Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-02-15
ACCOMAO COURTHOUSE. VA.

The Norfolk people want the first
place on the Board of Fisheries, have
nominated Mr.. Robert W. Shultice,
a lawyer of that city, for the posi-
ton, and say, they are confidently
expecting" that he will get the APP
pointment. The grounds, upon
which they hope to win the fight
they are making for him. are given
in the following recent telegram to
the Richmond Dispatch from the
lefty by the sea-:
"The appointment of Mr.. Robert
w. Shultice, of this city, to the
Presidency of the Board would be
yery gratifying to the Norfolk peo-
ple. with whom the distinguished
Young lawyer is exceedingly popular
Mr. Shultice is. besides, eminently
we'll qualified for the duties OF the
position. He was raised beside the
Chesapeake, and has always taken
the liveliest interest in everything
pertaining to the great fisheries and
oyster beds of the State. ln this city
he is regarded as an authority 90 the
subject, and it is believed that with
such a man at the helm, the eff
cheney of the Board would be great
ly increased. Mr.. Shultice is also an
intimate personal and political friend
OF Governor Montague, and was one
of his most earnest supporters Ia the
late campaign, when this city was
pivotal point. IL is expected that he
will be appointed"
The claim made by them for the
position in the interest of Mr.. ShuI-
tice, briefly summed up, as appears
from the above, are that he is well
qualified for the position, is popular
with them and is a close personal
and political friend of the Governor.
In what his qualifications consist,
though, they do not say, and every
other reason given by them for his
appointment is an insult to the Gov
ernor.
In regard to their claim that Mr..
Shultice is well qualified" the an
swer is sufficient, that DR.. Fletcher
has proven himself an efficient chair
man and has given satisfaction not
only to the people OF Tidewater but
to the people of the up-country as
well, AND the query therefore is peril
nent, why take the risk of jeopardiz-
ing the efficiency of the service BY
giving his place to an untried mani
That the Governor will use his high
office, regardless of the injury
which might be done to hundreds of
people dependent upon the oyster
business for a living, to pay debts
due to his personal and political
friends, as the Norfolk people seem
to insist, of course is too ridiculous
to be considered by him for
moment. The Norfolk people to the
contrary Notwithstanding, whatever
may be said to boost the claim of
their candidate for the craftsmanship
of the Board of Fisheries, we still be-
lieve, that Mr.. Montague made no
deal with them before election, has
made none since and will make none,
because of any support which they
have given him in the past or will
promise him in the future, which will
be prejudicial to the best interests of
the people of the State. When every
one else, except the friends of Mr.
Shultice, have only words of praise
for the efficiency with which the
oyster business has been conducted
under its present management, there
could be no doubt what the action
of the Governor would be in the
matter, even though convinced by
his Norfolk friends, that his future
preferment depended upon the sup
port which he would receive at their
hands.