Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-08-30

the idea to further his own political
ambitions. He has posed in this CAM
paign as being opposed to one-man
power and desiring TO give to the peo-
Die the right Of control and OF electing
officers. If the views Of Mr.. Glass had
prevailed in the Constitutional Conyen-
ttion there would have been an oil
parchy in Virginia with the Governor
al it's head, surprising any that has
ever existed in this Union. 1T the Con-
stitutional Convention had followed his
views the rights OF the people would
have been destroyed, popular govern
ment would have been imperiled and
Virginia would have been Russianized.
Let us see the policy that this pre-
tended friend OF the people desired to
impose upon this State as a part OF her
written Constitution, He favored in
the Convention that all the judges in
the State should be named by the Gov
ernor. If this idea had prevailed the
entire judicial system OF this State
would have been put under the control
and domination OF one man. The
judges have the power OF naming, the
electoral boards in the cities and coun-
ties. These boards name all the judges
OF election and thus under his scheme
the entire election machinery OF this
State would have been subjected TO the
power and control OF the Governor.
these judges were also given the power
TO appoint member OF the local school
board, the land assessors, and possibly
the Commissioners OF Revenue, also
to ill all vacancies in county offices. II
these purposes Of Mr.. Glass had been
written in the organic law, that act
alone would have created an impregna-
bic machine in this State To make his
machine more complete, it was neccS-
sary to have the Governor control the
vast educational system. He did not
hesitate 10 try TO accomplish this. He
voted that the Superintendent OF Pub
lie Instructions Of the State should be
elected BY the Board of Education. He
desired to deprive the people OF Virgin
ia OF the right 70 choose who should
lead and direct their educational system.
Under his views the State Board of
Education was TO consist OF the Gov
ernor, The Attorney General and two
members elected BY the Boards Of Wis
tors OF certain named institutions. The
boards OF Visitors OF these institutions
were 10 be appointed by the Governor.
/ nus the Governor would have the
power Of ultimately naming two mem
bers. OF the Board OF Education. The
Governor and the two appointees de-
ri,cl from sources of power emin
atng irom him would constitute three
meurers OF the Board. These three
members would dominate the Board and
name the Superintendent OF Schools
or The counties and cities Of the State;
thus, with the Governor and three mem
Eers OF the Board, whose selection
could be secured through his power,
the board would be absolutely domin-
ated by him and the Superintendent Of
Schools for each county and city could
be named by the Governor and those
appointed from sources of power de-
rived through him. The school board
in each county as constituted consists
Of the Superintendent of Schools, Com
monweaths Attorney and person
named by the Circuit Judge, the judge
under Mr. Glass scheme being appoint
ed by the Governor.
Thus the Governor, through his ap-
pointees would control the school boards
in each county and city in Virginia.
These school boards appoint trustees
and the trustees name the teachers.
The entire school system of the State
under Mr.. Glass scheme would have
been ultimately under the control OF
the Governor.
Put nv fe11owritizenc
Mr. Glass scheme of one man domin
alton did not stop here He desired
to make the agricultural system OF the
State subject to the same power He
favored that the Commissioner OF Agri-
culture should be elected by the Board
OF Agriculture, and not by the people.
He favored depriving the farmers OF
the State OF the right OF electing their
own Commissioner Of Agriculture The
members of the Board OF Agriculture
were to be appointed by the Governor.
This Board was to select the Commits
sioner, and through the Commissioner
and the Board the entire agricultural
system OF the State would have been
subject to the control of the Governor.
huS the Governor, possessing the pow
er TO name the Board, with these addi-
tlonal powers sought to have been given
by MIR. Glass, would have been the all
controlling and dominating power.
The peoples control of their State gov
ernment would have been practically
destroyed. No wonder the dreams and
ambitions TO be Governor OF Virginia
have from time 10 time thrilled the
imagination OF Mr. Glass. No wonder
it opened up alluring prospects to him.
My tellow-citizens it should be remem-
bered that it was the desire OF MIR.
Glass that this should become a part OF
the organic law OF the State which
could not be changed by the Legislature
but only by the slow process OF Consti-
tutional amendment No one can pose
as friend OF popular government or
the control OF government by the peo-
pie who favors the creation Of such
system and such vast machine to be
absolutely dominated BY one man. This
is against the tendency OF the age. As
the people increase in intelligence the
rights and powers OF the people should
continue TO increase | favor giving
the people full power to control and
direct their own affairs. | am satisfied
that when the people have this power
government is more justly and more
efficiently administered. | have voted
for the election OF United States Sena-
tors from the beginning OF my Con-
gresSlonal service, more than fifteen
years ago believe this will bring
about the best government | favor a
legallzed primary, honestly conducted,
because it gives the people control of
their political affairs.
There is another statement OF Mr..
Glass, TO which | desire TO make direct
and positive reply. In an account OF
his SDaart NJ NI,ttbars Co,r+ uo,e.