Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25
THE BOOK CONTRACT.
GOVERNOR o'FEHRALL 10 INDIGNANT
At The PILOTS PUBLICATION.


The Norfolk Pilot OF ehsnday contains .
t,x-coiumn article on The American
Book Trust and How 1t Operates In Viz
ginia" The article " directed at the
State Board Of Education in general and
Hon. John Il. Massey In particular. II
charges theoretically that as a member
Of the old board AFR. Massey was bribed
by ]. w. womack 10 put the books OF
the company on the public-schooi list, ana
then. coming TO the new board. II asserts
that Governor O'Ferrali and Attorney
General Scott. the other members OF tho
board. were guilty OF gross negligence IN
allowing a corrupt contract 20 be made:
also, that Clerk MeG.ivray Is TO blame
On the matter.
GOVERNOR o'FERRALL INDIGNANT.
Mr. Massey and Attorney-Gen Scott
are out OF the city. and the Governor
was the only member OF the board that
could be seen yesterday. The Governor
was very Indignant He said that he
recognized the necessity and propriety OF
holding public officers to strict account
ability for their acts. The people have a
right 10 expect at their hands a faithful
discharge Of their duties. but because
men occupy public positions Is no reason
why the press OF individuals should be
given n license TO handy their names with
IMMUNITY. or with fippant tongue or facile
pen wantonly charge them with gross
neglect Of duty. much less grave OFFENCES
Public officials are responsible for their
acts, at the same time they have rights
which the press and individuals must
Il. - n lad
malicious intent or reckless disregard OF
truth without a remedy. The law gives
that remedy. and he. for one. intended
10 avail himself of IL. He was tired OF
the assaults. OF his personal enemies, who
make up IN venom what they lack In
Numbers. Show me personal enemy,
said he. and will show you man who Is
nursing some grievance against me; he Is
some disappointed office-seeker. like the
man who gave the Pilot it's information.
and who wrote that part Of the Pilots
publication which aliudes 20 me.
HE WILL INVESTIGATE.
Continuing. the Governor said that since
AEs Induction into the high office 10 which
he was 70 Overwhelmingly elected In 1893.
despite the opposition of his personal enc
mos. he has devoted all Of his time and
ehsrgies II a faithful and conscientious
dScharae OF his official duties. Indeed.
while he WAS proud OF his many friends
and grateful 70 them for their steadfast
support, which had brought him no many
victories he really ovid much Of his sue
cess 10 his enemies: their malignant at
,acks had simply intensified the loyalty
OF his friends.
The charges against him. the Governor
resumed so far as his connection with
the present Board Of Education is con-
ccrned. are wantonly and maliciously
false. He did not, ne said. intend 10 en-
ter into any controversy with the Pilot,
but he would at once. as Governor. take
immediate steps 10 investigate this mat
ter as lar as Is In his power 10 do 80.
In conclusion. h said the publication
WIS grossly libellous. and the attention OF
the press should be called 70 this fact.
MR.. WoMACK's STATEMENT.
Mr.. womack, the agent OF the Ameri-
can Book Company. has declined to make
q detailed statement until he could con-
suit his employers. He said. however,
that ne would see them at once. and at
the proper time the charges against the
company would be answered In detail. He
would. for the present. state that all the
charges OF the Pilot, so far as they re-
lated 10 Mr.. Massey or any other member
Ct this board or its predecessors. were
Jointly md severally false that he had
never offered a bride to Mr. Massey. as
fnferentially c1trged by the Plot, and
that the Amer,c1r Book Compa-Y ccurted
the fullest inv Se:ion.
As 20 prices. Mr.. Womack said that the
children OF Vlrgln.e got their o)oHs as
cheaply es u chillr n Of any otner state
supplied by the American Book Company.
and that this was required under the
contract with the State Board OF Educa-
ton.