Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-04-24
superintendent OF Public schools.

the public to my position with refer
ence to q democratic primary as to
the appointment of county superln-
tendent OF schools invited the
public to a careful and intelligent
consideration of my reasons for that
position, and l must confess that a
late communication from Mr.. n w.
Mock in the Farmer and Fisherman
and from Taxpayer In the ENTER-
PRISE have afforded me no reasons
for changing my mind. Mr.. Nock's
contention, as l gather from so much
of his letter as appears in the Farmer
and Fisherman, may be summed up
as follows:
LIST. A dissatisfaction on the part
of the people as to the current
management OF the public schools,
and that there has prevailed "for
years a spirit of discomfort among
the people on this account"
Cd. That the Office of county super
intendent is an office subject to the
popular will, and consequently
purely elective office.
Bird. That it is safe, proper and
right that the appointments to this
office should be relegated to the
domain OF partisan politics.
To all of which Mr.. Editor [ still
maintain issue both with Mr.. Mock
and Taxpayer" and assert that the
procedure is a novel one and that
the proposed primary is an innova-
ton, and 1 defy Mr.. Mock or TAX
payer" to name any county in our
State where primary election or
convention has put in or out OF office,
thus far, superintendent OF public
schools.
Mr.. Mock in the very beginning of
his letter asserts that he witnessed
antagonism" to his resolution for a
primary election for the selection of
a county superintendent He evil
IDENTITY did not stop to think how
that sounds Taxpayer" states
that "a large number of representa-
tive democrats were present from all
parts of the county," Did that look
like 'stilling the expression ofpublic
opinion ?' BY whom then was this
"antagonlsm' to Mr.. Nock's resolu-
ton manifested, il not by this Large
number of representative demo-
crats?" l was at the time at least
Is miles distant attending to some
Important official church duties, and
could not take hand in Sitting
public opinion" Then MIR. Mock
goes of on tangent and clamors for
the "voice of the people, good
democracy home rule, party &C,
tion''-and would perhaps, if lie
dare, insinuate that l am not loyal
to my party, but would "tyrannize, y
&c.
Just here Mr.. Editor, will state
for the special benefit OF MIR. Mock,
and Taxpayer that they are bark
ing at the wrong tree this time-that
it is sure enough democratic coon
they are trailing and none of their
"all sorts" to all parties and every
time for office 1t pains me to make
these seemingly unkind illusions,
but it is forced upon me and truth
is mighty and will prevail" When
a public officer is impeached in the
matter OF his official duty, it is at
least fair to specify ZONE charges OF
malfeasance or neglect of duty to
sustain the charge, but Mr.. Mock has
produced none-he is even fair enough
to say that many of the complaints
which have reached him as to school
management are captious and unjust.
He appears to base his argument IN
support of this proposition on the
bare merits of house to house can
vass prosecuted by my opponent for
the past six months or more and the
wonderful petition of "45 feet" And
vet Mr.. Joynes with all this Wanted
backing is not satified-but would at
this, the eleventh hour-just prior
to the time for the appointment OF
school superintendent for the entire
State, attempt to force me to do in a
few days what it has taken him to dc
in six months To say nothing Of
the movement as an innovation, as
an illegal procedure, where is there
any fairness or justice in such a
proposition?
If the public, better informed than
'sTaxpayer," judges all the merits oil
his statements by the following miss
statement of fact, he is evidently
making poor cause for his candidate
He asserts that the Wachapreague
precinct at the last election gave a
republican majority for the first time
The fact is that Mr.. Bryan received
majority of 10 votes, though Mr.
Jones lost one majority on the ticket
1t is not the first time the precinct
has given a republican candidate q
small majority-"Taxpayer" to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
Of course from his view of the case
it might have been safer from a party
standpoint had the distinguished
services of Prof. Brent and even the
Hon. VIM. a. Jones hinselfhave been
supplanted at that precinct by the
eloquence of Taxpayers" demo
cratic champion The party should