The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-08
People'sForunl
citY PoIltles.


nlfnistratfon over the Goals at such
gait that It only touched the high
places. 1 was greatly surprised. when
/ read your paper. to find you made
no reply to this statement. OF course
1t was written by the big boss. up in
his den on the top floor of the Index
building. where all Of his editorial
work is prepared.
In the beginning he says: There
has been no time within the past thir-
ty years that condition like the pres
cnt wouldn't have bred revolt, II the
Democratic party had been in control
of the city. The people wouldn't have
stood for such conditions for month
ct any time" One OF his reasons for
this statement is on account OF the
floating Indebtedness OF ninety-two
thousand dollars. That amount Of
floating Indebtedness certainly would
not disturb a Democrat. 1t has not
beer many years since the people OF
Marion county voted on the question
OF issuing bonds to build the Court
house. They said by their vote. NO"
Did the County Court. which was Dem
ocratic. respect what the people sail
at this election? In the face of this
defeat they began TO raze the old
Courthouse, between two days. and
contract for new one at something
over one hundred thousand dollars
and when the bills were all paid It
was found to cost two hundred and
seventy-eight thousand ($27S.000.00l
dollars. Was this floating indebted
ness? I should think so and great
deal of 1t will continue to float for
some time to come. County orders
were issued for this enormous sum and
few days ago had the privilege of
seeing one OF these orders and 1t was
almost covered by interest credits.
They began tearing down the old build
ing in the night time for the reason
they feared the people would stop them
by injunction. BY commencing at this
time they could have the old building
demolished before the citizens would
have an opportunity to stop them.
While It was not right for the city to
create this ninety-two thousand dol
lars of floating debt, yet why should
Democrat, in the fact of circumstan-
ces like these, get SO frightened over
this amount of money when two hun
dred and seventy-eight thousand dol
lars, caused him no nneastness. Be-
cause the court was Democratic.
This editorial further says. that in
stead of outstanding resources to make
a beginning in payment, simply goes
ahead and adds to It at the rate of
thousands of dollars year" The city
began to keep up her sinking funds
and during the building Of the reser-
voir. before the issue of the mortgage
bonds, It was through the influence Of
Democratic member Of council these
funds were expended. Was this Dem.
ocratic doctrine?
The water system Is criticized and 1t
should be from the existing conditions.
We have fine water plant. but the
pumping capacity is not great enough
for the consumption, hut when the new
pump is installed this trouble will be
rlghted. The trouble is the increase
OF consumption has been so great that
the machinery soon proves inadequate.
Gambling houses he says are run
wide open. Never in the history of
the city of Fairmont was there as lit
tie gambling as at this time or during
this administration. II the people de-
sired to gamble they do not have the
money.
The last sentence of this article
reads: whenever any party under
takes to run a small city like Fair
mont for political advantage the re-
suit is always the same-debt, graft.
dlscredit and Encouragement" viii
those of you who have been citizens
OF our city for twenty years kindly re-
call II they drew the line for political
advantage. Under Democratic county
administration, Squire Nuel, an old
man seventy five years of age. was en-
ployed to sweep the suspension bridge,
and when the court found he was Re-
publican, he was given his walking pa
pers and man who served In the reb-
ell army given his place at an increase
of salary. When political party will
draw the line on a position Of this
character, at is going some" They
voted all the nonresident help during
the building of the Courthouse at
county and state elections, but when It
come to the city election this gang did
not vote. because they had no vote.
In conclusion, Mr. Editor. there is
nothing wrong in an Individual or cor
poration going after the city admin
istration II they are not doing right,