Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-06-02
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
POLITICS.

II lS openly cnargeu That since
Governor Montague, while yet At
torney-General, became a candidate
for the governorship, the public
school system of this State has been
made, SO far as he could make it, "a
political machine.
Every we'll informed politician in
Virginia knows that Montague has
used and abused his power of ap-
pointment of county and city school
superintendents for the upbuilding
of his own political fortunes.
In his fight against Swanson for
the governorship, Montague used his
power over the county school super
intendents with as much merciless-
ness as ever Boss Croker did over the
municipal officials of the State of
New York.
The sole question four years ago
was whether the applicant for the
position Of county or city superin-
tendent was Montague man. If he
was not a Montague man he stood no
show, no matter what were his SER
vices or his recommendations. There
are not wanting indications that
Montague is trying the same game
now.
The Portsmouth Star charges that
the incumbent of the office at Ports
mouth, who was endorsed by every-
body, was turned down and a Mon
tague heeler appointed, who was en-
dorsed by no one in Portsmouth.
We print the Stars remarks below.
We do not know a more criminal
or dastardly thing than turning our
public school system into a political
machine. But this is Montagueism.
The following from the Ports
mouth Star, to which the Fredericks-
burg Star refers:
THE BEAUTIES OF MoNTAGUEIsM.
From Portsmouth Starr
In discussing the appointment of
Mr.. Joseph III. Saunders to the su.
perlntendency of the public schools
OF Portsmouth, We wish to do so with
the personal equation left out.
Compared with the import for evil
which the circumstances attending
Mr.. Saunders appointment portend
the discussion of this matter from
the standpoint of personal prefer
ences would be the idlest waste of
time and words. And what are
these ugly circumstances? MIR. Saun-
ders is actively identified with the
Montague faction in State politics,
known as the Montague wing, the
partizans of which wing are regnant
in the State Board of Education: he
is closely allied with the straigh tout
faction in Norfolk county, which
faction is committed in the support
of Governor Montague;he lacked local
endorsation for the position, vet the
State Board, without notification of
its intention and behind closed doors
elects him superintendent of the
Portsmouth public schools, despite
the fact that the present incumbent
was before it for reappointment,
packeu Win all necessary recon-
mendation and support. Where can
you find deeper, political play than
that? Politics is written large all
over it.
Then, too. Mr.. Saunders appoint
ment traverses the very fundamentals
of home rule. He is made superin-
-tendent of the city schools on the
motion or recommendation of some
one not resident of Portsmouth.
Through their representatives, the
City School Board. the Judge of the
Hustings Court. the Mayor of the
city and the requisite number of
private citizens, the people of Ports
mouth asked for the reappointment
of Mr.. Ashton. The State Board
ignored the request and thereby ig-
nored the first principle of home
rule. Mr.. Saunders has gone over
the heads of the people of Ports.
mouth and landed in a position
where they wished another. So
much has Montagueism done for our
public schools.