The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-04-17

have been higly respected citizens Of
much usefulness and the Telegram
sincerely hopes the charge may be
wholly unfounded. But the matter
IS a serious one and should be probed
to the bottom. Speaking on this
subject the Fairmont West virginian
Apropos the action OF the Mineral
says editorially the following:
county grand Jury in returning an In
aictment against A. ]. Wilkinson. the
American Book Company agent IN
this State. for an alleged attempt to
influence the votes OF two members
Of the Mineral county book board and
the AFFIDAVIT of a Berkeley county
citizen to the same effect, 1t is inter-
ssting to nate the seriousness of such
an offense. In cases of bribery men
are asked to lay aside their own Tudg-
ment and for pay pass upon ques-
lions affecting thousands OF people
whose representatives they are. In
county like Marion. with a popula-
ton of close to forty thousand people
IT means great deal to a company
to get the contract to furnish school
books to the pupils of the public
schools for period of five years.
That is why book companies spenu
thousands of dollars in sending
agents to represent them. But it is
not the legitimate expenses of which
we complain. 1t is the crime of at
tempting to buy and in many cases
succeeding in buying votes for the
adoption of certain books regardless
of their merits. Scandals of this
sort have been whispered for years
and yet people have not pressed the
matter. There are whisperings of
attempted bribery in Monongalia
and other counties this year. In
Marion county it was said certain
minister was in the employ Of the
American Book Company agent to
work on the members of the book
board with a promise for help in
paying OF a church debt. Talk
about tainted money! Holy saints,
how can preacher enter into a col.
fusion with book company agent
to work for the adoption of his
books to get funds to pay off a church
debt? Better have no churches or
preachers either than to have the
curse of the Almighty upon the means
of their support. The laws are very
strict on the subject of attempted
bribery and it would be a good
thing were Mineral county to lead
the way in going to the bottom of the
cases now under consideration and
if the parties are found guilty pun
ish tenn as the law prescribes. 1t
would probably hush the whispers o:
scandal that go the rounds every
year following the meetings Of the
book boards in the various counties
of the State.
Broaddus Institute is a splendid
school but it certainly is unfortunate
that 1t should he located on creek
bank between two railroad lines
one steam railroad and the other
an electric road. Some time ago in
the Baptist Banner. the official state
paper of the Baptists. it was urgent
ly advocated that the school be re-
moved to site few miles away
from the city. where there would be
acres of ground and a perfectly
ideal site. 1t is understood that the
idea is gaining ground and that the
probable removal of the school will
take place within the near future.
The Telegram would object seriously
to the removal were the site to be
at such a distance as not TO identify
Broaddus with Clarksburg, but. for
tunately. the site in mind is not
such as 10 destroy the Identification
and association with Clarksburg.