Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-05-23
Free Speech Denied
Welsbur gMayor

Free speech was denied the citizens
Of Wellsburg Saturday night by their
mayor, George B. Caldwell. He has
set himself up as the censor Of pub
lie meetings, and makes it plain that
he intends to decide what the people
shall and shall not hear.
So this man, Clothed in a little
brief authority" prostituted his Of
flee and disgraced his town Saturday
night by having the police arrest a
man for speaking on the public
street-a man who had nothing to
lsell, who had nothing to gain, and
who did not force himself upon the
public, but who accepted the invita-
ton of the politically organized work
ers of Wellsburg to discuss with
them the problems that confront
them, and which Mayor Caldwell and
his capitalist cohorts make no effort
to solve.
The meeting had been advertised,
by public posters, to take place at
Seventh and Charles street. No init
nation was given by the, mayor to
| hose arranging the meeting, that
he would prohibit it. Not one word
was heard from him until the meet
ing was ready to start, when he sud
denly appeared in the crowd and an
nounced that there would be no meet
ing.
w. B. Hilton, the speaker, asked
"Why?"
The mayor, with an assumption of
dignity that was laughable. made it
clear that he did not consider that
he had to tell.
Pressed for an explanation of hts
unwarranted action he said:
1--WE don't allow meetings here on
Saturday night"
Reminded of the fact that there had
been a meeting on the same corner,
ending just a few minutes before, a
meeting held by the Free Method
lists, he said:
well, that was religious; we don't
allow political meetings"
Thus he sat himself up as the die
tator of Wellsburg. Within his mas
sive brain he would decide whether
meeting was political or religious,
and within his province it rested 10
!, declare one or the other under his
| imperial ban.
rs there a city ordinance prohibit
ing this meeting?" he was asked.
"Pll make the ordinance in this
case,'' he blurted, with all the pompos-,
ity of a pouter pigeon. III
He refused absolutely to talk about
the matter. He would listen to no one
He would not reason. With the dec
laration that he was "busy" he re-
treated into the city building and shut
himself up in his office.
Some of the most prominent men
Of the city had gathered about, men
of all political beliefs, and they uni.
ted in condemning the action of the
mayor as uniustifiable. An attempt
/ was made to see the city solicitor
but he could not be located. G. w.
Rine, former mayor characterized
Mayor Caldwell's action as entirely
( beyond the law, that the speech
could not be stopped. This was the
| no
alone in what glory he could get out
of his action. Offers came from mem
bers of the crowd to pay whatever
penalty the mayor inflicted. "I'll pay
your fine" at. least six persons Of
fered Many offered to furnish bail
in case of the speakers arrest
Had those in charge of the meeting
decided to go on with it, the people
would have been with them en- masse.
But the promoters of the meeting de-
cided against this action. They de-
cided that they would temporarily
submit to the mayors illegal COM
mand and adopt other means to force
him to obey the law and permit peace
full assemblage. So they adjourned
to the K. of P. hall on Charles street
The Arrest.
Then came the browning act of
Caldwell's foolishness. When Mr.. Hill
ton climbed upon the box and an
nounced to the crowd that the meet
ing would be held in the hall, he was
pulled FROM the box by a policeman.
This warlike charge Of the minions
Of the law vas directed by Caldwell,
who stood upon the opposite sidewalk
in front of the city building.
One policeman, Thomas Maccoll,
started toward the speaker, waving
his club like generals sword in
battle, and calling: "Come on, Char
Iley!" to Policeman Charles Teeters,