The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-16
WEsr ALkxAADEK,

And a. He u 70 the living, 20 deaLh u 70 Tue ueao.
WEST ALLxAADEn.
A Tax.Pay er's Views on the school
TroubIe-A Razor-edEed Production.
To ne Editor oftt hIeHOsaeeT.
SIR:-Being an old subscriber, aud a
much older reader OF the ISTELIaEScER,
and knowing the fairness with which it
treats all questions, both local and general.
l have no hesitancy in asking space in its
columns to reply to the letter on the
school question signed by H., and publish
ed in the Washington Evening Reporter On
the 18th inst. The writer Of the letter
signed H., and published as above, appears
to forget that the school question Is 0 pub
lie one, and should be discussed as other
public questions are discussed. Personal
matters have nothing whatever to do with
it. The whole object of his letter appears
to be to prejudice the people against Ger.
tain individual, and to eulogizs himself as
teacher Of the school. 1t appeared impos-
sible for him to get through with his har-
angue without putting in word here and
there for the first person singular. But the
most singular part Of the letter Is, that he
had cheek enough to write itatall. Mr.. 81. Is
only soiourner here aud has no interest
in the school beyond that OF dollars and
cents, and when that interest ceases he
will 90 to some other locality, and which
side Of any question he will take depends
upon which side has the mess money and
the greatest influence. Mr.. Il, is either
directly or indirectly the cause Of all the
controversy now going on In regard to our
school, l did not think any man could
be 80 entirely devoid OF principle as he
has proven himself to be n this matter.
In a conversation had with him shortly
after the Board voted on the book .ques-
ton, he advised me to write up the condi-
ton OF our school house, and school prop
erty, and have 1t published in some one Of
the county papers; and be added in these
words as near as can recollect. The
majority OF the people In this town are old
foggies and don't want any improvements,
and as for the minority, there Is not man
among them but what is afraid to speak
his sentiments, unless, "he added, you are
the man."
Mr.. H. and myself agreed with each
other on the school question, except the
adoption OF the new series OF books. Act
ing, however, upon his advice or sugges.
ton, and to show him that there was
man in town who was not afraid to speak
bis mind wrote the letter and sent It to
the Evening Reporter and It was printed
August 4th. But before sending the letter
10 the printer gave the MsSto Mr.. Il. to
read. That part OF the letter which refers
to the condition OF the school property he
read over and over at least a half dozen
times, and remarked as many times that
every word Of it was true, and he added
that It did not tell halfth story and adyis.
ed me TO enlarge on that part Of it. He
however found fault with wnat rsaid In
regard to the school board in connection
with the adoption Of the new series Of
school books, and he advised me to omit
that part OF the letter. Again acting upon
his advice made another copy OF the let.
ter leaving out that part he did not up.
prove Of, adding the first in full, and q part
Of the second and last paragraphs. The
balance of the letter was almost word for
word the same as the one he read
and approved. This Is status
Of the matter Just as correctly as / am at this
time able TO give. The question may be
asked II the above Is true, why did he
throw of bis coat and write the letter pub
lished in the Evening Reporter. decline
to answer that question, or to give my
opinion in regard TO It. II Mr.. II. had not the
arguments on the side he finally concluded
TO take, and was compelled to resort to
personal matters in order to silence his op.
ponent l don't intend to follow bis ex.
ample only 30 lar as to defend myself and
answer his calumnious charges. As to
what his motive was leave the citizens OF
this borough to decide for themselves. ] will
only add that there are men In the town,
one OF whom Is now member OF the
school board, who have heard Mr.. II. talk
on this very question number Of times,
and his views were Just thereyerse OF those
given In his letter. He says, or he means
TO say, In that letter, that have no right to
complain about the way the school Is run,
because as he says, my school tax only
amounts to one dollar and thirty-fve
cents. He must have made that falsehood
out Of whole cloth, for il he ex-
amtned the duplicate, and could tell
one figurs from another, he found my
school tax amounts to 81 so. II he did not
examine the duplicate, where did be get
he amount he so kindly gave to the pub.
| lie, II he did not fabricate III 1tseems to
meinothing can be 90 silly or more obtruse
than the idea, rs 81. has 1t, that because
,Otne class Of citizens pay more tax than
Others they, therefore have the right to
Ssit on the chest and that we have only
the right to speak on public questions in
proportion to the amount Of tax We pay. j
His rule had been. observed by. Mr.. II.
when he was writing his letter, about two
lines. or three at the most, would have
wound up his argument Mr. II says that
ont of a total school fund Of s606, the fam
lilies in the borough who have no children
30 send to school, pay S5S7, or SO per cent.
/ have not examined the duplicate, and
don't know whether these figures are
strictly correct or not. II knew II was 80
would net doubt his statement.
4 But Ii Is probable as far as proportion is
concerned the Aguers are not iar from the
correct amount, % our borough has Q
Ia iety for being made up Of maiden
names. widows, bachelors, retired farmers
and business men who have come here to
spend the balance Of their days attheir
ease, their children having grown up and
left them, and Of course they have none to
send to school. But correct as the state
ment may be he has concealed such facts,
Inst makes II equivalent to talsehood,
snd to uss Bis own words "a half truth is
he meanest kind Of q falsehood.n Every
IintslIjoent citizen knows or should know
nov t6e revenue for school purposes d
raised. For the benefit OF those who may
not know, I will state the funds Tor school
purposes Is raised; First, by Q general
system OF taxation upon the citizens 40.
Icording to the yalue Of the property they
have. Second, by Anes placed upon dis
orJsyly nersons ithis tIne am glad 10 say