The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-16
State Board Hears Ar
gument Over Election
Of Superintendents.
BYRD AND DAVIS
IN SH A RIP TIL T
Leesburg Man Hints at Political
Control Of Schools, Quoting
Letter of Endorsement From
Senator Martin-Bucking-
ham, Loudoun and Alex
andria Cases Aired.

Evidences Of bitter feeling in a mum
Der OF counties over the contests for
positions division school superin-
tendents wore frequent at the all -da )
session OF the State Board OF Educa-
ton yesterday. Morning. afternoon
and night sessions were held. and the
board will be In session to-day in an
effort TO get through a large dock ct
of business. including twelve elections
OF division supcrintcndents postponed
from the June meeting. Several de-
LAYS were occasioncd by the fact that
attorneys for various candidates had
not prepared their cases. and had failed
10 serve the incumbent with state
ment Of the charges. with the result
that no Witnesses for the defense were
present and the cases had TO go over
10 the October meeting OF the State
board.
AlcHundria Contest.
The contest III Alexandria County
was first called involving charges
against " r Hodges. the incurl bent.
which were presented by Joseph L.
Clements. Delegate r. c. L. Moncurc
appeared for Mr. Hodges Charges
against Mr.. Hodges in brief are that
he vas employed under a contract to
serve for fixed salary OF $1,000 a
year Later the three school districts
[ appropriated 5000 each, making his
total salary $500. He is charged with
oh!cial misconduct, in having concealed
the facts from the public. preventing
the appropriations from being known,
and that he "knowingly surreptitiously
ana wiilfully accepted and appro-
priatcd school funds" Mr. Clements
went on 10 charge MIR. Hodges with
having refused 10 recognize Virginia
teachers certificates In appointing
teachers. charging that thirty-four Of
the forty-one white teachers of the
Il
OF Columbia. There was also a charge
IN relation TO "a school warrant cashcd
at the Bank Of Roslyn. and in the
matter of the purchase of n lot for the
Bancroft School in Arlington District
IL was charged that the board had pur-
chased three acres of land for $500.
that there was a deed of trust on The
tract and that for three years the
school authorities had been paying in
t.rest on land they We're supposed to
own.
Charges Filled Yesterday
Mr.. Moncure, in defense stated that
Yesterday morning at $50 o'clock
just a half hour bcfor. the board was
called TO mcet-an officer Of the CITY
of 2ichmond served "A copy OF the
charges on Mr.. Hodges; that he had
had no Zine 10 prepare a reply, to
get ahdavits or to bring witnesses.
y motion for continuance to Sep
!
tefnoon session. when the board re-
sumed consideration OF the matter.
After an executive session. super
int@ndent Stearncs stated that the
board had unanimously decided that
as questions affecting both the verac-
itv and conduct OF superintendent
had been raised. while there was no
just grounds for n continuance on the
charges filed by Mr. Clements in ref
Of
others. yet the board desired the full
est investigation of all acts of its
county sdpcrintendents, and felt that
II was best for the schools of the
county and fairest to Mr.. Hodges to
grant continuance, in order to inves-
t.eate n matter affecting the super
intendents ve-acity. The petitioners
were directed 10 consolidate their
charges, and to furnish copy to Mr..
Hodges within ten days, the whole
case beirg continued TO the next reru-
lar meeting Of the board on October
IL at 10 A. NJ
The case of Bath and Highland was
next called. and no one answered
James c. Lightncr, Bruce r. Richard
SON. James s. Doyle. ~ r. Warwick
ana j. II. Burns are the applicants.
Records Open to All.
Recurring TO the Alexandria case at
said that attacks were the works OF
local agitators, sore-headed little
pohticihEs, and men who want tho
office for themselves" lie was anX-
iouS TO go on with the case al once
As to the contention that the proceed
inGs of the school board were secret.
he said that they were kept by the
county clerk and could be seen on appli-
cation, being matters OF public record.
Of ba at. 4
a request tn take the record hooks to
MI Clcmcntss office. but not being
an errand boy. had told the attorney
that he could examine the public
records in the clerks Office Mt any
time.
MI Clements, who is vigorously op-
posing the reappointment of Mr.
hodges, was the former county super
lntcndene, and was superseded by Mr.
hodges four years ago. Mr. Hodges is
said to have been elected from Pittsvl-
vania County.
When the Brunswick County case was
called. Edward Turnbull appeared for
W. IS. valentine. the incumbent, and T.
H. Buford for II. T.. Chambliss After
partial hearing, Mr.. Stearnes asked
Mr.. Buford If he had made or intended
to make. the charge that Mr.. Valentine
had been unduly active in politics Mr.
Buford replied that he had not made
the direct charge. but went on to mar
rate incidents of local politics The
matter Of increasing the local school
levy seemed also to have stirred up
much factional feeling.
buckingham CaHe.
Some time was devoted without final
result at the afternoon session to the
buckingham County case, where Rev
rlummer f.. Jones. minister OF the
Presbyterian Church at Arvonia. the in
cumbent. is being opposed by John A.
Twyman. Frank Moon appeared for Mr.
Jones and Edmond Hubbard for Mr.
Twyman. While no writtcn charges
Continued on Second PaSe.)