterle of politicians fixed
things and under party lash as
dumb driven cattle to the slaughter
they used the party as a tool and
vote the two or three hundred
whites and the six or seven hundred
negroes against the best intelligence
of the city"
We reiterate the above A few
years ago the Telegraph wanted n
non-partisan ticket, but the ring got
their heads together and our con
temporary was compelled to jump
in the band wagon. The election
the Telegraph refers to was a wet
and dry fight. not a Democratic and
Republican contest.
But why beg the question? An
swer the questions we asked. Here
they are again:
And has the city administration
been all that 1t should be? Has II
been beyond reproach and above
bias?
Has it accomplished all that IT
has claimed for the people?
Did not the Telegraph year ago
publish a financial statement at
tempting to show surplus in favor
Of the city of $4,000 when there
was no surplus?
And did not the auditor in the
following bond issue election limit
large current indebted fo,., - y
the city although ssr.ihis is the e.. a.,
censes fees had be ,o,,-
from taxes, in the meant.
Have licenses been given entirely
without bias? wat about the sa-
loon licenses anyway? Tell just how
much each was forced to contribute
to the city corruption fund with
'HA~A ~ bhs ACElO NONtS VI nave
their licenses taken away?
You say none was forced to CON
tibute anything. but why BEG tho
question? They were asked to dc
so and dared not refuse.
Was not the negro saloon which
applied for license a year ago turned
down, but when the party needed
votes was told that If he could make
good his petition would be reconsid
cred. and wasn't it reconsiderei?
And what about members of the
council being interested in public
service corporations? Can we serve
two masters?
What about a city attorney rep-
resenting a public service corpora
ton before the council, in the Ian
guage Of prominent Republican.
with the city's money in one peck
ct and the street car company's IT,
another"
And how are you going to tell
about the financial condition of n.
city, anyway?
The Chamber of Commerce said
year ago that there was no ade-
quate system Of keeping the cily's
books and urged the installation NJ
a bookkeeper before permitting the
bond issue.
Did not the city administration
undertake to force the bond issue
election through a year ago without
tehing just how the money would
be spent, and were forced 10 complv
with the law by the demands OF the
Good Government Club2
Have we a non-partisan police
force? DO they not use the ten
days before the election fin getting
votes for the party ln order to hold
their jobs2
And is not the present refine
enough to- make @ man lay aside
politics and vote for the MANI Let
Clean Government" Doc the SLOGAN
and its supporters come from those
Win clean hands regardless Of for
mer party Affiliations
The Telegraph talks about tho
former large majorHcs ~ The RING
Maiorities' Bosh The fixed ur,
ticket has been efficient oaopgt nm
tho count. ami have controlled ~
fairs so absolutely for ,ho pa r.p
years that 81 has caused aatbv
among tho better element who ur.
ODD last year had not for several
years attempted 20 secure a m.r
count
sheltered under most irionf-
tious registration ana election law
they have been able to- manage Tho
elections entirely 20 their liking n.
is easy enough also t9 have a RUM,
grand jury affair and .wbitewash"
me whole crowd Arrests NAV bo
made Tor Illegal voting on election