Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-02-24
CITIZENS OF VIRGINIA.

for the Office of Governor of Virginia. subject
TO Democratic primary.
My determination TO become a candi-
date for Governor of Virginia has been
reached after careful consideration, 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. II elected to this high Office. I
shall devote my earnest efforts to the mater
ial, intellectual, and moral advancement of
our people, while administering the laws of
the Commonwealth without fear or favor.
All progressive citizens favor better schools
No more important subject confronts our pco-
pie than that of public education. virginia Is
| not to-day abreast with the times in the solu-
ton of this question, so pregnant with import
ance TO present and future generations /
snail endeavor 20 make our primary school
| system equal or superior to that of any other
State. We should devote our every energy
to the building up OF this system. the funda
mental basis Of all education. Good primary
schools should be within the reach of all chill
dren, without exception in the Common
wealth. heartilyapprove of an educational
| campaign, which will not only inculcate in
| our people AN earnest desire, but will create i'm
them an actual demand, for such facilities rs
cation. Create this demand: furnish the OBJ
portunity for basic or primary education; and
Nirginia's young men and women Of industry
with quickenod ambition, will open for them.
| selves an avenue TO higher education. On tn,
| other hand, If the State fail 20 furnish primar,
| educational opportunities. her sons and dauph
| ters, whatever bc their ambition or ability
will bc unable 10 lay the necessary founda
| ton. Primary education recognizes one of In,
most cherished principles of our government
| Equal opportunity To all" i'm that IL gives Z,
the poorest an opportunity so TO improve hi.
| mind that he can enter upon the responsibil
| tiles OF life equipped 20 compete with thos,
who have been more fortunate. A greater cx
| pcnditure Tor salaries, equipment and longer
| terms Is necessary to secure the proper pri
/ mary school. Our increased, and increasing
| revenue, without additional taxation. iustt
nes increased appropriations for this purpose
favor better facilities for normal schools
and more liberal appropriations for thei,
| maintenance. L advocate the most careful
selection OF our public school teachers. They
should DC not only educated men and women
out should possess the ability TO impart thciI
knowle and should be opponents of all that
Is highest and purcst. The trimming of the
boys aud girls of to-day is the making of the
state of tomorrow. 1 favor the single list
system of textbooks for primary schools. be-
causcit provides equally as good books as the
present system and at cheaper prices, and
would eliminate unscemly local contests in
their selection. heartily commend the man.
'gemcnt OF the Virginia State Library, espec-
iaily that feature which, under certain safe
guards, permits those living at a distance 10
haNe the use of books. Libraries are no longer
a luxury for the fow, but "A necessity for all
classes of our citizens and IA potent factor i'm the
promotion of education.
Good roads arc essential TO the proper inter
course of our people, and the DEVELOPMENT of
our agricultural interests. 1t cannot be de-
MED that the condition of the highways in
many parts OF the State is deplorablc IL is
impossible TO secure the desired Improvement
IN this direction without the expenditure of
money. If elected, shall formulate a plan.
which 1t Is hoped, viii secure an intelligent
and scientific betterment of roads. and at the
same time, the economical and efficient expen-
diture OF the funds raised by taxation for
road purposes, whether large or small. There
mas oeen spent within the last decade. upon
the roads in the State OF Virginia. a sum
which. if judiciously applied would have given
US Tor better results than we now have. i
earnestly favor the working of State con-
victs upon roads, which will be an advantage
! TO the convict himself, as well as to the State,
| ana VIII, TO that extent eliminate him as a
competitor of honest labor.
NO state In the Union has as many and as
Varled resources as Virginia. Her citizens
nave Drain and Drawn. What she needs to-day
Is capital If elected, shall endeavor TO at
tract foreign capital; with which Virginians
| may develop these home resources. A fair
and liberal system of laws will tend to bring
ABOUT this result, and 'lmder such conditions.
the young men of our State will find Virginia
the most promising field for their efforts, aad
VIII make useful citizens here, instead of
| seeking, as heretofore, better opportunities
beyond her borders. 1t is my hope that Vir-
| ginia may hold out to every boy such oppor-
tunities as Will encourage him TO stay here
| within the State of his nativity or adoption,
| carve out successful career and become a
factor in the Advancement of the Common
/ wealth TO which he owes his allegiance. Cap
| ital and labor thus combined increase the
basis of taxation, from which the State will
derive an increased revenue. We thereby
secure funds which we may apply to the inn
/ provement of our schools and roads. In 1865.
Virginia emerged from war desolate and de-
Vastated, but with the spirit of her men and
women unbroken. She has met the changed
| conditions courageously, and has made steady
and rapid progress. We of the present gener-
| alton should take no backward step in this
| respect.
heartily advocate the enlargement OF our
Agricultural Department so as to advertise
the advantages OF our State, and to encourage
proper immigration. Our waste lands natur-
ally fertile and responsive to cultivation, can
furnish homes for many thousands of honest
| industrious citizens, whose presence win add
| much to the material welfare of the Common
wealth.
have always advocated as liberal pensions
! to our disabled Confederate soldiers as the
finances of our State would permit, and shall
continue to do so.
shall advocate the creation of Board OF
Charities and Corrections, the board to be non
partisan and non-political, the members of
which are to serve without compensation.
We owe a duty to our INDECENT poor, to our
insane, and otherwise afflicted, and even TO
our criminals. Our poor-houses, asylums,
prisons and reformatories should be conducted
upon tho most improved scientific and sani-
tary principles, and IL should be the aim of
our State, not alone to punish a criminal, but
to reform and make of him good citizen. No
difficulty will be encountered in finding men
of character. worth and patriotism, who will
willingly give their time and ability to the
performance of the duties of such Board.
suggest an architectural supervision of the
planning and erection of all public buildings,
We have within the last few years, spent many
hundred thousands of dollars upon state build
ings economically, but L fear with little re-
gard for architectural beauty and effect.
These buildings should not only fulnll the
specific purposes for which they are erected
but should also stand as monuments OF taste
and refinement. feel that each publIc bnild-