Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-03-18
Arraigns Present incumbent on
His Record and Recites In
teresting History.

Murray viii Challenge Shawkey 10
Meet in Joint Discussion and Re.
view Adm,nistration-Aet Cam
paian TO be Made--Wilt Ask Leave
Of Absence.
Supt. c. X, Murray. OF the Blueheld
city schools, has decided to become
candidate for the Republican nomi-
nation for state superintendent of free
schools. Four years ago Mr.. Murray
made the race. and this year will be
pitted against the same man. SUPP.
Shawkey The present incumbent.
When asked about mis- candidacy yes
terday and his opponent Mr. Murray
said:
In some cases Il is better to make
campaign Withhold reference to your
opponent, hul 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.
II IS almost a proyerb 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. / feel
that from the length Of time that he
has spen in public office in West Vir-
ginia it is not unfair to him TO enter
into rull discussion OF his record
Inquiry as to what the record OF
MIR. Shawkey has been brought the
following reply:
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 il now acting
president of the West Virginia Uni
versity, was at that time elected state
superinendent Of schools of West
Virginia, and he appointed Mr.. Shaw
| key, who had been in the state less
/ than a year to- be his chief clerk, un-
! der the next state superintendent,
/ Thomas c. Miller but resigned TO be.
come county superintendent of Kan
awha county when he was preparing
/ To enter the race against Mr.. Miller.
/ who was candidate for re.uomiua-
| ton. While superintendent OF Kan
awha county he formed affiliations
i with the county superintendent of
/ the state which materially assisted
/ him in beating M Miller in the con
vent.on 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
member Of the state legislature. No
/ man ever held held Office so frequent
/ ly or so long for he has been in the
office of the state superintendent for
| about nineteen years ont OF the TWEEN
| ty he has been in the state. George
] Washington first enunciated the prin.
ciple that II is not for the best in
! erests of our republic to keep a man
/ in Office more than TWO terms, and he
! illustrated his precept by his own ac-
! ton in refusing a third election The
opposing argument is sometimes made
/ that in private affairs if we get hold
/ of a man who does his work well we
1 keep him as long as possible. This
| argument, however does not apply
| to a public official. In the first place.
It is much more diliicult to Judge Of
| q mans success in discharging his
public official duties than his private
and personal sponsibilities. I'm pri-
vate life an employees value can be
measured directly in some money or
other return, that is easily seen
while this Is not true of a public Of
/ ficer. There is always some doubt as
TO a public servants true worth, be
cause his services must be measured
i'm qualities and results that are ques-
| tions of far-reaching public policy
the effects of which may not be evil
| dent for years if ever. Furthermore
private employee may he easily aud
at will discharged by his employer,
whereas the public official can, and
usually does. use his years of con-
| tinued service 70 build Up a political
organization that may prevent the
public from defeating his reelection
even after they have come TO perceive
his inehieiency or dereliction There
! fore passing years have deepened
the conviction among thinking peo-
pie that George Washngton's teach
ing represents that political wisdom
for which he has always been honor
ed. All OF these things seem TO APP
ply with especial force to the present
incumbent in me high Office Of 50
berintendent Of tho free schools OF
the state Of West Virginia. For now,
having held position in this depat-.
ment OF the government Tor prartic-
ally all Of tn twenty years he has
been in the state. he now, in his mes
sages and reports to the legislature,
recommends that the office be made
appointive. so that he may turn over
to the governor the vast political pow
err that he has built up. and precum-
ably in return receive the office as a
life gift"
What is the nature Of this organi-
cation?