The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-12-17
Demand Made for Immediate Con
vention to Adopt New c Constitution
Made Here Last Night
LACK OF STATE SPIRIT BIG DRAWBACK
Conservation of Our Resources and Equalization Of
Taxation Are Among the Things That We sss
Need to Make the State Great

The secretary Of the State Board
Of Education. j. F. Marsh, caused
a glow of warmth crept over the
Imagination OF the audience pres
ent last evening at the Parent
Teacher meeting at the High school
when he stated emphatically that
the only glimmer Of culture, cduca.
tlonally, which had shone in this
state so far Is represented In the
Fatrmont State Normal school, To-
Gated SO grandly and gloriousIy on
a wide open stretch of ground
some blocks from the center OF this
city.
Mr.. Marsh was the principal
speaker last evening and from the
moment he rose to his feet with
many important thoughts on the
tip OF his tongue to the moment
he sat down to generous applause,
his talk was appealing. strong and
thoroughly interesting.
Mr.. Marsh declared he possessed
a large vein OF humor, but that
when he visited seriously through
out the state his sense of humor
was always badly damaged-in fact
was almost Threatened with annthi-
lation. Mr.. Marsh was superin'
tendent OF schools in Fairmont
about IA years ago. He Is also well
informed through study and hon
est investigation as to conditions
in this state. Mr.. Marsh spoke
substantially as follows:
am not pessimistic at all. I'm
not like the fellow met recently
who declared we were going to
have the worst year ahead Of us
we'd ever had yet There was to
be fearful weather, ruined crops,
slump In wages, bad adm4nistra-
tion, bad everything!"
"That man was Democrat" in
terjected Superintendent Wilson
from his seat in the front row.
There was general smiles OF appre.
citation, or stony faces-accordtnS
to politics last evening.
Mr.. Marsh continued:
"But every timo we want to pro
gress in this state, the constitution
gets In our way.
some people say oh don't touch
the sacred constitution. Let 1t
alone. I don't feel that way about
1t. II we can improve it, say let's
improve 1t. I'm In favor Of call
ing q convention 30 that we can
bring the state constitution up TO
the times!"
Those present last evening we're
more or less shaken by the re-
mark, but an intelligent group OF
parents and teachers were quite
willing TO hear what followed.
There was a perceptible settling
back In seats for the remainder OF
the energetic talk.
''In the first place, the constttu'
ton forblds public schools except
when these are voted for. Every
four years we have TO vote as to
whether or not we shall keep the
schools going. Don't you get tired
Of doing that? Why, once we over
looked this voting for schools and
had to call special election so that
the kiddies could go to school and
learn their lessons.
"The constitution needs TO be
changed in several instances. We
need the word females inserted
now. At present everything is
male
There is crying need for a
rapid reduction Of bitter partisan
politics and a colossal need for the
advance Of statesmanship. There
is enough money used in straight
out, narrow, bitter politics in this
state which II used in other direc-
tious would solve the greatest prob.
lem we have todRy-the school
problem. We have too much poll.
tics. A short time ago ran
across a gentleman I hadn't seen
for some time. 'How's everything"
/ asked. Just fine he exclaimed.
We're going to carry the county by
a large plurality He had his mind
on politics and nothing else. When
he ought. to have been attending to
his job.
"We need clean cut, constructive
issues Of state and less thought for
political jobs. Why, there are men
who arg even this carly running
~ M