Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-24
GOVERNOR NOT INCLINED TO AGREE
Says He's Not "Great Advocate Of
Kelley Cure Graduates" and Would
Put Candidate on Mourner's Bench
Until He Proves He Can Quit Drink
ing-Huffman and Morton Severely
Attacked.

Il am not a great advocate OF
Kelley cure graduates"
This was one of the things Cover
nor Swanson said to an imposing dele
cation. comprising a number of the
most prominent citizens Of the city,
including practically all OF the leading
political lights, that for hour yester-
day evening urged the governor 10
lend his support. as member of the
State board of education. to the effort
which is being made to make Prof.
Willis A. Jenkins superintendent OF
schools for this city. About a dozen
members of the delegation addressed
the governor. who was holding sort
of an informal court in the reception
room at Hotel Warwick. strongly urg-
ing and practically demanding that he
have the State board reconsider It's
action in appointing Prof. E. e. Wor-
rell. of Norfolk, and put Prof. Jen-
kins in the place.
The governor was not inclined to
give way under the pressure. He
said. I'VE know jenkins is capable
and we would give him anything he
wanted if he would let whiskey alone.
s. but he does not let it alone. He could
have kept his position as State exami-
ner but for drink, and the trouble in
Hampton was on account OF the same
thing"
Later. after he had been assured
that Prof. Jenkins had promised to
stop drinking and would keep the
promise. the governor went on to say.
Il am a Methodist and am not inclin-
ed to be too hard on a fellow when
he falls from grace. But after a fell
low has fallen from grace two or
three times in year. | do not feel
like being in a hurry to put him into
the church; think he ought to sit
on the mourners' bench for awhile"
Strong Delegation.
When 1t became known that Cover
nor Swanson, on his way to Urba1s,
would stop in this city for a short
time yesterday afternoon and would
be glad to see anybody who had any
thing to say in regard to the scnocr
situation, Prof. jenkins, aided by sew
eral friends. arranged to have dele
cation on hand to meet the governor.
A petition was circulated, and al ar-
fort was made to have about a hun
dred prominent citizens call upon the
governor in a body.
While the delegation did not num-
Der half a hundred. il hardly couiu
have been stronger If the number had
been doubled. In the front ranks OF
the party that gathered about the
governor at the hotel. few minutes
afer ne arrived on the afternoon train
from Richmond, were State Senator
Saxon w. Holt, Hon. L. p SeaTnes.
Democratic nominee for the legisla-
tHre: Mr. r. W. Perkins. chairman o;
the city Democratic committee: Jus
tice j. .. G. Brown. City Sergeant r.
w. Miistsad. Former Mayor A. A.
Moss. Commissioner OF Revenue. Y. W.
Crump. Mr. +. J. Ford. Mr.. Abe Hor-
WITT. Mr.. Lewis Meyers and a number
Of others. besides three members OF
the school board. MeSsrs o u Ba-ca-
eIor. r. G. TyeBz and c. V. Sutton.
Plea For Prof. jenkins.
Prof. jenkins himself made a state
ment to the governor. in which he
preferred TO his premise not to drink
whiskey IL ne should be appointed
superintendent. and Messrs. Ford.
Bachelor. Moss. Holt. Stearnes. Mos
and H0rwitz spoke in his beha.r.
strongly urging his election a. super
intendent All OF these gentlemen
spoke in the highest terms Of Prof
jenkins and expressed their desire n
see him AZ the head OF the local
schools again. and most 81 them de-
clared they did not want a man Of
whom they knew sothing.
Governor Swanson. who an Of this
time had been seated tn q wicker
chair. with his back 10 the West ave
nue. window and facing the party
gathered about toe him. wanted %
know something about the sentiment
81 the local public IN regard 30 the
candidacy 81 Pref jenkins.
Justice Brown tod him that be-
tween S. % and 20 per cent % the
people would like 10 see Prof jenkins
appointed Mr.. Ford stated that he
Did not wish - lead the governor q
believe that there would b. no opposi-
tion 10 Prof. jenkins. because there