Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1907-06-13

use his influence to have it rescinded
or modified. He said that it was not
the intention of the board to cripple
or ipjure any of these institutions,
but rather TO improve them all. He
explained the intention of the board
to be to extend the course by enlarg-
ing the training departments at Hunt
ington and Fairmont at once, and to
continue this work at the other schools
as soon as the appropriations would
Justify it. He assured the people of
this section that there was no desire
to ipjure Shepherd College.
Mr.. Stuart Bowman was the next
to respond, and he made lengthy ex.
PLANTATION of the motive of the board.
He placed the blame upon the Legis-
lature for refusing to appropriate
enough money to provide all the
normal schools with teachers sufficient
to carry out the real purpose OF such
institutions. He spoke of the abso-
lutte necessity of paying higher salaries
in order to secure and retain good
teachers, and said it was impossible to
make ideal normal schools in this
State unless the Legislature provided
more money. Mr.. Bowman disclaimed
any idea of doing harm to the four
schools named in the order, and said
that Shepherd College would not suf-
fer.
The secretary of the board, Mr.. M.
M. @. Tough, spoke in the same strain,
and explained the object of the order
as being to put these schoola on a
higher plane. he also declared that
the board would do nothing to injure
any of the schools and intimated
strongly that the order would be SO
modified az to preserve the present
status until they could all be equip.
ped with training departments.
Then Col. Robert s. Carr, every
body's friend and the friend of every
body, came to the front. He said he
had been entertained and amused at
the way his colleagues had splashed
and fouhdered around in the deep
waters into which they had gotten,
but as for himself lie had no explana-
tons or apologies to make. He quot
ed the old hymn,
Have mercy, Lord, o, LORD, forgive.
Let a repentant sinner live,
and said that this was his sentiment.
All he asked for was forgiveness.
The board had made blunder, and
he was ready to own up. The order
was wrong, he. confessed, and if
enforced 1t would destroy four of the
normal schools: AT the next meeting
CT the board, he said, he intended to
offer resolution resembling the or
der, and he simply threw himself up.
on the mercy of the people until he
had opportunity to make good. The
Colonel's characteristic speech brought
down the house and set the audience
roaring with laughter.
Hon. G. M. Wetzsl, member of the
Legislature from this county, was
called upon to express his opinion,
and he did so in no uncertain way.
Mr.. Wetzel showed that he was utterly
opposed to any proposition that would
tend to ipjure Shepherd College or
any of the other normals, and he an,
nounced his determination to- stand
by the schools and to- fight for them
with all his influence and power. He
made a rafting speech, and his senti-
ments were heartily applauded.
1t was an altogether interesting
session, and though it lasted for four
hours, almost all of the people re-
NAMED until the finish. The interest
displayed by the people was intense,
and if the friends of the other schools
are as earnest and determined as those
of Shepherd College, public senti-
ment will be created that will most
certainly prevent any harm being
done our normal schools.