Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-04-23
w. r. KLINE DECLINES
Nominee or Citizens Ticket Gives
Formal Notice That He is
Cut Of Race.
fCommunfcated.)

fCommunfcated.)
Editor of The Herald:
In your issue of April 8 / saw the
report Of the meeting held by the Citi-
zens, TO nominate a mayor and five
councilmen for the coming May cleo
ton, and see at the meeting I was
named for council from the Fourth
Ward. Up to this time ! have not
had an official notice Of such nomina-
ton, therefore ] could not decline the
nomination to said Citizens meeting.
Now, If you will allow space in your
columns, l desire to decline such nom
ination, as l received such notice
through you paper, for the following
reasons:
First, / could not think OF accept
ing the nomination on the Citizens
ticket, because l heartily approve the
nomination of Mr.. Fred Cline en- the
Republican ticket and will do all in
my power to have him elected. While
| am not opposed to the intention Of
the Citizens move, / do think it is
best to get our city government out
of politics, but not at this time, as a
Citizens ticket and a Republican tick
ct, it seems TO me, is good politics
for the Democrats. You thereby d.
vide the Independent Democrat and
the Republican vote, which, in my
opinion, viii give the Democrats the
election, but if you, or all the nomi-
nees in the Citizens ticket, will with
draw, there will surely be a Repub-
lican victory. n that is badly need
ed in our city government just now,
as we can hear on all sides the dis
satisfaction.
If my memory serves me right, while
| was a member of the City Council
there were several citizens or indie
pendent members elected to the Coun-
Gil. AS soon as such election was owe
and the certificate of election issued,
the newly elected members at once
affiliated themselves with the party Of
their political opinion, and went into
caucus with them and mapped out
their candidates for the different Off
ces of the city. AT the first meeting
of Council, after all the new members
were sworn in and the slate was fixed,
who the officers must be, such officers
were appointed and elected. Show me
dependent votes cast.
| remember six years ago, when the
hold-over members and the newly
elected N went into caucus and Sc
lected four policemen. One shining
light of the party in power was not
considered in the caucus, and when
that man learned that he was not Sc
lected what was the result? Why he
could not be spared from their polite
al ranks, so the Council had to take
care of him and concluded that our
city needed six policemen. Hence
that very valuable politician was
placed on the police force. Sometime
afterwards, for reasons, the City Coun
Gil suspended d member Of the police
force, and then the City Fathers q
Guided that five members on the po-
lice force we're sufficient and have not
had but five on the force since, except
on special occasions.
Now let me say to the voters of our
city, if all reports are true, is it not
high time to make a change in ourcity
administrator? Can it be done if you
divide the vote that is opposed tothe
present administration.
/ hank you very much for publish
ing this communication in your col
umns.
] am, most respectfully,
w. r. KLINE.