Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-05-17
An Open Letter to Col. Hurst.
Col. J. GARLAND HURST,
IInrnnrtn Ear.u INart W. nj


"Can you tell me why it is that Mr.
Hurst is always up for election to some
office ? The gentleman has fed at the
public crib since he arrived at his ma
jority. Can any one show any lsgisla
tion accomplished by him, that he wa:
not directly interested in, or to subserve
his own personal gains ?" Now, Colo
mel, have been voting for you for one
office or another since Iobtained my ma.
I 1ority, and now learn that you are can
didate for State Senator on the Demo
cratic ticket, and therefore feel as one
of your constituents have the right to
know how far Jefferson Democrats"
assertions are born out by the facts.
With this object in view have endeav-
ored to ascertain what offices you have
| held, and what services you have rem
dered to the party which has so greatly
honored you, and will herein give the
result OF my investigation, with the re-
quest that if have made an error you
will correct me.
In doing this you will am sure alb
solve me from any unworthy motive.
So far am pleased TO note that the
political campaign in this district has
been free from mud Singing or recrimi-
nation and | feel sure that your politi-
cal or legislative record can be canvassed
without assailing those qualities which
have rendered you popular in the past.
1t seem that you have filled the follow
ing Offices for the terms named to date {:
Appointed deputy sheriff of Jefferson
county under Mr.. Tearney May, 1875,
served until December, 1876; deputy
under Eugene Baker from January
1877, to December, 1880; deputy under
John S. Moore from January, 1881, to
May, 1888, when Moore died, and you
were appointed his successor to Deem
Der, 1885 elected sheriff January, 1885,
to Decem Der, 1888 then four years out
settling up; elected sheriff from Janua-
ry, 1893, to December, 1896, but resigned
May, 1895; elected to the State Legisla-
ture in 1896 and again in 1898, and n0w
acting deputy in collection Of taxes for
Harper's Ferry district.
During your last term OF Office as sher-
if, one Andrew Scott, col0red was con-
victed Of the crime OF murder and sem
fenced to death. On May II, 1895, and
shortly before the hanging you resigned
the Sheriffalty to which you had been
elected and were thus relieved of the
unpleasant duty of hanging the crimi-
nal.
From the official records of the West
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES (the Acts and House
JournaD | find that you were instrument
tai in securing the legislation herein re-
ferred to, House Bill, 26l, Feb. %,
1899"
The General Appropriation Bill being
under consideration, on its second read
ing, Mr.. Hurst moved to amend the bill
by inserting an appropriation of $1,000
per year for Storer College (colored); on
this proposition SO Democrats voted in
the negative and % Republicans and 3
Democrats voted in the affirmative
Smoots, of Lincoln Co. ; Stephens, OF
Wetzell, and Hurst, of Jefferson, voted
with the Republicans against their par
ty (See House Journal, page 4, Feb.
90, 1902 You also voted for similar
appropriation for the same object dur
ing your first term in the Legislature.
Can it be possible that your advocacy
Of the appropriation was the result of
desire to attract Republican votes in a
county strongly Democratic And did
the benefciarieS Of your votes for the
Storer College show their appreciation
therefor
At the precinct of Summit Point, at
the November election in 1898, John Il.
McGraw got los votes, the full Demo
cratic strength, Burkhart l05, Morrow
1O4, Campbell l04, Harrison 104 and
Hurst L52. Many graduates Of Storer
College voted at Summit Point.
Commenting on these appropriations
the Charleston Gazette, in its leading
editorials of Sept. and 8, 1899, said:
1.-THE objection TO the appropriation to
Storer College was on the ground that
it does not belong to the State and it IS
a mixed school, There is no authority
TO give State money to schools that are
not under State control and the Consti-
tuition expressly provides that White and
black children shall not be educated in
the same public school,"
when the appropriation was under
consideration in the House a member
who lives in the town in which the
school is situated, at the request OF two
Of the representatives of the institution,
offered an amendment TO the bill, which
amendment provided for an appropria-
tion of 81, 900 for each year for Storer
College.
ut was opposed by another member
from the same county, who stated that
zVhite and black students had been edA-
Gated together attic school, (Which state
ment UaS not denied by the member or
tie representative from the school,"
You, Col. Hurst, were the member
offering the amendment Mr. Morrow
opposed it. The representatives refer
red to, were Messrs. Childs, chairman
of the Republican Executive Commit
tee Of Jefferson county, and Lightner,
trustee of Storer College. You are not
blessed with children yourself, but there
are many Of your former supporters,
more favored by Providence, who can
not countenance any suggestion of mixed
schools where white and colored chill
dren are educated together, and the bet
ter class of our colUred citizens do not
desire such co-education Of the races.
Storer College already enjoys an eX-
emptiOn from taxation on all its proper
ty. The burden of this exemption falls
mainly on the taxpayers OF Harpers
Ferry district and this additional State
appropriation is the reverse Of relief
to them.
From Democratic standpoint it is
inequitable class legislation, to say moth
ing of its being bad politics, since it
can have no other effect than to
strengthen the Republican machine in
Jefferson county.
The bill introduced by you abolish
ing days of grace on notes may be good
measure and the result of your eXper.
fence as National Bank Director, and
if so, all credit should be given you
therefor.
On Feb. II, 1897, you voted for House
bill No. 1l2, which was as follows:
THAT the Sheriff of the several coun-
ties, whose terms expired on the 3lst
day Of Dec. 1896, be allowed until the
3lst day OF Dec. 1899, upon which to
make distraint or sale for the collection
Of taxes not returned delinquent for the
years of 1893, 1894, 1895 and 1896. Sub
sequently you voted for an amendment
extending the provisions Of the act to
include Sheriffs whose terms eXDired in