Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1949-10-20
To The Voters of Dickinson
And Buchanan Counties:

l will not be able to see and
tlak with all the voters of these
two counties before the coming
election. My travels will be lin
tied, as my financial standing
will not permit it. Following are
some of the things that will make
our state and county a better
place in which to live. That
should be the aim Of every citi-
zen-do something to make our
home, our community, our coun-
ty, our state and nation a better
place in which to live. I think
by settling forth some of my plans
and aims to the people of these
counties, we can become acquaint
ed. That is something that we
need, if we become acquainted,
know each others problems and
aims, if we really wish to build
our counties we can do so by
working together.
Something must be done to re-
lieve the overcroWded conditions
that exist in our schools, and to
help our overworked, underpaid
teachers. We can do this problem
if we work together, without put
ing an unnecessary burden on
anyone. 1 believe in free text
books in the public schools,
We need more funds for our
highways. We must have it. l
still contend that we are not get
ting our share of the gasoline tax.
The ALLEGATION method is unfair.
Some of you who doubt this state
ment, 1 advise you Ito get a copy
of the ALLEGATIONS for the fiscal
year ending 1850, get a census re-
port ON the population. Compare
our county and Buchanan County
with some of the counties of the
eastern part of the state. l think
that will be enough to convince
you where our money is going.
I believe in the abolition of the
poll tax as a prerequisite to vot-
ing. l am afraid of the amend
ment to be voted on this fall. I
think it would disfranchise more
of our voters, and would certain
ly put burden on the people be-
cause there would be a central
place of registration, which would
require the people of Dickinson
County to go ITO Clintwood, in
Dickinson County, and Buchan-
ans place of registration would
be Grundy. 1 believe tax should
be assessed against every citizen
after they become of voting age,
and this tax collected. believe
all people who possess enough in
teligence to read and write
should be allowed to vote. The
General Assembly might make
the voting requirements so rigid
that only the educated could vote.
believe Labor should have the
right TO organize and bargain col
lectively. l have believed this
since 1884, when I first became
union member. I have had to
work in coal that was only % in
ches in height. l have worked in
water ankle deep with water pour
ing down my back, and if I
grumbled the Boss would tell me
to go ahead and quit, as there
was a barefooted man standing
on the outside waiting and beg
ging for my place. That was in
the early thirties. I have had
mine foremen to tell me that it
would not do to let coal loader
get dollar ahead. He would get
too independent. I am still load
ing coal, but under different con
ditions from what / did 18 years
ago. I am president of Local I'm
ion 1927, and am proud of it, fol
have seen good in the organiza
tion.
On the building of the Jail at
Clintwood, l want it clearly TN
derstood that l have never voted
to build the jail. Other members
of the board can verify this state
ment. l did not want to take the
money and build the Jail while
a crowded condition.
On the building OF a gymnasi-
UNI at Clia1twood and Haysi, I
voted against that because l
thought the taxpayers of Dicken-
son County wanted classroom
space rather than a gymn. l did
not feel that we should take $685.
900 and put it in a playground
while our building conditions
were so bad. I have never Voted
to take anything from any teach
er or any classroom. certainly
will vote for more classrooms, if
we can get the funds, and when
we get classrooms I want the PEG
pie to have gymnasiums, but l
still say we need classrooms first.
Your vote and Influence, regard
less of politics, will be greatly
appreciated.
PTIETJC " NTcCOV