Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-02-01
Mr.. Wizards Announcement.
Richmond, Va,
january 25, 1905.
mn Mn FelIow-Citizens of Yirginia,

To My FeilOw-CltizenSO OF virginia:
hereby formally announce my
candidacy for the Office of Gov
ernorof Virginia, subject toa Dem
ocratic primary.
MY determination To become a
candidate for Governor of Virginia
has been reached after careful con-
sideration, and with the belief that
ten years of continuous service in
the General Assembly have given
me an adequate opportunity for
learning accurately the conditions
and needs of our people. If elect
cd to this high Office, | shall devote
nv earnest efforts to the material,
Intellectual, and moral advance
ment OF our people, while admin
istering the laws of the Common
wealth without fear or favor.
All progressive citizens favor
better schools. No more impor-
tant subject confronts our people
than thatof public education. Vir-
ginia is not today abreast with the
times in the solution of this ques-
ton. so pregnant with importance
to present and future generations.
shall endeavor to make our pri-
mary school system equal or supe-
rior TO that of any other State.
We should devote our every energy
to the building cp of this system,
the fundamental basis of all eduea-
ton. Good primary schools should
be within the reach of all children,
without exception, in the Common
wealth. / heartily approve of an
educational campaign, which will
not only inculcate in our people an
earnest desire, but will create in
them an actual demand. for such
facilities as will afford our children
aproper primary education. Create
this demand; furnish the opportu-
nifty for basic or primary educa-
ton; and Virginia's young men
and women of industry, with quick
ened ambition, will open for them
selves an avenue TO higher educa-
ton. On the other hand. if the
State fails TO furnish primary edu-
cational opportunities, her sons
and daughters. whatever be their
ambition or ability, will be unable
to lay the necessary foundation.
Primary education recognizes one
of the most cherished principles of
our government, Equal opportu-
nifty to all, +" in that IL gives to the
poorest an opportunity so to i'm
prove his mind that he can enter
upon the responsibilities of life
equipped TO compete with those
who have been more fortunate. A
greater expenditure for salaries,
equipment and longer terms is
necessary TO secure the proper pri-
mary school. Our increased, and
increasing revenue, without addi-
uonal taxation, justifies increased
appropriations for this purpose.
favor better facilities for normal
schools, and more liberal appropri-
atoms for their maintenance. |
advocate the most careful selection
of our public school teachers. They
should not only be educated men
and women, but should possess the
ability TO impart their knowledge,
and should be opponents of all that
Is highest and purest. The train
ngof the boys and girls of today is
the making of the State of tomor-
row. | favor the single list sys-
tenn of textbooks for primary
schools, because it provides equally
as good books as the present sys-
tenn and at cheaper prices, and
would eliminate unseemly local
contests in their selection. | heart
l!y commend the management of
the Virginia State Library, espe-
clally that feature which, under
certain safeguards, permits those
hvlng at distance to have the use
or books. Libraries are no longer
a luxury for the few, but neces-
Slty for all classes of our citizens
and potent factor in the promo
ton of education.
floods roads are essential to the
proper intercourse of our people.
and to the development of our
agricultural interests. 1t cannot
0e denied that the condition of the
highways in many parts of the
State Is deplorable. 1t is impossi-
Ole to secure the desired improve
ments in this direction without the
expenditure of money. If elected,
shall formulate plan, which, it is
hoped, will secure an intelligent
ana scientific betterment of roads,
ana at the same time, the economi.
cal and efficient expenditure of the
funds raised by taxation for road
purposes, whether large or small
mere has been spent within tine
last decade, upon the roads in the
otate of Virginia, a sum which
II Judiciously applied. would have
gwen us far better results than We
now have. | earnestly favor the
working of State convicts upor
roads, which will be an advantage
10 the convict himself, as well a.
10 the State, and will, to that ex
tent, eliminate him as competition
OF honest labor.
No State in the Union has a,
many and as varied resources a,
virginia. Her citizens have braiI
and hrs MN Wyl,o4 Il - -. 4 I. IL.