Martinsburg journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1920-1977, 1921-09-28
DEMOCRATIC LEADER
DECLARES POLITICS
IS PLAYING PART

The charge that politics are play.
ing a part in the conduct of West
Virginia University and that Stephen
Jackson, of Clarksburg. was not Sc.
lected as dean of the college Of law
this summer because he is a Demo
crat is made in special dispatch
TO the Pittsburgh Dispatch bearing
The signature Of James w, Weir, Of
Elkins. prominent Randolph county
Democratic leader, newspaper pub
Usher and private secretary to for
mer Governor John J. Cornwell.
University officials today declined
TO make any comment on the arti-
Gle.
The article follows, in part:
West Virginia University has al
ways been more or less handicap
ped because of the fact that Uni
versity politics and state politics
have played too important a part in
the government Of the University
and the recent decision Of the state
board OF education to draw on Ohio
for the dean Of the law school in
stead OF selecting a West Firginian
because the latter was a Democrat
has only strengthened the belief eX-
listing in many quarters that pollti-
cal consideration are still to be 4
determining factor in University al
fairs.
From all that can be learned
Stephen Jackson. Of Clarksburg, one
Of the prominent lawyers of the
state had been induced. after much
pressure had been brought to bear
by the alumni of the University, to
allow his name to be presented to
the board of education. Men prom
inent in the Republican party were
enlisted in his behalf and even went
to the extent of going to Charleston
for the purpose Of urging his quail
fcations To their chagrin, man
from outside the state was selected.
largely through the influence Of the
president of the University. 1t is
contended by those who were back
ing Mr.. Jackson. and who felt con
fident he would be selected because
of his splendid legal attainments.
Action Net Surprising,
The alumni were not only anxious
that Jackson he designated as the
dean of the University because of
they were also anxious to secure
man who could with some reasonable
assurance be Apeected to remain
with the University. In drawing on
other states and on institutions in
ohtr estates, ii has been found on
previous occasions, that the dean
OF the law school remained only a
few years. and. being tempted by
higher salary LEFT Tor anohetr post.
AS Mr. jackson would have retired
from active practice for the express
purpose of becoming dean OF the
school, it was logical to assume that
the same considerations which had
Influenced his predecessors to leave
would exert no influence in his case.
The action of the state board of
education did not come as surprise,
however. in view of the fact that
It's Bipartisan nature was destroyed
by legislative act few months ago
in order 10 make room for a mem
Der of the dominant party. II was
pointed oUt at the time such legis-
la,.0n was being considered. even by
many Republicans. that the influence
Of the board Gs an educational body
would he destroyed If the changes
as contemplated were made, and
that the board woul degenerate into
d mere political board.
AS a matter of fact there was
no general sentiment for destroying
the bipartisan nature of the board
which consisted Of three Republi-
cans and three Democrats, with the