Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-03-13


reason why an incorporated body Of
men should be prosecuted or persecu-
ted simply for the reason that it is a
corporation. am not now, nor was
/ ever, an attorney for corporation,
but have always sought to be fair
with all individual citizens and all
incorporated bodies as well. / have
invariably opposed trusts, and / al
WAYS shall; but when a number OF
men form themselves into a corporate
body for proper business purposes, |
never felt it to be my duty to throw
obstacles in the way of their success.
On the contrary. I have invariably
deemed it to be my duty to aid them
in all proper undertakings. West
Virginia can never be developed with
out the encouragement of all such
movements and enterprises as these.
1t is mistake to create prejudice
against men who organize for legiti-
mate purposes and pursuits. Instead
OF fewer corporations in West Virgin
ia we need more of them. Instead Of
crushing out those we already have,
it is our duty to invite others to come
among us to aid us in the develop
ment of our almost inexhaustible
natural resources. 1t shall be my
answering aim to be fair and just
with all individuals and corporations
who may come to West Virginia dur
ing the next four years, to cast their
lots with us and become citizens of
our growing and prosperous Common
wealth. will, therefore take no
stock now or ever in the nonsensical
cry of down with the rich men and
corporations.
"Such talk is anarchy, and anarchy
will never secure an enduring foot
hold in our Switzerland OF Ameri-
ca. The anarchists have said that
they would blow us up. We will
blow them up. Our civilization is too
far advanced for our people to tolerate
such a sentiment in West Virginia as
that. Do not misunderstood me.
am not willing to surrender either
our rights or our territory to trusts
or monopolies. On the contrary, /
promise carefully to guard the inter
ests and the property of our people
against the encroachments OF monop-
olies and trusts. No trust owns me.
Neither do the anarchists. l am
wholly divorced from both of them,
and always expect to be, and always
intend to be.
81 shall require from our State
boards careful, economical and hon
est administration. have chosen,
as / have already said. the very best
men in the Commonwealth as mem-
bers Of the boards, and have not
sought to dominate them in the ap-
pointments of subordinate officials.
AS far as in my power lies to prevent,
there shall be no mismanagement OF
any of these institutions, or mlsap-
preparation of the public funds of the
State. My observation in the past
teaches me that honest men pretorm
their public duties faithfully. For all
these boards / have selected men OF
the highest character and of estab-
lished business qualifications, and ]
shall expect at their hands faithful
administration of these public trusts.
In this connection l desire to pay
pro per tribute to my immediate pre-
decessor, who in my judgement, has
done his very best to place our State
institutions on higher plane than
that of spoils.
81 have in mind number of sug-
gestions as to needed amendments OF
our laws relative to our State institu-
tons, which will embody in my first
message to the Legislature. One OF
these suggestions is the establish
ment of a curriculum in our present
so-called Normal School at Hunting
ton. We haye no real normal school
in our State. We ought to have one.
Our laws contemplate such school,
but, unfortunately, we have none.
We should have one distinctive school
of pedagogy. A normal school con-
templates the education of teachers
and nothing but teachers. BY all
means we should have one such school
in West Virginia. Our so.called nor
NAL schools are only academies. We
need above everything else, a real
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