The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-02-15
FORM
OF GOVERNMENT

To the Editor OF the Intelligencer.
Of all arguments for and against
commission government, the recent
one or Dr.. Haskins, in which he
quoted a paragraph from the farewell
address OF George Washington, has
made the strongest impression Upon
my mind.
There Is no doubt OF the problem
OF government being always a serious
one. and at bets inadequate to meet
ing every condition arising as II
should be met. or TO vouchsafe 10
every individual OF a citizenship his
due OF equity in each and every rela.
ton to society and business. The best
10 be hoped for is a system OF law
and government which brings the
greatest good and happiness TO the
greatest number. IL is therefore
seen that laws for governing and
means for executing them must be
built upon general or fundamental
principles. which experience has
as containing the intrinsic elements
or forces for the warp ard wool. out
az which may be owe the fabric OF
government which is in the highest
possible degree salutary to public in-
%terest. In working this out. human
nature-its frailties and its virtues
must never for a be lost
sight OF. And IL is noted in this quo
tation from George WRshington's fare
wei address that this great and
noble soldier. patriot and statesman.
Intending this final word as a light for
future generations upon whose shout
ders the responsibility of guiding his
beloved %country's destiny must fall.
dld not overlook the warning thai q
Just estimate OF love OF power and
~proneness TO abuse IL. predominatng
in h human heart, was such "a to
make a despotism OF any government
in which the executive. legislative and
judiciary were consolidated in one.
He distinctly Claims these divisions.
each performing its individual runc
ton without the slightest encroach-
ment OF one upon the other. consti-
tutes the necessary reciprocal checks
capable Of preventing the establish
ment OF conditions which are mon
archie in character. No one can dis
pute this is exatly the position OF
the father Of our country. who. as
stated. submitted principles OF gov
ernment referred TO as a guide for
future generations.
DR.. llaskins i'm his gallant, and
manly fight for standard government
for our city. the same as our state and
nation, Il uuquestionab!y ppC-te in
his position by he sentiments. teach
ings and warnings of the patriots
who in the first place gained for us
our Independence as a nation, and
through the inspiration OF Providence
laid down principles OF government
for its security and its success The
simple question for the citizens OF
Wheeling Is. have We become so pro-
Pressive. or rather have we coached
a point men We feel that the prin-
ciples OF government evolved by
Washington. Jefferson. Hamilton II
al. are TO be regarded az obsolete. /
and the Principle Of Wallace.
S'hwer'i"ger La Flam ct al. adopted
as the real ~uD-tO-date ones
II the immortal Washington was ?
reliable 'IdeG Of human nature. ana
was right in saying that love OF
power and proness to abuse II pre-
dominates in the human heart" com
mission government is wrong and
dangerous. in that II does not con.
tain the Independent reciprocal checks
no ailudes tO-legislative. executive
and judiciary.
To say the government % a large
city. with its varied conditions To meet
In population and business. IS entire
~ "A different proposition from the
state cannot be supported by reason
or logic. The principle Is the same.
As Or. Haskius so wrli expresses ~.
hN cOmI1risOn. a Onc.hOr@- powe-
engine must b" constructed and oper-
af"d upon practically the same prin-
c'ples as a ffty thousand horse power
enRine-end this ia true as well 81
city and national government
Tie commission idea Of government.
IN Wheeling NJ least. had IFS conccp
Ion mainly in higOtry and arist0cracv
m the n hand and soured. d!s
gruntled. designing and d~iscredited
politicians on the other There g. an
a~ristocratic class ia Wheeling. as in
every city. who do not believe iu
popular city government. for the sin.
pie reason too many Of the common
herd get into public positions. nar-