The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-25

Attorney-General William A. Anderson
,addreeses the appended letter to the Dem;
'ocratic voters of Virginia, in which he
sets forth his. claims to their support Of
his candidacy for reelection. He takes
.occasionsto go into detail regarding his
opinions and course Of action Regarding
the adoptionfof school books: The adj
dress, inha measure a reply and offset
to the recent speeches OF Major Ander.;
sons distinguished opponent, is given
here in full: 1s. e II. ',3I q
Richmond. Va, June %, 1905.
TO the Democrats OF virginia:
"a AS. has already been announced. II am
q candidate L for rer election to the office
OF Attorney General.
can have no claim to prediction unless
[ have Faithfully and efficiently dis
charged the duties OF the office during
the time Z have held It. AS TO that, II
prefer to sreferlyou to the records OF this
office to- the great number OF opinions
which 4 have been called upon tosrender
upon questions arising under our new
Constitution and under. he statute laws
of the State. ich are becoming more
and more complex. and to the records
OF the State Corporation Commissio on of
the, Supreme Court OF, Appeals Of Vir-
ginia, and Of the Supreme Court Of the
United States. in which courts It has been
my duty to represent the Commonwealth
in number Of the most important scases
In which the interests and rights OF her
people have been involved a t! any time
during her. history. Each case involving
the general rights and interests OF her
people has been decided in / her favor
School Book Question.
Is !. well known, the duties devolved
upon the Attorney-G General as the chief
law, officer OF the State, constitute, in
responsibility and Importance. nine-tenths
Of the work OF the of fice But he is also
icfo ono OF the eight members of
the State Board OF Education, One duty,
and q, very important duty. OF that beArd
is, In the language OF the Constitution TO
select textbooks. and ~ educational ap-
pliances for use In the schools OF the
State, exercising such discretio ion as &5 1t
may see ut in the selection Of books
suitable for the schools in the cities and
counties respectively
In his card formally; announcing his
candidacy. and according to the pub
ilished reports Of some OF his speeches,
my opponent has amisappre hended and
therefore incorrectly stated, my position,
views and action upon the question of the
selection Of school books for use in lne
schools Vi Of the State. ,|s
AT a meeting Of the board z held 4 on
March %, 1904 before Its selection ssof
tho books to be used in the public schools.
second of which was written by me: !:
THAT the State Board of Education Is
the sole constitutional authority to- adopt
said books, and It is unauthorized to dele
gate this authority either directly or in
directly. .535 s,i III 5: Il ss5
THAT, in making said adoptions, the
board shall select the very best books
that can be obtained for. the pupils Of
the schools, having reasonable regard to
cost and making as few changes as may
be necessary to accomplish this result. -
q / have never, at any time. held any
view or done any act inconsistent with
either OF those resolutions; and Il have
repeatedly. in and OUT OF the sessions
of the board, insisted that no other posi-
ton was defensible
When the present board came to deal
With this subject, they found that they
were confronted with some OF the most
serious problems that could engage their
attention. ss- q &
My earnest desire, and believe that
OF every member of the board, was then,
as III Is IlOWt "
the, State, thesvery best books that could
be had for their instruction. at the very
lowest prices at which such books were
sold anywhere to anybody, and, at the
same time. in attaining this end. to sub
tject our people to as little cost and in-
convenience Il. from sudden and unneces-
sary changes in school books as pos
slble.. s X II
Tho board found that. under the guild
ance of DR.. Ruffner and the other super
intendents who had directed the public
school system OF the State, a plan OF
county and city adoptions had prevailed
IN Virginia for thrty-three years.
Would Be Expensive.
+. A plan, looking to a straight single list
adoption for the whole State, was tsug-
gested and carefully considered by In
dividual members OF the board. It was
CONTINUED on Fifteenth Page,)