Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-04-24
evidence. IT is true that T occupy

nectlon by marriage With DR.. LeCato.
have not been selfish enough to
take advantage of that fact nor has
he been venal enough to afford it,
but if it is this circumstance that
gives color to suspicion on the
mind of "Taxpayer,n let Inc ask him
if he assumes that l have held the
Office of superintendent for - years
by virtue and grace of this family
relationship? DR.. LeCato was elected
to the Senate less than four years
ago. If taxpayer feels impelled
to charge him with nepotism and the
State Board of Education with official
weakness and compatibility for four
years how will he explain to the
public, on the basis of his hypothesis,
the other eight years of my incum-
bency? Why was it that the honor
able Judge of our county court and
former Senator, J. W. &. Blackstone,
was not thus censured and arraigned?
moments reflection will show that
as matter of fact, DR.. LeCato was
never responsible for any appoint
ment to this office, of myself or any
one else. / was serving my present
term when he first went to the Sen
ate, He had nothing to do with my
re-appointment for the simple reason
that it was made more than four
months before his election and even
before his nomination. So much for
Taxpayers" warrant of facts IN
this case. But when facts will not
bear Mr.. Taxpayer" out, he is still
at no loss to invent an argument. Ii
is currently limited that possible
fear OF Senator LeCato's vote in the
Assembly caucus is to be the danger
GUS factor in determining this issue
lover the head and protests of ma
iority of the democratic voters of the
county, Now let us see about that:
Taxpayers knows, if all the public
does not, how appointments for coun-
ty superintendent of schools are
made. The first two of the appoint
ing board are elected by the people,
and are no more dependent upon a
vote of a State Senator than upon
the vote of Taxpayer or any other
citizen. They make up the majority
of the board, and are responsible
only to their sense OF public duty for
their official acts. The State super
intendent is elected by a joint vote
of the General Assembly, in which
the one ballot of q State Sena-
tor counts no more than that
of any other member. Upon
what line of deduction then
does Taxpayer base his insinua-
tions? He inadvertently compliments
DR.. LeCato more highly than he in
tended when he intimates, if he does,
that our popular Senator cannot so
far discover himself from the potency
of his influence in Richmond as TO
leave Mr.. Joypes and myself a fair
hearing before the Board of Educa-
ton on our respective merits. That
Senator LeCato has promised to do
so is a fact of public knowledge; that
he would knowingly or willingly at
tempt to thwart the will of the peo-
pie of Accomac, no one who knows
him will for a moment believe. With
all his loyalty to his friends, let the
first man come forward and point to
one official act that will justify the
insinuation. But DR.. LeCato is fully
capable of defending himself and !
now turn him over to the tender
mercies (?) of taxpayer Tax
payer wants practical, energetic,
progressive teacher for superinten-
dent. l have taught school perhaps
as successfully as my opponent.
refer with pride to my esteemed
kinsman and former pupils-Attor-
ney L. Floyd Mock and Prof. James
G. Mock for proof of this assertion
if space allowed many more could be
named. l claim to be energetic, and
try to be progressive and have reared
a whole family of teachers of county
and State reputation. Yet AIN fully
aware of my own shortcomings, and
realize that there is room for i'm
provement in school matters. l am
also aware that some of my school
decisions have not always pleased
Mr.. Mock and Taxpayer" q
pity the conscientious man who
does) and that perhaps they
have long waited for this oppor
tunity to "stab me in the back"
By the way, Mr.. Editor, did the
voice of the people" in a primary
put Mr.. Mock in the Office which he
is soon to vacate, or did he get it by
appointment?
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, and II
view of the fallacy and venom of Mr.
Nock's and Taxpayers arguments
1 ask the fair minded people of Acco
mac whether the fight now being
waged against me is inspired by 4
noble, patriotic sentiment in behalf
of the public good, or is it made OF
the low plane of selfish interest and
personal spite? Are Mr. Joynes
claims to the office SO dubious ant
weak that his friends fear to trust
him on his merits before the proper
tribunal made and provided by The
highest law of the State? Is the