Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-06-07

state OF west virginia Tor the vast sum
of $4,000, 00O Upon whom is this burden?
What party is responsible therefor?
When the people owning the West Vir-
ginia certificates during my administra-
ton undertook to drive through the Yir-
ginia Legislature the bill authorizing the
suit against this State, the Democratic
chief executive took prompt, vigorous and
careful steps and defeated the passage of
the act il the Legislature of Virginia.
Although the present Republican admin
istration of West Virginia was duly
warned; although they had ample time to
defeat this act. which they could have
easily accomplished, they took no steps
whatever to preserve the State of West
Virginia and allowed the act to be passed
and West Virginia to be confronted and
annoyed by suit involving every farm
and every home and every piece of per-
sonal property within this State.
Contrast the position of the two parties
on this most potent question. Which par
ty has preserved your rights? BY the
dereliction of the Republican party the
taxpayers and citizens of this State can
look to the most perplexing and annoy
Ing legislation which ever tempered the
progress of great State. When thus
careless of the interests of this State in
such important matters, can they be
trusted in the management of affairs
where the eye of the people cannot always
be upon them?
For Qaarter of a Century
your interests have been preserved by
the Democratic party, and within two
of Hfai,-
the Republican party, you are confronted
by this most critical situation in refer
ence to the Virginia debt.
How about the administration of affairs
within this State by the Republican par
ty? The present distinguished executive
of this State, in a speech before the Re-
publican convention at Fsrmont. felic-
itates himself upon the careful, efficient
and economical management of the insti-
tutions OF this State, and upon the econ
omyomy and efficiency of the State adj
ministration. l Will devote myself, with
your permission, TO the discussion of the
matters to which he adverts, and show
you that upon these questions the Demo-
cratic administration is infinitely more
economical and more effective.
In his address he takes much credit to
his administration upon the efficient,
careful and cheap management of the
two insane asyluns in the State. Is not
my distinguished successor very unfortun-
ate in his illustration? From citizens OF
every class and station, by affidavit and
public utterances, the Superintendent of
the Weston asylum has been charged with
the most heinous misbehavior in connec-
ton with the management of that great
institution. With the Superintendent of
that institution on trial for gross misbe-
havior preferred by Republicans on the
Board, does il lie in the mouth of the
present Executive TO say that the admin
istration of this institution has been eff
ficient? Whether true or false, a vast
majority of the citizens in this State be-
lieve the charges are true. And whether
true or false, resting under the shadow
of these gross charges as to the man.
agemeht, can any administration be eff
ficient which will allow these peculiarly
defenseless people to be under the control
of 81 man charged with misbehavior which
surrounds as a noXious cloud the head
of that great institution. Under Demo-
cratic control he could not hold his place
tuition.
Is 1t Effective Management
to continue this great institution under
the control of a man in popular disre-
pute as is the present head Of the Weston
asylum?
l note further the language of His Ex-
cellency as to the efficient management
of the University of this State 1 most
earnestly deny that the administration of
the University is efficient, and on the
contrary charge that it's administration is
entirely inefficient and is the subject OF
greater criticism than at any time during
its history. The Republican adnlinistra-
ton arrogates to itself the increased
number of students. 1 deny the state
ment, and charge that the honest and fair
increase in the number of students was
under the previous Democratic admins
tration. In 1891 and 1892 the University
had pa students. In 1884, pa students
1Ss4-5. 2SS students, in 1866. sos students
in 1867 1t had enrolled at the beginning
of the session 430 students with practical
ly in sight before the end of the year
800 students.
The Law School from class of IS stu
dents was increased to 90 students, whilst
to-day it has only &C. Efforts were made
during the Democratic administration to
honestly push the University, and its
large increase began then, and not under
Republican administration. Under the
Democratic administration the University
doubled its students, and the people upon
its rolls were bona fide resident students
and not children going to cooking schools
music schools and printing schools, and
men studying the art of horse doctoring
and nonresident students. and
Bringing Into Practical Disrcpute
the name OF University teaching charge
that the whole effort of the present Uni
versity management is for public effect
and Is non-effective and filled with
worthless fools, and the people are not
compensated for the vast increase in the
appropriation for that institution. Upon
its rolls It processes to have SIS students
school of music taking lessons in singing
the violin, the guitar, the mandolin the
banjo, the cornet and the organ. OF the
SIS, 204 are enrolled in the preparatory de-
partment, which is nothing more nor less
than free high school for Morgantown
supported by the peoples money. OF the
above number l07 are in the school for
drawing and painting, and there are Ill
absolutely nonresident students who are
enrolled as students here make the
oh <h-% A.,