The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-12-31

Chance, Va, Dec. 20, l0uf.
To The Free Lance:
Az a rule | am sverse to newspaper
controversy. As member oi that body
for the First District OF Virginia am
unwilling to allow to remain unnoticed
an editorial 80 grossly unjust 10 the
State Board OF agriculture and lmmi'
grafton as appears in your issue oi de-
cember oath The editorial commence
by coniessing ignorance OF the merits oi
the controversy between the Board and
the c. mmissioner. | think Ignorance oi
the subject should have deferred The
Free Lance from discussing the matter.
This subject was thoroughly threshed
over In the newspapers several months
since. Anyone desiring Information had
ample opportunity OF obtaining Is
On August 80 eli the Richmond papers,
and many othsrs In the State. published
a statement from the Executive Commit
tee OF the Board giving its reasons Tor
it's plans Of reorganization. and also
reply -1m Mr.. Koinsr.
For1severAl days the papers tsemed
with discussion OF the matter. On Sep
tembsr 2nd the Times-Dispatch 10 An
editorial stated that II WAS authorize
by the Commissioner 10 state tha' NJ
would cooperate with the Board under
the plan OF reorganization to promote
the best interests Of the Department and
would give the Board no cause ior com
plant in the future.
On September Sth, under caption
"Hatchet Buried By State Officials, the
Times Dispatch published M authorized
statement from the Board that II would
accept Mr.. Koiner'i expressions Ia good
faith and cooperate cordially Tor the
best interest Of the Department.
Since that time the Board, acting In
good faith, has studiously kept out OF
the newspapers. On the other hand the
Commissioner soon got his Press
Bureau" into operation again, and a.
the time Tor the meeting OF the Leaisla-
ture approaches he is flooding the State
with inspired newspaper articles posing
as o martyr.
To return to The Free Lance's edi-
torial 1t says that Mr.. Boiner by his
energy, etc, has converted the depart
ment from . useless appendsge to u vei-
liable adjunct 10 the administratiun OF
the affairs OF the State. This ststemsnt
is entirely unfair 10 the Board The
Board. under the Constitution and laws
OF Virginia, is responsible Tor the conduct
OF the work oil the Department The
Commissioner by law IL the executive OF
the Board and subject to the control OF
that body.
The official minutes will show that al
most every development in the Depart
ment had It's conception 10 the Board
and smanatsd from committees OF that
body. so with the immigration work,
Farmers Institute work, the test farm
In Charlotte county, the truck expert
ment station at Norfolk, the rules, regu-
lAtions and execution OF the fertilizer
lau have sll been conducted under the
direction Of the Board These facts can
be shown by official documentary evil
dence. Yet The Free Lance attributes
all TO the efficiency OF the Commissioner.
The Free Lace further says, "lt is
now believed that the Commissioner is
being bampsred In the performance of his
duties by petty ieslousles OF the Board. y
would ask by whom? ] quote further.
ut is said II is impossible iOrhim to con
tinue the efficiency Of his work under
present condition" / would ask, said
by whom?
Itis a virious charge for The Free
Lance to bring against Board created
10 promote tho agricultural interests OF
the State and selected by the Governor
for that purpose, that from petty isal-
ousy they hampered the " ork they should
promote. With the usual urban under
valuation OF the intelligence oil farmers
such narrownsss might not appear IN
natural to The Free Lance In the I'D
farmer members OF the Board, but
would not suppose such would be chsrg-
cd to such broad-minded educators as
Dr.J.M. McBryde and DR.. Paul BarriDger,
the president emeritus and president re-
spsctiysly Of " P. l., both OF whom have
acted with tbs Board IN this its position.
The Board at its last meeting unani-
mously adopted resolution ssking the
Legislature to investigate this trouble,
and II does seem In fairness the papers Of
tho State should refrain from attempting
to prejudice the court (ths Legislature)
before the case Is called.
On the Board there are 10 farmers,
who serve without pay at great incon-
venIence and loss 10 their private busl-
ness. The Board in adopting a plan Of
reorganization performed it's duty con-
scientiously as 1t SOW It, has no regret
for Its action and no apology TO make.
II 1t is liable for any criticism 1t 10 that
1t did not act several years earlier.
J. II. C. Beverley,
V. P. OF Board OF Agriculture and I'm
migration, and msmbsr for First
District OF Virginia.