The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-07-06

that Virginia was passing through a.
great financial crisis produced NY the
consumption Of the revenues by the
tax.receivahle coupons, and besides a
number of schools and other public
institutions were asking for large ap-
| preparations of money for enlarge
menc Mr.. Barton. an able and eio-
uuent man. a member of the house or
delegates from Winchester, led the
opposition. / believe he was honest
and sincere In his somewhat violent
attack upon the measure. as he voted
against any increased appropriation
to any institution of the State.
Long and Bitter Contest.
l. I cannot give In detail the story OF
the long and bitter contest which
ragged over this bill during the regu-
lar session of the Legislature. the
opposition often resorted to all de-
vices to postpone Its consideration ana
defeat the final passage OF the bin. We
had won over some of the leading
| Democrats of the Senate in support OF
the measure, who at first had opposed
| IT. They had commended that they did
not see how any better teaching could
be done than was being done at the
| University Of Virginia and the denomi-
b 4tional schools. We ought to give
prominent mention here for work In
| behalf of this bill to Mr.. Anderson, OF
I
! Chesterfield. and Judge Brown Evans
| Of Mtddlesex, all influential members
I OF the Legislature. I may say that
many Democrats in the Piedmont and
Valley sections Of Virginia did not
favor the Ill. Several years ago
rather amusing incident occurred
when a prominent Virginian who was
in the Legislature at that time ana
who had been bitterly opposed to the
I oasea 60 pf he an WAS at Farm
VILE with the Committee on Schools
and Colleges. He was making strong
and eloquent speech in favor and
praise Of the State Normal and of the
great service it had rendered Virginia
When ne sat down Hon. W. W. Baker
voted against the establishment Of
this schoole You did indeed. but I
won't tell IL on you now"
! ought to say that the thirty three
Republicans and Readjusters in the
| House TO a man voted for the measure
and ! can't fail to make mention OF
the services OF e w. Hubbard, of
Buckingham, and of Delegate Harris
colored delegate from Dinwiddie. /
see him occasionally now. and / never
! fail to thank him for his constant and
unfailing support of the bill in which
| / was so much interested. have re-
garded Harris ever since as an intelli-
gent and honorable man. He now
| holds an important office In the GUS
/ toms house Of this city.
/ Wins Close Victory.
| When the ANAL vote was taken at
! the regular session OF the Legislature
the bill was adopted by a bare ma
terity. The friends OF the measure In
the LEGISLATURE and State greatly re,
joiced. but their Joy was soon turned
| into mourning. Mr.. Farr, the Read
juster Superintendent OF Public In
struction, decided that the money ap-
propriated-$10.od annuity and s5.-
| 600 for betterments--should not come
out Of the school fund. The matter
was carried TO the Supreme Court.
(which sustained Mr.. Farr and at a
special session Of the Legislature In
| July and August OF "a the battle had
to be refought and this contest proved
to be even more bitter and determined
than before. Opposition to the meas
ure had greatly increased because the
trustees OF the new school had made
DR.. Ruffner president at salary OF
| $4,000 and for some reason he had be-
come unpopular with many members
of the Legislature. For one thing. he
! had commended thAt the Democrats had
used school money for other purposes
| and had written several letters for
the Richmond Wing, edited by Mr.
Elan, which displeased many leading
men Of the State. I am not saying
that their displeasure was just and
their conduct fair and honorable. DR..
Ruffner whom knew and learned to
respect, was a man OF great ability and
rendered untold service to education IN
Virginia. While he was president OF
| this school he had my earnest support
as a member of the board.
Mccormick To The Rescue.
! When tine matter came up before
the chairman of the finance commit
| tee commended that DR.. Rufner
should receive only $i.600--the SAL
airy OF \ circuit Judge. Early one
morning at Ford's hotel I approach
ed General Wickham. brave soldier
and one OF virginia's noblest sons,
and asked him II I might come with
my COMMITTEES before his committee
| and make statement--for some rea-
son my colleagues. always made me
! do the speaking now felt that IN
other crisis was approaching In the
history " the enterprise. plead
that Virginia should keep her prom
ise to Farmville as Farmvtlle had
purchased the female college on the
condition that the legislature should
! establish q normal school in that
town ana It seemed Of no concern
whether the amount promised should