The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-08-02
A Card from Capt. b. L. Keenan,,
Candidate for County Supe rim
tendent of Free Schools for
MOnOngalia County.


MonOngalia County.
July 28th., 1879.
EDITOR NEW DOMINION
In the canvass for the position to
which / aspire l mean to do only what
/ believe to be fair, honorable and in
keeping with the dignity of candidate
for such office. Since offices are open
to competition, and there seemed to be
no aspirants to this particular one, there
was not wanting such great courage
on my part for me to offer my
name to the public Whether wanted
this office for the remuneration, for the
notoriety, or for the opportunity of max
ing one great strike toward intellectual
izing old Monongalia, and reviving
learning in the modern Athens, it mat
tered little. The field of labor was in
viting, and had not a right to be can
ddate and claim to be respected in
this right. Ihesitated before announce
ing myself, realizing the fact that was
a young man, known only in certain
parts of the county, and that / would
stand poor show if should cross lances
with any Of the old veterans who had
been over Monongalia breaking bread
with most of her citizens. My chance
for success was either with young man
or by long tedious canvass, which the
office would not justify. Up to the 18TH,
not quite three weeks before the election
the coast was still clear. A. l.. Wade
had indicated when candidate before
that he would not be a candidate again,
and 50 | announced my name. After
doing so | understood that Wade had
said he would take the office if the PEG,
pie gave it to him.
| Immediately wrote to him, stating
that | had no desire or inclination to be
candidate against him, intimating that
would withdraw if he Immediately an.
nounced himself. He wrote to me on
the Dist, to tie effect that he had de-
clined to become a candidate when
waited on by Il committee from the up
per part of the county, but told them che
would serve if elected" and also said
"a card published in the county papers
this week indicates my willingness to do
so.' Is he a candidate? He says not
Though Il have no inclination or desire
to be a candidate against him, yet would
it be in keeping with the dignity OF one
candidate to allow himself to be pushed
from the track by another who merely
indicates his willingness to serve if the
people force the office upon him /
tllllh IOl. l. Cttll lCt, NetlC iOl1 stlltt Will
not capitulate on such conditions.
Willing or unwilling the fight is forced
upon me. understand Alexis tactics
He asks you, voters, to compliment him
for the six years labor he is about to
complete, and ask you for your votes. l
am candidate because the pay, small
as it is will be help to me under the
the circumstances in which | am placed,
since can remain in school the greater
part of the year. and still attend to the
duties of the office Because the field of
labor isinviting, because | believe in ro-
tation in office and oppose the idea that
one man should have life claim on
| any public position, gives me further
reasons for being candidate. l have
been asked if / would visit the schools
if elected. If intended to do SO it
would be impolitic to mention it before
| the election.
Before the law relative to the County
| Superintendent was changed, $500 was
the salary, now it il $l25.
| Thus the Legislature considered it
worth S175 to visit the schools. To of,
fer the people Sl75 worth of work in this
case is bidding $l75 for votes had as
Well offer this county SITS worth of
labor in any other public work as in the
school field. Monongalians are not to
be bought, and / am surprised that
people should try to raise this issue. L
| promise to do no other work in the Ca
pacity OF Superintendent than is law
full duty. To promise to visit the schools
would not be received among the better
class of people as a generous offer, but
simply bid for office. To visit the
schools would be to teach our legislature
that 1925 is sufficient pay for all the du-
ties of County Superintendent, includ>
ing visitations upon sceOols, and to make
SUPPLEMENTARY on this basis, which
would destroy the office, as no one could
afford the sacrifice.
Besides, if the Legislature has made
a mistake in this matter, they must see
it by experience. No, do not bid for
the office, and / think know my oppo>
nent well enough to justify me in as
serting that he will not make such issue
either
All the promise I have to make is that
| will, if elected discharge the duties
of the office faithfully and in accordance
with the provisions of the law and if /
do anything other than this it will be out
of devotion to the Free School System,
which stays American Liberty strength
ems American civilization, and preserves
our Republic.
When spoke in my card last week
of it being economy to pay $50 or $40
per month to good teachers, while it
was useless expenditure to pay So to the
uncouth pedagogue, | meant these fig
ures to be relative. / should have been
more specific. In these panic times a
No. certificate should draw $50 per
month, which / regard as fair salary,
and equal to $45 six or eight years
ago.
/ simply make these statements as
views of my own, subject to error. If
they suit the people, well enough, if not,
it is better they be made known before
1 the election.
/ do not desire to sacrifice principle for
policy.
/ have the honor of subscribing my
self as candidate for the office of Coun-
ty Superintendent, and not as one who
Twill serve If elected Most Truly,