Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1914-01-01
An Indeiensible Removed.

Governor Hatfield is keep
up his record of peculiar appoint
ments, the last instance being Of
so indefensible a nature as to call
down the condemnation of his
own party associates.
Last week, without regard to
the usual common courtesy which
is supposed to obtain even in or
binary business relations, an
nouncement was made of the
appointment of a Mr. Farley
DeBerry, of Terra Alta to the
position of Principal of the
School for the Deaf, Dumb and
Blind at Romney, the first notice
the incumbent, MrA Cary Mon
tague, having of his removal be-
ing through the newspapers.
This of itself might be ex-
planned as an =u111ntentional af-
front to faithful public officer,
but the attendant circumstances
are such as to justly arouse the
Indignation of those who believe
that the care of the grievously
afflicted children of the State
should not be made a political
football.
Mr.. Montague is Republican,
andean honest one, being held in
universal esteem in his old home
County of Greenbrier, as he is
in Hampshire--Democratic strong
holds botll-where, since assum-
ing charge of the Institution
there. lie has, with the helpful
association of his good wife, not
only endeared himself to his lit
tie charges, but won the hearty
good will of the local public.
The school was never managed
with such economy, efficiency and
honesty of purpose as has char
acterized Mr.. Montague''s admin
istration !. The only objection to
him advanced by the Republican
machine is in itself a badge Of
honor, since the sum of his of
Tending seems to have been his
determination to discharge his
trust according to the dictates of
humanity, and not to allow the
children to suffer by having the
school made the dumping ground
for political dere1icts in want of
a job.
No one seems to know much
about Mr.. DeBerry, his business
connection with Mr.. Lakin of the
Board of Control seeming, how
ever, to have proved a valuable
asset to him in landing a State
job.
This much is patent, however;
that he has had no previous ex-
perience which will peculiarly
equip him for his new duties, and
that his appointment is matter
of politics, and apparently ques-
tionable politics at that.
In an open letter to Governor
Hatfield, Mr.. Prescott Huideko-
per, Chairman of the Republican
Congressional Committee for
Hampshire County, denounces
Mr.. Montague's removal in lam
which fairly sizzles, and
serves notice that he will~do all
he can to prevent Governor Hat
fields election to the United
States Senate.
Radically disagreeing with Mr..
Montague in matters purely po-
litical, we tender to him our con-
gratulations on his splendid man
agement of the School, in which
every citizen of the State should
feel an affectionate interest, and
bespeak for him full measure
of success in the future.
1t is worth while to lay down
the responsibility of office with
the satisfaction of work we'll done,
the good opinion of those of ones
fellow men whose opinion is
worth having, the approval of
ones own conscience, and with
peace of mind.
Since writing the above the
letters which we print, elsewhere,
have passed between Mr.. Huide-
kor,ar aud Govarnor Haff1old