The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-07-15
RING RULE RESULT.

The city of Charleston has been
groaning under the great load that
has been saddlcd upon her by the
boss ruled city governments which
have controlled her destiny for
many years, but the last straw was
added when the political bosses
hcaped the Infamous and corrupt
bipartisan charter upon her al
ready unbcarablc burden. AS a re-
suit of this latest nail in the NUM-
opal coffin lid the city is lettering
upon the prccipice of degradation.
The political chicancry. ring rule
graft. corrupt practices Of the self
appointed bosses, professional office
holding lccchcS, the public service
sap suckers, municipal miSlnanage-
mcnt and the franchise pcddlers
have placed the city in debt to the
amount of nearly, if not nine hun
drcd thousand dollars. And to add
INSULT to INJURY after having scat
tered that vast amount to the four
winds by paying political debts and
building corrupt grai't-brceding
machines. the Board of Atfairs-the
august body who under the infa-
NOUS bipartisan charter hold the
destiny of the city in the hollow of
their hand-havc handed down an
imperial order that the street lights
must be cut off and the city thrown
INTO darkness. the charity beds in
the hospital abolished, the police
force reduced. fire stations suspend
ed. health department eliminated.
and many other sweeping changes
made III order to maintain a
high salary for themselves. In
other words the health and protec-
tl"n of life and limb OF the citizens
VIII be sacrificed by them for
selfish and pccuniary motives.
rms Is the prcdicament that
Charleston finds itself in today.
But who is to blame for it, There
can be but one answer. the people.
They have sat idly by for wears and
witnessed graft deals. both large
ana small. they have allowed the
very life blood of the city. the pub
he franchises To be handed to AFRO
CANT corporations on a silver plat
ter by the political bosses without
raising their Voice in protest, have
allowed the money of the city TO be
scattered like chatf before the wind
to pay political debts and build DO
iltIcal machines for the party in
power. contracts have been award
cd that rocked with graft without a
dissenting voice. salary has flowed
mt" the pockets of public officials
like sand in IA rat hole. and no ser
vice received III return. the public
service corporations have thrived
upon revenue wrung from the city |
treasury and even grave ward steals |
nave been permitted. and all be-
cause It was for the best interest of |
the Democratic or Republican par
~ ana would continue one or thc |
other OF those corrupt machines in |
power.
The welfare of the city and its
citizens was never taken into con |
Sideratlon. And through all this
the people have followed the lead |
OF tn" INSCRIPTIONS and corr1lp1 |
.">S,-> WI" happened to have the |
ti'N by tn" throat. and who gave the |
d"nlZen> Of the red light district,
promoters Of gambling dcns and |
hr"theiS more consideration and at
trntI"n than they accorded the law
abiding taxpayers.
i'ut as history shows all despotic
reIgnS have an end at some time
ana AT last II seems to be in sight
here tn" bipartisan hugaboo has
put the finiShin,- +,r.b,., 49,, ~,
ron: reign OF ruin and the people
nave aWakened I" >-le fact tina.
Stare> theIse in the face
ana unless something s done. and
done at once. our city kill be in p
death struggle for rxi4cncc. The