The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-29
Against Present Incumbent On
His Record and Recites
Interesting History
Murray VIII Challenge shawkey to
Meet In Joint Discussion and Review
Administratlon-Aetive Campaign
to be Made-Will Ask Leave of Alb

C. r. Murray, Supt. Of the Bluefield
schools, who recently announced his
candidacy for the Republican nomina.
tlon for state superintendent Of free
schools is making a strong fight, q
fight that many Of his friends believe
will land him a victor. He Is not a
new man In the educational field In
West Virginia, having long been in the
harness, and having made the race
four years ago against Mr.. Shawkey
who Is candidate for reelection. Con.
corning his candidacy, Mr.. Murray
says:
''In some cases it Is better to make
campaign without reference to your
opponent, but in the present instance
this Is not so. There are many facts
about the present administration OF
the school affairs of the state which
are not generally understood, but
which the people are entitled to know.
1t is almost a proverb that the people
pay less attention to the management
Of school Affairs than to the other
business OF the state government, SO
that information concerning these
things does not come to their atten.
ton. With no personal animus
against the present incumbent, l feel
that from the length of time that he
has spent in public office in West Vir,
ginia 1t is not unfair to him to enter
into full discussion of his record
Inquiry as to what the record Of
Mr.. Shaw had been brought the
following reply: p
"Before coming to West Virginia
Mr.. Shawkey spent two years teaching
in the rural schools Of Pennsylvania
North Dakota and Kansas, following
which he was appointed as a teacher
In Wesleyan College at Buckhannon.
Mr., Russell Trotter, the brother OF
Mr.. Frank Trotter. who is now acting
president Of the West Virginia Uni.
versity, was at that time elected state
superintendent Of schools of West
Virginia, and he appointed Mr.. Shaw.
keyp. who had been in the state less
than a year, to be his chief clerk. He
was continued as chief clerk under
the next state superintendent, Thomas
G. Miller, but resigned to become
county superintendent Of Kanawha
county when he was preparing to en-.
ter the race against Mr.. Miller, who
was candidate for denomination,
While superintendent Of Kanawha
county he formed affiliations with
the county superintendent Of the
state which materially assisted him In
beating Mr.. Miller in the convention
At the expiration Of his first term he
was reelected and is now finishing his
second term. While chief clerk he
had also been elected a member of the
state legislature. No man ever came
to West Virginia who has held office
SO frequently or SO long. for he has
been In the office Of the state super.
intendent for about nineteen years
out OF the twenty he has been In the
state. George Washington first enun.
ciated the principle that It Is not for
the best interests Of our republic to
keep a man In Office more than two
terms, and he illustrated his precept
by his own action In refusing third
election. The opposing argument ia
sometimes made that in private af.
fgatrs II We get hold of man who
does his work well we keep him as
long as possible. This argument
however. does not apply to a public
official. In the first place, 1t Is much
more difficult to Judge Of a mans
success in discharging his public OH.
cial duties than his private and per.