The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-04-11
DR. HATELEER
{ lI9nElaaea LON &c 90.

lConsi1 uea from page one
means OF accomplishing this end II.
is fact to be deprecated. that many
persons. young in years and inexperi-
enced in the ways OF the world. who
are yet. not beyond reformation. are
sent 70 the penitentiary, where they
are compelled to associate with the
most hardened and depraved char
acters.
As q means Of remedying. at least
TO some extent. this depIorable CON
dition. and at the same time giving to
the state the benefit of the services Of
the connects; / favor a law to provide
for working on the public roads OF
this state, under the supervision OF
the tdepattment Of agriculture, all
male persons convicted for the first
time Of felony, when the punish
ment fixed by the court does not ex-
coed confinement for i've years. and
giving to the courts discretion TO
sentence them to hard labor on the
public roads, instead Of sending such
persons to the penitentiary.
Such a law would not only enable
US to build. improve and keep in re-
pair our roads. but would wisely give
to the courts the discretion to sem
tence persons conviNted for the first
time OF felony and who are not
4 pfofessiopal criminals, TO work on
1.-THE public roads Of the state, instead
Of continuing them in the penitentiary
5. where they will become contaminated
I by association with criminals who
Iare beyond reformation.
/, Education. -
The most, important subject of all
those to ,be considered by the people
OF the state is the education of the
children. What West Virginia shall
, be in a few years from now depends
entirely upon the manner in which
that part of our population now Of
tender years is made ready to dis,
charge the duties devolving upon them
when they have arrived at maturity
The advancement of public educa,
ton in this state in the last few
/, years, under Republican rule, has
been remarkable 1t has seldom been
equalled and never surpassed, but
much remains yet to be done. 1 wish
Ito; lay down as a fundamental propo.
sitions that money honestly and judici-
ously expended on our public free
schools is money well spent. Along
no other lines can such tremendous
returns from an investment be de-
rived.
The citizenship of a state is Its
most precious possession, infinitely
moil SO than mines of gold OF prec-
Gus stones, extensive forests or large
areas of coal, for to all these things
there must some time come an end
But that state which has built up fol
itself body Of highly educated and
honorable citizens will lbe able to en-
dure with happy homes and increas,
ing prosperity, finding new resource,
and new ways Of caring for then
when our present resources haveibeer
exhausted and the industries incidep
thereto have vanished.
Therefore, in the day of prosperit!
1t is we'll to take thought for thu
future, and the best way to do so Il
10 see to it that every child who Il
growing up in West Virginia is no
only provided with the opportunit.
to secure as high a degree of eddca
ton as he IS capable Of receiving, bu
also that he takes advantage of tn
opportunities thus afforded and tina
n the best possible way.
To this end the element Of highes
Importance is the common schools
both in the city and country. We neet
better school houses, more comfos
table furniture, more and better ap
paratus, and more sanitary and NOR
pleasant surroundings. And, sine
the school teacher is the most vita
element of a good school, we mus
not for moment forget the necessit!
of constantly improving, the characte
of our teaching force, both in genera
education and professional ability
Teachers should be paid salary com
mensurate with the Importance o
their work and the position they holt
{, in the community.
For the benefit Of all children whit
have completed the course of stud!
prescribed for the common schools, {
sufficient number of high schools
should be established. In times past
the common school has been called
''the Giles college" because so few
children ever advanced beyond 1t
But in this age of greater opportuni