The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-01-02
X r
Card.


! EDITORS VALLEY VIRGINIAN. "a
In your issue OF the s6th ultinio ;ppeared "a, ar
ticle written by me, signed Observer INTENDED
the recent appointment Of County snperinten
| dent OF Schools, which article l was induced Il
write upon reading the following paragraph il
! the Spectator OF the 2ith uitimo
THE impression has gotten abroad that Mr.
! Al. W Qnar:es had been recommended by TIL,
County Board OF Trustees for this position. 1t i:
true that meeting OF trustees was held bul
there were present only seven out OF the eightee1
members; and majority OF them DID recommend
As iany. one must perceive. the attempt was
made IN this paragraph to convey the impression
that only majority OF the seven members pres
| entrecommended H. W. Quarles. when. in i fact
as has been repeatedly stated in the discussion
OF this subject and by the Spectator itself in
been elected, NJ. w. Quarles defeated, and could
not conceive the object OF such a statement at
that Time, making false impression against NJ
w. Quares, unless it to justify the action OF
the State Boaid OF Education in the insult given
by that Board to the school officers of the county
BILE. In Justice to NJ. w. Qnarles and exercising
that right which every citizen has, placed the
| the course of Governor Ho iday as public Off
Ger, Surely because am resident OF the city of
Staunton cannot be deprived Of this right.
my article have sustained all the averments
therein contained. and Mr.. Grattan in his address
to the County School Board. although adrotly
pretending to deny them, has most notably failed
to do so. In the first place he says the statement
that the appointment was delayed by the Govern.
or at his request is not true. He denies what [
did not state, for in no part OF my article was he
accused OF any improper conduct in this matter,
and had no other motive IN view in writing the
public. and in doing SO stated nothing did not
believe to be true and am not able TO sustain.
This is my statement: that Governor Holiday in
formed Mr.. Grattan that it was necessary for him
to have the endorsement of some of the county
school officers. after the case had been closed.
vvift fhaf 0c n dat
the Board of Education, and that the appointment
was deferred, thereby giving Mr.. Grattan time to
tan seems not to have understood what ! meant,
perhapsI ought to have been more explicit and
said that the Governor, at his own instance,
wrote private letter to him-a letter written to
no other notwithstanding him what was neces
sary to secure the appointment. After AIr. Graf
tan received the letter spoken of, l know there
was a delay and if he did not apply to any Of the
School Board to endorse him, it might have been
because ne had previously applied to them I'M
successfully or because he was informed that
they had endorsed another man. This was after
Mai Hanger left for Richmond. As to the ap.
Staunton, it must be remembered that during the
SUPPLEMENTARY Of Maj. Hotchkiss andJ. E. Guy,
ESQ.,. the town and county COMPOSED one school
made, separate and distinct school Jurisdictions
about the time Of the election Of DR.. r. s. Ham
ilton, who had no opponent and was strongly en-
dorsed by his predecessor and members of the
County School Board.
Mr.. drattan's reply to the statement that he is a
mott denial OF that statement. He pretends to
answer the unqualified charge that he is an oppo
nent to the free school system. am content the
public shall note the language OF his reply and
say whether it is denial or an evasion-until he
denies will say no more on this point.
All the facts pertaining to this matter We're be-
fore Governor Holiday when he made the ap-
pointment and Irepeat, there is not the slightest
excuse for his conduct Mr.. Grattan's attempt to
exculpate him from favoritism and to Justify him
in his insult to the intelligence OF the County
School Board, is signal failure.
/ cannot refrain from llludIur to the man.
ner in which Mr. Grattan obtained my name as
the author of the article signed "Observer" and
the use made Of it.
Itisa well understood and strictly observed rule
with editors never to give the name OF TIL author
OF an article unless demanded, and a rigidly OBJ
served custom OF controversalists through the
public press never to demand unles it is the in
tention OF him who demands to take the matter
in controversy out of the papers and to hold the
author to personal account. 8T4
Having the kindest feelings for Mr.. Grattan. l
particularly abstained from saying anything
offensive to him in the article mentioned, but he
demanded the name OF the author, and having
obtained it, seems to be able to conscientiously
think that with perfect propriety and becoming
manliness he could use it in continuation ofthe
controversy. Respectfully,
]. NJ. QUARLES.