Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1898-11-08
in THB SECOND.
HOTTER AND HOTTER IS THE
CAMPAIGN.

MeGraw's Attitude Toward the Public
SchooIs-Fightlng for Every Point.
E1kins and his Father-in-law
McGraw interviewed.
GRAFTON, Der. 29-(special. -
Al the campaign closes it becomes
hotter. Alston Gordon Dayton and
John T. McGraw are working the
district up to a fine degree of enthn-
siasm, and incidentally are saying
things rot exactly sweetly pleasant
about each other. But it is a merry
fight, and the unprejudiced stand
back and ous of the scent of the
smoke and say, let the best man win.
Among the roorbacks sprung in
the campaign is one to the effect
that McGraw has expressed and
manifested hostility to the public
school system. A News correspond
ent called at McGraw's office to a
certain the truth of these assertions,
but the chieftain was not there. His
private secretary, John Mccoy, en-
tered a warm denial of the statement
that Mr.. McGraw opposed public
schools, and said that, on the other
hand, he was in favor of them. In
order to prove the falsity of the re
port. Mccoy suggested that the re
porter interview leading Protestants
of the city and ascertain how they
regarded Mr.. McGraw's attitude
toward the public schools.
Acting on the suggestion, the re
porter saw William Morgan, cashier
of the Merchants bank and a Re
publican and Protestant. Mr.. Nor
gan said. Il never knew Mr.. Nc
Graw to do anything that was hos
tile to the public schools, and ]
believe him to be entirely favorable
to them"
Prof. j. C. Cornwell, ex principal
of the Grafton public schools, an.
swered in reply to the reportorial
queries: IF Mr.. McGraw has done
anything of a hostile nature to the
public schools l have never heard
of it. 1 am in a position to know.
too, that if he ever attempted any.
thing of the kind, and can say with,
out hesitation that he never did,
and l do not believe that he would
The Rev. DR.. Flanagan, pastor OF
the Presbyterian church here, said;
why, 1 certainly have never heard
of Mr.. McGraw's doing anything
that was nnfavorable,to the schools.
l have known him a long time and
have found him to be a more than
ordinarily public spirited citizen
Mr.. Flanagan has been pastor oil
the Grafton Presbyterian church SO
years. He added that he always
regarded Mr.. McGraw as being
favorable to the schools though the
matter had never been presented to
him before for consideration.
The Rev. G. R. Brown, pastor OF
the Methodist Protestant church,
said: "Mr. McGraw, 1 believe, is as
favorable to the public schools as
any public I never heard OF
mis- being other wise. 1 have known
him pretty well for a year, and /
know that he has always been q
liberal contributor to both Protest
ant and Catholic churches"
Taylor Cole, a prominent Baptist.
is inclined toward Mr.. McGraw,
Said he: Il know that MI. McGraw
has always been in favor of public
schools, and on every school ques
ton that has come up has voted in
favor of them. l never heard of his
opposing the public schools and
know that he wouldn't.
1t is rumored here that Senator
Stephen B. Elkins would rather like
to see his father.in law, Henry G.
Davis, in the Senate even though it
requires a Democratic legislature.
With both men in the Senate their
vast business interests could be most
comfortably looked after and it
would be a fine thing for the West
Virginia Central region. At any
rate, it would help Elkins political
lv if Davis reaches the Senate cham
bers, whether he (Elkins) is to
blame for it or not.
In an interview John T. McGraw,
expressed the belief that the legis.
%Iature will be Democratic by five.
Mr.. McGraw adds that he will not
be a candidate for the Senate him
self. He said he had no doubt but
that the Republican leaders are fix
ing things for Scott for the Senate
and that Elkins is behind the boom.
Berkeley county, he says, has al
ready instructed for Scott, though a
stranger there, because he had given
them money for campaign purposes.
Mr.. McGraw's comment on Govern
or Atkinson was highly amusing.
He's all right" he said Like the
dog with the tin can tied to his tail,
he's causing lots of amusement and
doing little harm."- Wheeling
News.
Don't fail to vote for School Levy also
for Nine Months School
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