The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-05-01
GRAFT PROSECUTOR GREETED
BY THOUSANDS.
Explains the Growth Of Bad condI-
tions and the One Remedy.
7. L. Lewis Speaks.

~auspicies OF the Municipal League of
this city, will go down in history as
an unqualified success. The attend
ance was largely and representative
and Mr.. Wells remarks were greet
ed with enthusiasm and appreciation.
An eloquent address was delivered
by eX-President T. l.. Lewis OF the
miners. who spoke OF the connection
OF labor with the reform movement.
Hon Henry VI. Russell presided
and among the vice presidents on the
platform were the following promi-
nent men: \. w. PAUL, =. OFT Laugh
lin, George w. Lutz. w. +. Stone.
Thomas l. White. J. II. Brennan. J.
a. Blum. George +. Stifel. George VI.
Shook, Cecil 4. Robinson, Albert
Meyer. Fred J.. Fox. c. r.. Hubbard.
William Schwertfeger. James b
fancy. II. c. Odgen. Llewellyn Lewis.
Fred II. Frazier. w. W. Scott and r.
T.. Jones.
Mr.. We'll was introduced by Mr..
Russell and was greeted ~enthusias.
tically. lie said i'm part:
Meaning Of Citizen"
TO me the name citizen" implies
something more han "A habitat with.
IN certain boundaries more or less
NNHo'Af fbluthtth. Kermit me 10
suggest TO YOU that what is wrong
is the conception OF citizenship: poll
tical ills hat now assail the munich.
pal governments OF the country exist
because We. the people do not realize
what We should. When we speak OF
a low standard OF morals in the
politics Of our city. we therby pro-
claim lack Of our own personal inter
est. be cause We are in part 10 blame
for this condition. We can under.
stand why il is hat in his country
OF ours disagreement unfortunately
is the rule.
The city government is the gift
or the sovereign power Of the people.
IL exercises that sovereign power in
all affairs such as looking after
health and providing highways and
comforts for the community. The
growth OF meodern unknown before.
which became the peoples property
IN each city. ! speak of the franchise
as separate and distinct from the
tangible property. II has been said
that in every city OF over $4,000 IN
habltants. the value Of the franchise
Tor rapid transit alone is worth
more than all the other property OF
the city combined. Today The value
OF the franchise Of the Third avenue
line IN New York City is greater than
the entire property OF the line. such
as cars, tracks and equipment.
Effect Of Franchises.
Now. when these properties be
come so enormous. 81 changes the
aspect of the city and of the people
thereof and changes the form of gov
eminent from "A mere representative
FORM or sovereignty into a great
cooperative business enterprise. OF
which the people are owners and they
elect TO Office as their representative
merely their business agents 10 con.
duct and transfer and take care OF
and dispose OF his property for them
and for their recount.
These properties. these honest
values. thus held in trust for the
people are we'll worth while. but
there are those who organize and
seize the government or the cities to
posses themselves Of these franchises
and take from the people. Just inn.
dGinc. DO q single moment los the drop
OF the gravel in the council chamber
the grantee Of a franchise is i'm.
mcdlately possessed Of property
worth hundreds OF thousands. perhaps
millions or hundred OF millions OF
dollars.
Remember that in 1850 there were
uut four cities in the United States
having e population Of over 100000
and ] believe twenty cities having n
population Of over $4,000. Then be
Kan au era OF urban growth ln this
country and cities spraug up all over
this land until today We have hun.
dreds of thousands.
The period of the growth az our
cities. the partisan period OF our cit
Jos t1" changes boo the character of
tHe property OF our cities all can un.
a'r-iand 40 these contributed 10 the
Sam" general cause Of enabling self.
ISh Interests 10 seize The government
and gain control Having accomplish
ed thi-. these interests became a we'll
oihccrnd army that could call upon
individuals to debate their citizen
ship. that could raise al the none,
f required. that could Icyy tribute
upon every interest that had hu-ipeas
"ith Do city. that had absolute con
troll and power 20 continue because
opposed fo o. we had nothing bat
people. and when ! say that ! mean
people dieorEauIzod.
Politics AHeet Morals.
Every man who reads obeo-yoe
and thinks. know That practically
every city OF this couufr. tho moral
standard Of political lIfo d. ON fbo
lowest level. That those THINKS arc
tolerated politically tolerated com
~plhrcnfly. which would incur tho abb
N~"franco ar every moral or honest
HliNl Do 20 % iu any other woIf OF
Hir We think c@ompIaconfv ana
iNIfrHriF Do the political corrrrri.,