The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-30
TIoNAL BoESE1-LABoK VOTE
ID NOT PARTIHAN.
NO SUCH THING AZ PARTY LEADER
CITY Has NEvER HAD A .
'Bo66r IT IS SAID.
BY DWIGHT II. rIrER,


Local politics in Grafton are ievold
of any stirring interest from lack OF ;
partisan leadership and factlonal bosses.
Grafton is faced with political con-
dition which must be met In all poliu-
cal fights whether local or statewide.
1t Is city in which the labor vote has
the balance OF power-lahor controls
The labor vote is never partisan. II Is
first OF all Subservient 10 the labor IN
tc-rSts and partisan only when these in
tcrcsts are not affected. In Grafton both
r, publ!cans and democrats alike must
angle for the labor vote and offer bait
delectable enough 10 attract its support.
The republicans are afraid OF the Ia
Dor vote and the democrats are ike
wise afraid OF it. The prominent poll
tlcians OF both parties have their lIv-
ing to make in Grafton. and. conse-
uucntly. do not dare 10 become 81 mixed
up IN any political squa bible which might
incur the enmlty of the labor element.
When the personal clement is so nag
rantIy apparent in local politics, either
one OF two things happens: the city or
county either becomes "boSscd' or poll
tics are kept under cover as much az
possible. The latter condition IL found
IN Grafton.
Never HAD = Leader.
In practically every town and Cl'E
there Is some one or two persons VINO
are looked upon as political leaders ana
who have local conditions we'll IN nina
and in hand. ! asked u prominent p9nKer
who were considered the different party
leaders in Grafton and Taylor county.
He sad. You stick around for scvera!
days and taIk with a. many people rs
yuu can. When YOU ind such person
or persons wish YOU would com" In
and tell M. | hav" lived here all my
|. e. and II there is such Il thing as 4
party leader IN Grafton. | would Ike 70
know his name" | made such inquiries
but found only that the banker was
right.
Politically TayI"r county lacks organ
iza,,on and leadership. What interes;
Is taken IN politics ~ only Of II lethargic
nature. and then only when their per
sonal interest Sare liable Ia be effected.
For example. several business men with
whom | talked we've loud III their de-
of the gross sales tax when ,
was passed by the recent legislature;
they denounCc il on many counts. but pri-
marily because IF its un'airncss: my
arc not IN favor Of it. Tor do they Like
the way the governor >".r!trd IT'S pas
sage, yet they did not iahc the trouble
before the election to give the person
ncl ot the legislature much thought and
the ISSUES Of the c:I'nphISn created ON! !
a half-intcrrSted dl-"Usslon, and no APP
parent action.
Not Politically Dead.
do not wish TO give the lmhrcSS'ot'
tina, TAYLOR county Is dead p"I!t'cal'F'
Many mon OF pubic and political prom ,
Incnvc have come from Grafton ana
many arc living In Taylor county To-Day |
but what prominence they have ach!cFed
is not du. to amy political enthusiasm !
Of A staunch party organization IN their
home county. Many Of the older roli- !
ticrns IN northern West Virginia Will :
the old Grafton House as q /
meeting place for politicians during the |
heated DAYS Of ii campaign; they Will /
tho political prominence or
Grafton and the active party orsan'za- !
linn they found there. but all these /
things arc no more.
The old Grafton House. who's" walls {,
istcned IN on many secret meeting o'
politicians from tho eastern ana "rs'rr"
panhandles and up the IEIart Na''eE
uay is piCturcSQu" laHamdrk III ,
northern and central West Virginia p"''-
tics Tho "Old Timers VIII recall many !
interesting political episodes taxing
place in this old structure hut 'h"S'
old days have passed. Grafton ~ II"
more a meeting place "h"r" roil''"' !
are settled. and IN" GRAFTON !
House is no longer a hotel II - hS'u
today as An office building by th" Il. u
O, Railroad. and the only r'minoeF II
has Of its political glory IS DIR. EhSrIeE ,
Sinsel sitting behind u desk IN one VI
The offices taking care Of tn" ailments
of the +. & =. employees.
New City Charter
The most engros$ing question IN
Grafton politics today IS the new CITY
charter PASSED by III" last l"Gi'ntu'r'
the acCrpt!un or rejection OIL ""''" :
comes up i, referendum cI"''i"h -"
June = The nov charter IS very S''"- :
liar to the one now IN t"r'' """ '''
yides for a commission form Of govern .
r,orx rke the present one. with the On .
o.ption that it Stipulates an annual
.Iection instead of one every three
Years. 1t also provides for an incrr'S"
or $500 in the pay OF the throa com
this TO take erect at "''e
although the present romln.sE'o''''H
have two years yet I" serve Inc NV I
charter also provides that the CITY Hh"''
have the power TO grant or reJc'' u !
censes To POOL rooms even II the county ,
has granted Il license. IL gives INC '''' :
the right 20 increase the bonding t"n''
from "k per cent to per cent nI"n 'he
vote of the people.
The only caus" in the new rh"r'
which Is creating any opposition IS the
one providing Tor an increase IN IN"
salaries Of the commissioners some I"
the Noodle fol that the commissioners
deserve thu rs,l>" in saiary--thc mayor !
tho commissioner receiving the greatest ,
Of rnt"S At the election no"
receives Sl50U aud IN" TWO commission !
orc receive Sl,@nn-- while som" others /!
take the position that the mayor anu
tho commissioners S"uCh, election ana ,
wore elected at the present salaries am !
that they should finish their terms vain {
out an increase. Thcr" - being S"in' .
little individual opposition mad" I" the
adoption OF III" new charter an" IL II
develops much stronger between no"
and Juno there Is every possibility /;