The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-04-25
EDCCATED? THAT'S ALL.


~ Much stress is being laid by GER
tain candidate for committeeman-ai-
large upon his education. Now let's
see just what the facts in the case
are. He appends the title "Prof." to
f: his name, it is true 1t is also trne
true that he is frequently referred to
as a principal Of school. But his
case is no exception to the rule.
About ninety-nine and one half PER
cent of all the other males among us
who teach non-graded, one-room
schools are, glory be-, profess ors and
principals. And many Of them lay
claim to these titles. as in This in
stance, largely because they arc grad
yates Of high school.
training of fifteen or twenty years ago
gives che claims to superior scholar
ship, 1t does not necessarily follow
that the claimant is better fitted in all
respects TO fill 4 given position than
one who has not had or has not ac-
cepted his opportunities to set the
world on fire with exhibitions of cru
dition. Because the gentleman in Ques-
ton has taught school for a number
OF years it canHot be considered with
out question that he is better quail
fed than one, who has had years Of
experience with men and affairs, -
represent us on the State COMMITTEES.
Education is not the sole Quaifica-
tiOn for this nor any other office worth
while, nor is it the paramount quail
fication for this one. First. as The
Advocate sees ii, the candidate
should be able to point to a record Of
unselfish endeavor for his race and
for his party. He should have more
10 his political credit than single
appearance before a Legislative COM
mittee or the holding of positions Of
honor and profit in secret society,"
There should be no question as to his
fitness gained not so much through
academic training as by experience
The man or men to whom the honor
of being committeeman should go
ought to be men who are willing and
and whenever it is called, and they
should be so cOnversant with the pol
itical game that they can safeguard
the interests Of those they represent.
This they cannot do unless they know
how, and they cannot know how sim
ply through having taught school or
presided over grand lodge.
The Advocate sees in these repeat
ed appeals for man of education on
the state committee direct thrust ~
John Noel. The Advocate holds no
brief for MIR. Noel, nor does i; place
q lower estimate upon the educated
, man than those who covertly attack
him because he is not educated. Tn
educated he may be, but there was
empty honor for him in the years he
has foHght-the fight and profit for
some of his detractors in his having
hCpI tHC loltn III lll6ll dHDlllO1l ~
supplant him, they overlook the fact
that he has, as committeeman, will
lngly given Of his time and means to
protect the interests of his cOnsti-
tuency for the past eight years, and
has done everything in his power 10
advance the political fortunes of the
race individually and collectively
Whenever danger threatened in the
legislature he has been among the first
to respond to the call from this city
for aid, and he has given it time and
again at his own expense. It was
through his insistence that provisions
were made for the cOmmitteemeT-a
large, and it would be base ingratitud,
II we, now that the power is largely II
our hands, should deny his claims Il
retention.
So, lets have less Of this talk abou
candidates who are fitted merely b,
scholarship, such as it is. Let's hca
=. more about fitness by experience. Civ,
us more light on fitness by service =
the party and the race, Selah.
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