Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-02-20
A VOICE FROM HALIFAX.

uOhV6 unIlT y n.
Senator Barksdale's filings at the
western State hospital last week were
very gratuitous. He displayed that
ignorance which we regret to saw of
ten characterizss some would be great
men in Virginia with reference to PEG
pie and things ia the State generally
and especially in the Valley of Virgin
ia.
Here Is the largest aid IN )st import
ant charity in the State-feeding, cloth.
ing, nursing and providing medical at
tentlon and medicines for over one
thousand bodily and mentally sick
people, at cost of not exceeding 1920
per capita per year, and because the
price of coal has greatly increased and
tbs price of living aud medicine also,
and under an appropriation intended
to meet old prices and pay for about
900 people, instead of over 1000, de-
felt has been created, a Sen ator plunges
IN and puts this great charity on the
plane OF beggar. He also closely ap
proaches the condition of some of the
inmates in his ranJing about an insane
person he says has not been admitted
Ii wOuld be well for Mr.. Barksdale
and few others whose shoulders bear
up the four corners of the State. to
visit this institution. They would
certainly know no less than now,
maybe they might know more. We
DO not know how Mr.. Barksdale has
voted On the question of wasting our
money In expOsitions and other as
absurd and foolish projects, nor do we
know how much of the States funds if
will take to engraft on our laws and
demons rate the wOrthlessness of that
"Pure Election Bill'' be has been weary
Ing the public with, and which we have
about as much use for as monkey has
for a spelling book, but we do know
that there can be no reason for the
greatest charity in the State being
de MED decent subsistence, simply to
leave money to be squandered in sense.
less, worthless and improbable
sc hemes. either at Yorktown, st Louis
or elsewhere. In this matter we are
not talking for our institution because
1t happens to be located here, we know
il many who now wish it had the pow
or the institution would be moved and
put down where the hoop poles and
perslmmons grow. But this is a State
Institution and needs the fostering
care of the State.
But for the dense ignorance of many
OF the members of the present Legisla.
lure as to the immensely of this init
Gutlon, and the value of it to the State
We would never open our mouths about
it. 1t is no local issue, it certainly is
not personal matter. We never had
a re latlVe as an inmate of the institu
tlon so lar as we are aware, and we do
not feel called upon to fight battles
which are as much the battles of every
other part of the State as ours, but
when We see the superintendent of a
negro Institution in the Tidewater sec.
zion paid more money to attend fewer
people than in the institution in our
MIDST, and the amount necessary to
run negro institution voted without
word, and at the same time see this
institution Disseminated against we
cannot remain silent. especially when |
The per capita of the black is greater
Than the per capita of the white insti- |
tuition. If, however, it is the desire of
he Legislature of the State to belittle
md starve this Institution we can
tand it, but we do not think the PEG.
'le at home will stand it long when
hey find it out.