The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-13

Z
Tic next four years IL It je understood
by all that \ further services is not
contemplated.
In view OF the statement abova. I
think my properly discuss some
matters pertaing TO state supertntend.
ency at this time. Willie NY Gle'.t
ion has cost mH no ntttL 81 eXread.
tsure OF time AMI money. that cost is
Insignificant compared with what It
has cost III tiG way &c misunGsr.
standing and rIisrepresenta" in
cident to ne political turmoil IhroIeh
which we navs passed. In making
this statement mean NO reflection
upon my opp 1dGnt. Indeed, | have
only the most profound respect for
Doctor Armstrong and his attitude in
the campaign. do no. 1eIlnvr that
Ito wrote or So 'kr a word during the
eEtire time thu; the political battle
was on between the dominant parties
| that Was not consistent with the high.
est professional courtesy. 1t is a
gratifying experience to be matched
against q man OF such honor, integ.
rity and high ideals. However, not
all partisans in the campaign pursued
such a policy, and II half the things
which were said about me had heen
true, ought not have been re.elect.
| ed TO the office which | now hold, To
illustrate let me refer TO a few Of the
statements which were circulated by
one means or another.
First: A statement was put out
to the effect that copies Of the edu.
cational directory had been sold and
apparently the money received had
been used for private purposes. Nat.
urally, good many business houses
ask for copies of the directory. dcsir.
Ing 1t for commercial purposes. We
have felt that 1t was just to charge
SUCH concerns $3.50 copy for this
publication. The money received has
been turned into special account and
used to pay regular Office expenses
for which a strict account has been
Kept by member of the Department
and for which our books will answer
to the last penny This money has
been used for paying postage, prtut-
ing bills and other incidentals.
Second: 1t has been said that I
paid out more money for institute in
structors' service than was allowed
by law. And old statute says that the
state Superintendent shall not spend
more than hundred dollars per
county for teachers institutes. but
that statute was amended by later
legislatures in approprating amounts
which could not be used without
spending more than the hundred dol
lars in single county. All who are
acquainted with the service know
that 1t would be folly to try to run the
institute in the larger counties with
the talent that could be secured at
the figure named.
Third: A statement was circulat
ed to the effect that | had changed
my position on the question of the
taxation of gas between the years
1911 and 1918, presumably because l
had secured from the General Edu.
cation Board the money to pay the
salary and expenses OF our high
school supervisor and rural school
supervisor. First. the statement was
in error because the appropriations
for the two supervisors named we're
both secured before 1911, and that
could not therefore. he reason for
any change in attitude. Second. |
wish to say that until ! saw this
statement in print | had never even
connected in thought the question of
funds from the General Education
Board and the taxation of gas in West
Virginia, nor has a word eyer brSu
spoken or written TO me BY ANYBODY
connected with the General Education
Board with reference to gas taxation.
The implication that would sell my
principles for a financial considcrat.
ion is an insult which one can not
endure without strong resentment.
These are only few Of the eX.
amples OF the Misrepresentation
that found their way ortentimcs into
The minds and hearts of honest and
intelligent people. To be subjected
10 them is a big price for any one
10 be compelled to pay for even the
high honor Of the state superintend-
ency, and 10 one could afford to nav
it If he did not feel that in SO doing
he was rendering service to the
state and the cause of education that
could not be accomplished otherwise.
In this connection, l think it may
not be out of place for me to refer
to other unpleasant and trying con.
ditions which must be met in the cam
paign, even though the incidents to
be named are somewhat of a personal
nature.
For instance, received a letter
from a teacher under date as follows:
Can you not raise grade 90 points
on Civil Government and thus give
me Second Grade certificate?
II am a teacher OF long and sue
cessful standing as you perhaps arc
aware of.
II have political standing and in
huence which wish to use in favor
of the present school administration
provided you can help me in tho small
matter mentioned above. This In.
fluence extends over three counties
as L deal with hundreds OF people
every year and can control a very
large vote by a few words either for
or against as the case may be-
From different county little ear.
ller in the season I received a letter
In which the writer says, 81 want
and deserve first grade certificate.
II you issue me one. shall vote for
you this fall; otherwise not"
Doubtless the readers first impulse
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