Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-27
RE A|NS RIGHT To VOTE
ON BOOK ADOPTION
Confined to Mansion, Governor Stuart
Keeps Tab on Education
Board.
LENGTHY SESSION is HELD
No Action Taken on B. i. johnson
Offer or on Renting Piates-Hope
to Complete the BookIist by To-
Night.

NlSHt.
Behind closed and locked doors, and
with, fguratively speaking, the Moth
Ing doing" sign hung over the telephone
in the headquarters Office OF the State
Board OF Education. the hoaT,, members
sat yesterday from o'clock in the day
to IL at night, wrestling with yexed
questions involved In the problem Of
the elementary schools for the four
years commencing Monday.
The long session was broken with but
one recess. which was taken for supper
at o'clock. when the members were
apparently so exhausted that they were
compelled to succumb to natures de-
mand for food. When they returned to
business the proceedings took on the
same animated and argumentative
phases that had marked the earlier
hours OF the session. AT II o'clock at
night the board adjourned, seemingly
deadlocked on SOME vital questions.
superintendent of Public instruction
Stearres. eS-officio chairman, presided
during the day. Every member of the
board except Governor Stuart was
present.
GOVERNOR KEEPS
HAND on THROTTLE
The Governor, confined to the execu-
tive mansion by illness and prevented
from lending his presence by the orders
OF inexorable and relentless physicians,
refused to be cheated by health or doc
tors OF his right TO participate in the
proceedings,
Determination, persistency and ag-
gressive inquisitiveness in dealing with
affairs OF state are characteristics
which have been ever in evidence dur
Ing the Stuart administration Tho
Governor manifested combination of
the three in the resourceful method he
adopted to circumvent the physicians
and participate actively in the action Of
the board on all important matters.
The Governor injected himself into
the proceedings by process of absent
treatment to which the board submit
ted. 1t came about in this way:
When the hour set for the meeting,
ii o'clock in the morning. passed with
only DR.. j. L. Jarman, Of FarmvilIc
and j. Frank West, of Louisa. material
izing. 1t was feared that some of the
members had gone to the Capitol under
the impression that the session was to
be held In the executive office.
CONFERENCE HELD At
GOVERNORS OFFICE
superintendent stenrnes and Secre-
tary Chesterman gathered together
their books and papers and moved on
the Governors office. There they met
other members OF the board, but there
was not quorum. Along about /
o'clock In the afternoon the hegira of
educators. headed by the superintend-
ent and the secretary. returned TO Su-
perintendent Stearnes's office. At the
executive Office the information had
been impaired by the Governors secre-
tary, Mr.. Forward. that His EXcellcncy
would not be with them corporeaIlv
but the secretary confidently expressed
his opinion that the executive would ex-
pect to keep In communication with the
board to the finish OF the award OF con-
tracts.
Shortly after o'clock Superintendent
Stearnes raped the body to order and
the business for the day was begun
The usual routine was speedily disposed
OF. and 1t was decided TO appoint a
committee to communicate with tho
Governor and ascertain his wishes be-
fore going into the textbook questions
DR.. Page and Attorney General Pollard
were accordingly named for this mis-
sion.
JAMES CITY COUNTY
MAY BORROW MONEY
The board then gave n hearing to
District Superintendent Henley, OF
James City County, who had come with
a petition asking the board to author
lie purchase of $4,000 OF bonds of
Powhatan and Jonesville District for
the Literary Fund. The two counties
needed the money for certain improve
ments and to satisfy certain debts
Having already obtained one loan on
school property from the Literary
Fund. second could not be legally
secured without the action of the
state board. The board decided ia
authorize the bond purchase but with
certain restrictions and provisions that
reduced the amount n couple of thou
sands.
Then petition presented by John C
Weckert. of the Typographical Union
was considered The union asked the
board TO retain certain textbooks In the
Il. +. Johnson Company list which are
published, printed and bound in Rich
mond. 1t was taken under advisemcnt
When the board reassemDIed at the
end of the recess, the committee that
had communicated with the Governor
reported.
The report related that the Governor
was physically unable to be present AT
the meeting, hut expressed the desire
that the board proceed to business and
dispose Of all matters OF business on
which the body was practically unani-
nous" All this was to be put In the
form of resolution and adopted Then
came the suggestion which qualified the
preceding one. 1t was provided that
the resolution should be presented to
the Governor for his information and
his vote"
There were yet more "providcds -
One was to the effect that all matters
contested by at least two members OF
the board shall be submitted to the
Governor for his information and vote.
The other provided that when two or
more members object to any proposed