The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1913-07-25

1t is with great reluctance, that
find it necessary to defend for the
second time, in MY race for the Demo-
cratic nomination for Superintendent
of Schools, the legality of my certifi-
cate of eligibility to that office which,
has been questioned by one of my OPP
ponents namely, III. H. Brock. L re-
greet that this opponent for whom |
entertain the kindest feeling and the
highest respect, should endeavor to
discredit an opponent, who is candi- |
date for the office whom he well knows |
to be equally capable, both from the
standpoint of education and expert |
ence, and equally qualified leg ally,
avoiding the technicality of sentence
in an old law, which, in the judgment
of the Superintendent of Public In
struction Barksdale Hamlet himself,
does not render illegal the certificate
hello by myself.
eligibility of candidates for this office
reads as follows: "rhere shall be
county superintendent of common
schools in each county of the State !
who shall be possessed of good moral
character and ability to manage the
common school interests of the county |
efficiently. He shall possess a good |
English education and shall be COM
petent to examine the teachers who
shall apply to teach the common
schools in tie county. He shall be
twenty-four years old at the time of
qualifying, citizen of Kentucky,
shall have resided two years next pre- |
ceeding the election in this state and |
one year in the county for which he is
candidate. No person shall be eligi- |
BILE to the office OF county superintend- |
emit unless he shall hold from the State |
Board of Examiners, State diploma
or State certificate which will not |
expire during his proposed term of
office; or certificate of qualification |
which shall in all respects, be the
equivalent of State certificate issued |
by the State Board of Examiners, on a |
personal examination held at the Stale |
Capitol on the last Friday and Satur-
day in May and June next preceding |
the election of County Superintend.
ents."
This act was signed by the Governor
on March Is, 1912, is the present law
governing the qualification of candi-
dates for the office of superintendent of
common schools.
hold State Certificate issued to
me by the State Board of Examiners,
three years ago, which does not expire
until 1918, or six months after the
expiration of the term of office, for
which 1 am a candidate.
| The original certificate is in my pos
session; there is public record of ii
in the office of the State Superintend-
ent at Frankfort, which has been certi-
fed by that office, and heretofore pub
lished. desire also, in this connec-
ton, to quote from a letter dated July
10, 1918, addressed to myself, and
signed by the Superintendent of Public
Instructions which fully shows the
legality of my certificate, and that he
concurs in my view of the matter
"Any State certificates issued by the
State Board of Examiners is legal in
any county, as long as the local County
superintendent allows it to remain in
force.
For your guidance in the matter of
the legal qualifications of a candidate
for County Superintendent, l quote
from the act of 1912: "No person shall
be eligible to the office of County Su-
perintendent, unless he shall hold
from the State Board of Examiners, a
State certificate, which will not expire
during the proposed term of office, or a
certificate of qualification which shall
in all respects, be the equivalent of a
State certificate issued by the State
Board of Examiners, etc."
| Your certificate does not expire dur
ing the proposed term of office and as
long as 1t is adjudged legal certificate
by the County Superintendent of your
county, you are legally qualified to
hold the office of County Superin-
tendent."
The original of this letter can be seen
by anyone desiring to see it.
regret exceedingly that it is neces-
sary for me to thus defend my right
to be candidate, in doing so 1 have
been careful to say nothing offensive
about my opponent, who has so far
forgotten himself as to attempt to dis
credit one whom he knows is not only
we'll qualified, and good Democrat,
but one who shall be pleased to sup
port the nominee of the party for this
office, whomsoeyer 1t may bel
have been teacher in this and ad
joining counties for approximately
twenty years, and believe the best in
terests of the common schools of the
county are as well known to me as to
either Of the two opposing candidates.
AS to my moral character, you are
most respectfully referred to my neigh
bors, and the patrons of the schools
where have taught.
Thanking one and all for the gener-
GUS support SO kindly given me in my
race thus far, / now desire to ask Won
to redouble your energies in the in
terest of my candidacy.