Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-10-21

- Dig uSnC, II Is SAID, Is DolnS maze
on Maj. Lynn, superintendent of the
penitentiary, with three opposition
candidates. The chances are that the
race will narrow down to fight be-
tween the superintendent and Mr..
will be backed by the sheriffs.-Fred-
ericksburg Free Lance.
In commenting on the above, The
Mirror, the home organ of Maj. Lynn,
published at Leesburg, Loudoun coun-
ty, resorts to an array of figures in an
attempt to prove the major as the only
suitable man in this great Common
wealth for this important position. In
short, the comment of The Mirror is
misleading and does injustice to for
mer superintendent of the penitentia-
ry and also to the several gentlemen
aspiring to that office. Admitting that
Maj. Lynn has made good officer, in
what way has he served the State any
better or more faithfully than his pre-
decessors? 1t is a mistaken idea that
be has made any more money for the
State than would have been made by
any other man with even ordinary in
telligence. The institution is in rut
and is obliged to make money SO long
as the existing contract continues to
grow.
If we give credit for inaugurating
this system we will have to go back to
Mr.. Samuel G. Williams, who made the
first contract with the Davis Shoe Co. :,
and who started with a small nunbe
of bands, and as their business in
creased they employed more until they
now work many times the original
number. The superintendent of the
prison has nothing to do with the
management of their business, and
consequently deserves no credit for
the increase, as he simply furnishes
the additional hands when the shoe
company makes application for them,
and SO long as they can increase the
sales of their wares they will continue
to increase their working force which
means increased revenue to the State
without any effort on the part of the
The farm. we will admit, relieves the
crowded condition of the prison, but
further than this it has not been a
success, as it's receipts have fallen
short of the expenses each year since
it was purchased, and as to the "wise
management of same, it does look as
if any ordinary farmer could make a
garden spot of farm of that size, with
the same number of hands (about 3OO)
at his disposal. 1t also seems plausible
that some of the credit for what has
been done there should go to the eff
Gent manager of that branch of the
institution, who is there all of his time
and is supposed to have charge of the
entire farm.
Now, as to the advisability of chang
ing the head of this institution, we are
of the opinion that there is not another
public office in the gift of this State
which is more of a fgurehead and
could be changed with as little danger
OF loss to the State. Then, why should
one man get all of the reward and
others who have worked hard for the
party have to continue to do all of the
work and get none of the spoils. Mr..
Lynn has been honored with this Office
for three terms, which is as long as
any superintendent has ever held it
and we see no good reason why he
should not give way to some one else
who is equally deserving of some re-
W. rd for good work done. OF course
we expect the Leesburg Mirror to
champion the cause of it's county man,
out we think it is about time to rec
ognize some OF the neglected districts
and give them a share of the plums
for awhile, as the Eighth district has
had pretty fair slice for some years
back, and now has the honor of hold
ing the speakership. auditor, superin-
tendent of the penitentiary, attorney
general, and various federal offices.
We are not willing to admit that |
Mr. b. w. Lynn is the only mar in this
State capable of running the peniten-
iary. VI the four or five candidates
who are opposing him any one of them
8 as competent to manage the institu-
ion as he is, and our party should give |
iue consideration to their claims, as
vi OF them have been staunch sup
,orters OF Democracys for years and |
leserve come reward for the labors,-I
roanoke Evsnipg World, 7th.