The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-03-13

ditiOn Will never occur again. III
the law did not require it, would
give the minority party fair repre-
sentation on the board of manage
ment Of its affairs.
Above all things, politics should
not be allowed to enter into our ed
ucational institutions. Under my
administration, there will be no pol
itics in our schools, from the infant
department to the University, if my
wishes are consulted. The people
may depend on that. If / can pre-
vent it, no teacher will be dismissed,
if he is competent, because he is a
Democrat, nor will one be employ
ed simply because he is Republi-
can. The age in which we live is
too enlightened to allow anything
like that to be done. Because our
educational work has been prosti-
tuted to political purposes in the
past, is no reason why it should be
done in the future. 1t will not be
done, if it is in my power to prevent
it, and / do not arrogate too much
to myself to say that / believe it is
in my power to stop it, should it
ever be attempted.
Since the State University was
placed under non-partisan control
two years ago, it has almost doubled
in it's attendance of students, and in
its usefulness in educational work.
Its curriculum is equal to any like
school in the West or South. 1t
shall be my purpose to do every
thing in my power to double its
growth and usefulness during my
administration. 1t is not claiming
too much to say that this can be
done. 1t is not arrogating too much
to say that it will be done. Compe-
tency and efficiency will be the only
requirements for its faculty. The
question will not be asked, as was
the custom in large part of the
past quarter of century, "does the
applicant with systematic regularity
vote the Democratic ticketY' do
not disparage men from voting the
Republican ticket, but that will not
avail them anything when they APP
ply for situation in our schools,
unless they are otherwise education
ally qualified for the positions they
seek. These pledges, my fellow cit
liens, l will faithfully carry out.
/ shall require from our State
Boards careful, economical and hon
est administration. l have chosen
as l have already said, the very best
men in the Commonwealth as mem
bers of these Boards, and / have not
sought to dominate them in the APP
pointment of subordinate officials
AS far as in my power lies to pre-
vent, there shall be no mismanage-
ment of any of these institutions, Oh
Misrepresentation of the public funds
of the State.
My observation in the past teachI
es me that honest men will perform
their public duties faithfully. Fol
all these Boards / have selected men
of the highest character and of es-
tablished business qualifications,
and / shall expect at their hands
faithful administrations of these
public trusts. In this connection
l desire to pay proper tribute to my
immediate predecessor, who, in my
judgment, has done his very best to
place our State institutions on a
higher plane than that of spoils.
Another of these suggestions is
the broadening of the scope of our
State University. Its plan of work
is not in accord, in many respects,
with what it should be, to enable it
to do the best possible work in edu-
eating the young men and women Of
our State. There is a higher and
broader field for it to occupy,
which it has not hitherto included
within the scope of it's possibilities.
/ am sincere my fellow citizens
when l say that believe West Vir-
ginia is entering upon new era of
unparalleled prosperity. With sew
enteen thousand square miles of the
best best coal territory on the face
of the earth; with oil and gas de-
posits thus far unequalled; with for
ests superior to those of any of oul
sister commonwealth with climate
which cannot be excelled; with
scenery for beauty and grandeur I'M
surpassed; with school system as
good as the best; with courts fear
less in the enforcement of the law
with churches full abreast of the
times; with as noble a class of ma
tives as any on which the sun has
ever shone; and with railroads build-
ing in, through and across our Dor
ders; with all of these advantages,
why may / not conclude that there
is great future before us as a peo-
pie and a State?
From our developing resources, we
may look for money enough for all
our needs, and with which we may
be able to lift all of our public insti
buttons to higher plane of useful
ness.
West Virginia has not always had
a big treasure chest overrunning
with gold, but as her resources
increase it would be folly for her tc
be contented with the methods that
were absolutely necessary in the
past. Internal improvements, well
patronized and subsidized schools
carefully provided and thoroughly
equipped penal and charitable in
situations, good roads, bridges, and
all things of that sort, not only add
to the comfort and incite to the de-
velopment of State, but they pay
for themselves every day in the con-
veniences they afford. The Noun
tain State started out in life with
little heritage but boundless loyalty
and broad acres. She is making
progress as fast as she can, with the
assurance that every year will be
better than the last.
My fellow citizens, approaching
fully the responsibilities you have
placed upon me by your suffrages,
and asking from one and all your aid
and your sympathies to enable me
to discharge my public duties faith
fully and well; and invoking the Di-
vine blessing upon all of us in our
public and private relations, / am
now ready to take upon myself the
oath ofoffice, and assume the RESPONSE
bilities and burdens as the Chief
Executive of our State.