The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-11
GOVERNOR GIVES
OUT HIS REASONS
SANS POLITICAL ACTIVITIES CAUSE
HIM TO HOLD UP ApPoINT-
MENTs.
WATKINS DENIES 1T
SAYS TO HIS kNOWLEDGE cox HAS
NEVER PARTICIPATED IN
PRIMARY AND BUT ONE
ELECTION.
WATKINS DENIES 1T

OF pOUtlcal actiV1Iy On the part VI
Benjamin Cox, steward of the State
Female Normal school at Farmville,
and for that reason had held up the
appointment OF members OF the board
OF visitors until after the primary was
the statement made to The virginian
by Governor Mann last night in ex-
the appointments.
The governor said that he acted as
he did not to bring the school into
politics but to keep ;r out.
Governor Hears Of Activity.
Il had heard" said the governor.
from several sources charges That
MIR. Cox, one of the officers of the
institution. was using hrs position to
help one of the candidates for con-
gress in the Fourth district With
out regard to the candidate helped, /
did not think this ought to be done.
and thought the board ought to see
to 1t that II was not done.
Il did not commupieate with the
board because / knew that any action
or suggestion by me would be nis=
construed, and. therefore, determined
to postpone the appointment of the
board until after the primary on the
s1st, when no possible political effect
could follow action on my part.
Judge Watkins Denies 1t.
Judge Asa Watkins. secretary of
the board OF visitors, denies, In a
communication to The yirginian that
Mr.. Cox or Mr.. Jarman have taken
any active part in the support OF Mr.
Turnbull. though they have expressed
a preference Cor him. This express
sion OF preference, Judge watkins
says In his opinion zig most natural
inasmuch as Mr.. Turnbull has been
most pleasantly and agreeably asso-
ciated with those gentlemen in the
affairs OF the school ror a long time. -
Judge Watkins alro denies that at
the opening OF the session a meeting
of the board had to be adjourned
owing to the lack OF a quorum, the
governor not having made the APP
pointments to fill the vacancies ITO
my own personal knowledge no meet
ing OF the board mas ever been held
at the State Female Normal school
at the beginning of any session, and
this during period OF twenty seven
years" he says.
Cox Keeps Out.
In reference to the alleged activity
OF Messrs. Jarman and Cox, Judge
Watkins says:
Il know of my own personal knowl-
edge that MIR. Cox has hot participated
in any primary held in this State
since his connection with the school,
not even in the primary which was
held for the purpose OF nominating a
candidate for congress to succeed Mr..
La sister. at which I was a candidate,
and Mr.. TurnbuIl was one OF my op-
ponents. Nor has he taken part IN
any other elections
4 am the secretary and treasurer
of this beard, ard have been intimate
~ associated with the school man.
agement for tw enty-eeven years. and
In. that time I can say without fear
Of successful contradiction that Mr..
B. NJ. Cox, the business manager, has
rot taken an active part in any phase
OF politics. and has only voted for
one presidential candidate, namely,
Mr.. Mckinley, In which election many
good Democrats did likewise.
Supports Judge Watson.
i am a warm, intimate and per-
sonal friend of Judge Watson and am
his supporter. and expect to do every
thing 1 can to secure his nomination;
this for the simple reason that I am
one OF his admirers: for Mr. Turn
bull entertain tffe highest personal
regard. and number myserf among HIS
warm personal friends and Ii some
one other than Judge Watson was
now a candidate for the position
sought by Mr.. TurnbulI. I would. no
doubt, be supporter Of Mr.. T,An-
bull. and use every honorable mean.
to secure his nomination, as I am
now doing for Judge Watson /
haven't the least doubt that afr Jar
man and Mr.. Cox have perfectly salts
factory reasons to themselves for their
support Of Mr.. TurnbulI.
Now in conclusion let me enter
my mort earnest, and respectful pro-
test against the attitude OF the lead
ing papers in the state towards this
institution. In their publication OF
sensational rumors calculated to In
jure it In Its usefulness to the
State.
The management IL greatly In
terested in the promotion OF the OBJ
jects OF this institution, which object
| submit Ia not political, and no one
connected with 1t. in my opinion. since
their management commenced, has
ever done an act In connection wifi
political affairs which should be the
subject OF adverse criticism
1VscfuuI aAduH IN IdfLQer explain
ing his delay in making appoint
ments Also declares there has been
no meeting Of the board ana that
none will be held until October 18th.
Opposes Politics m Board.
b The governor goes on record In his
statement as being opposed to bring
ing politics into our educational in
stitutions' And In appointing the
several boards" he xays. Il have
sought to make character and EN-
cheney the only requirements. / have
sought and will seek only the best
interests OF the institutions, but wher
action on my part for their rood ID
demanded will not hesitate to take
II.
/ Judge Walking statement declaring
that the ''insinuatfon that Governor
Mann Is holding up the appointments
because !. L. JarrAn, the president,
and BENJAMIN NJ. Cox. business man
agcr. are supporters Of Mr. Turnbull,
a. In my oninion, an outrageous Sian
aer upon the governor OF virginia. :
does not tally with the governors owr
words which are authority for the
statement that the alleged activity al
Messrs. Cox and yarman in The Fourth
conversational dissrict primary was the
cause Of the delay In making the APP
pointments
80.
Embsxxisr u Dead.
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