Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-09-28
An Operation Highly Desirable.


The information that the lanes
Stewart referred to in the expense ac-
count Of Mr.. c. F. Edwards, late can
didate for the Republican nomination
for the United States Senate, is the
James Stewart, Commissioner of Agri-
culture of West Virginia, and the Will
liam Summers, referred to, is a sub
ordinate in the Agricultural Depart
ment, and former head OF the alleged
Bureau of Markets, is very interest
ing.
Each Of these distinguished gentle
men, who were supposed to be giving
their services to the State OF West
Virginia, received, according to Mr..
Edwards, $4,000 for their services in
promoting his candidacy for the United
States Senate.
This statement is the more remark
able because it is known that the Com
missioner of Agriculture, early in the
Senatorial race, favored the candidacy
OF Mr.. Lilly and was actively using his
influence for Mr.. Lilly.
When did the Commissioner of Agri-
culture and his assistant see the great
white light that convinced them that
they were treading the wrong path, and
that the gentleman from Huntington
was the only proper candidate for the
limited States SepateD
Perhaps Mr.. Stewards conversion
was coincident with the payment of
$4,000 to himself and a like sum to
his subordinate clerk, but it would be
cruel and unkind to suggest such
thing in connection with a distinguish
ed State official
The fact is that next 10 an appendix
in the human body the Bureau of Agri-
culture, as conducted by the State of
West Virginia, Is about the most use
less and worthless thing of which we
have knowledge. The bureau might be
termed the States appendix, and an
operation for appendicitis ought to be
performed by the next Legislature.
The bureau has been made the haven
for broken-down politicians who have
fastened themselves to the State, and
have given far more time to perpetual
ing their jobs than to the sacrifice of
the people. If it has done any good
and useful thing for the people of
WaCt Niruioio he
jority of our citizens are not informed
of it,
The intention Of the Legislature, in
originally creating this bureau, was I'm
doubleday good, and for some time
great many people deluded themselves
with the thought that something was
being accomplished. The real farmers
of the State, however, are not Of that
opinion, and their testimony ought to
be Notwithstanding Intelligencer,
Republican State Organ.
The attack in the above editorial
from the Wheeling Inteligencer, lead
ing Republican newspaper, is fully JUS
titled and heartily endorsed by the
Review. In a recent editorial in this
paper reference was made to the fact
that the Commissioner Of Agriculture,
to whom the above refers, was in:
fluential in having a provision tackled
on to the budget amendment placing
upon the Board Of Public Works the re-
sponsibility of making up the budget
and the appropriation bill when it
should have remained, as originally
drawn, the work Of the Governor. His
object, of course, in having a hand in
formulating the appropriation bill was
for the purpose of swelling the appro-
priation for his own department, a
thing he unheStatingly did as far as
was within his power. Either the Re-
view or the lntelligencer might have
gone further and suggested the fact
that it was common knowledge around
the old capitol building a few years
ago that Mr.. Stewart had in his de-
partment as State employees at least
two persons who were notorious boot
leggers. The suggested operation is
highly desirable and in order.-Hamp-
shire Review.