The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-03-18
WEISS OPPOSES
THE NEW CHARTER
LABOR MEMBER OF LEoIsIA-
TuRe FROM OHIO COUNTY.
Critieisss Automatic Features Of the
Instrument = Says Workinsmsn
Generally Will not support u.

Tor Harry E Weiss. labor repre-
g, sentative IN the present LEGISLATURE.
and one Of the most active n infiu-
entail working men In the city. is one
working class who does not endorse
h Paull-LaF1am charter. Speaking
OF the charter to = representative of
h lntelligencer last night. Mr.. Weiss
said:
Il have studied the proposed new
charter for Wheeling with a great deal
OF care and | think / understand its
provisions fairly we'll. was not in
favor Of Il when IL was first presented
at Charleston. and / am not In favor
or ~ now. 1t is true that I made m
OF position to its passage through I'll
legislature. simply because I believed
that the people OF Wheeling should
decide these questions for themselves.
II they wanted the new charter they
should have a right to vote on Il AMI
accept II. II they did not want 1t they
could vote on II and reject II.
Therefore. against my own convictions
I favored the passage Of the hill in
tho house OF delegates. simply that the
pcopl. Of this city might have a fair
chance to expires themselves and that
we might have "A fair nance to eN-
press themselves and thai we might
not 5e unfairly accused Of attempting
10 choke IN OF. Now that the charter
is before the people | wish to say that
in my opinion ~ creates a commission
whose power would be dangerous. that
could not Ice checked in any way and
that would almost be certain To- he
come corrupt. t%yrannical and despotic
in the course Of time.
Endorses WEIGH.
Il read with a great deal Of care the
Interview from MIR. W. r. WEIGH. Of
the National Street Car Workers
NJ ion. m endorse thoroughly practi-
cally everything that Mr.. WEIGH said.
The charter does not give a city "m-
ploye n chance 20 appeal from the ar
bitrary order or harsh treatment NJ 4
commissioner. and in fact secures him
no protection whatever. As a working
man and "A poor man also | believe that
! express the prcfere nee Of our class.
when ! say that a. n rule We believe
In 'leCting more candidates by direct
vote ~ the people than ~ fewer num-
her The fact II the principle OF the
referendum and labor organizations
generally contemplate the greatest de-
gree Ot popular action in regard To
public offices That Is. we want TO
vote on as many % our city officials
HAAfhAAN as We DhrSlUIA can, aTu tilS
CHARTER limits our privilege in that
particular. should this charter win
and the commission De elected. I can
easily imagine the circumstances In
which - poor man like myself would
nave ~ standing. and get no hearing
before the commission. But ] can go
now to the councilmen Of my ward
and talk To them and get "A hearing.
For one. I want To have self and
my represented directly in
the city government by Some one
whom ! know and can count upon as
a friend.
Dangerous Thing.
At Charleston also pointed out
that IN" restrictions on the salary AMI
requirements that the commissioners
should give their entire time 10 the
work was going To- ocure "a class of
inexperienced 81 incompetent men for
these ofi;ccs. 7 know cnough to know
that I would rather have two hours ~
the time ~ a thoroughly experienced
n capable man than a week II some
man In public office. Members Of the
lex stature outside % ohio county who
passed this charter told me that they
thought 70 was e very DANGEROUS thing
hut aS they had no direct interest I'm
u they voted for IL on the theory tina
the people Of Wheeling should decide
tOi themselves.
y notic" u ct Mr.. Latham in his
card jhis morning attempts "a
.ttI'k President ". b. WEIGH. IT he
state Federation Of Labor. Tie iusinu-
afts that Ar. WEIGH $ not president
Of tho state Federation ~ Labor. Il
AIR sFi"m will lo,k 80 section .. ar
uDi' - tho constitution and Dos laws
of The g. Federation 81 Labor. he
will hud that tine term 81 Mr. WEIGH
does NOT end until April lst. and that
hs g. now president of the state Fed
GRAFTON and viii continue 80 until
Apr.l ist ! ruiy point this out ~ ius-
TIC 9" Mr.. Nelch. who Is on. OF tho.
ahlcst. Wisc9t Ild best labor mon in
IN" ohio VALLEY. Ills Views on public
az sti"rs are entitled to great
weight"