The Charlotte Democrat., 1890-07-11
A Card from Mr. TiddY.

1O an a1LlClo written DY me LOT the
Mecklenburg Times OF June 27, said, re-
ferIing to the Charlotte Chronicle, that
"its methods are not such as we have
been accustomed to. Blackmailing and
boycotting have been openly aud brazen.
ly enforced Whoever and whatever
stood in the way Of the success OF those
that controlled it had to be crushed" ="
The editor of the Chronicle in Sunday 3
issue says, al!uding to the charge of
"blsckmalling," that l "kuew it was a
falsehood when l penned it, l did not
know it was false, nor do know it now.
believed it was true when l wrote it.
believe it was true now. And to show
that the charge was not made on insult
ficient grounds, propose to state a few
facts that are within the knowledge of
many of the business men of Charlotte.
1t is we'll known that the Chronicles rates
for advertising are hlgh-higher than
were in force before that paper passed
under its present management; SO exorbi-
tant that many merchants withdrew their
advertisements and others did so as soon
as pending contracts expired. In order
to bring a pressure to bear aud force
merchants TO advertise, the Chronicle
published the following as the rule which
would govern it: SIT (The Charlotte
Chronicle) does say here and no v, frankly
aud openly, that the citiz ,ns who own it.,
and their families, and all whom they eau
influence, ought, and not a few have
already decided, to patronize only those
who do advertise in it," Visitors from
Charlotte to Cleveland Springs we're pub
lished in the Chronicle as having gone to
Shelby, because the proprietors OF those
springs did not advertise in the Chronicle;
and when at the meeting of the stock,
holders of the Chronicle last fall it was
charged that il was publishing untruths
in the matter, the editor admitted it aud
said the exigences of journalism required
it because these springs were not adver-
tisei in the Chronicle. At the same
meeting the question was put to the edi-
tor whether, If Senator Vance should come
to Charlotte and put up at the Central
Hotel, would ths editor of the Chronicle
mention the fact, his reply was that be
would not, but simply say she was in the
city" The relations between the Central
Hotel are to we'll known to require com
ment.
And now q few words in regard to the
methods of the Chronicle. 1t was ever
tuo III SuoIIOII0 IuO vi
the present manager of the Chronicle, for
obituary notices of public men to be pub
lished free Of charge. When that good
old citizen, worthy gentleman. W. j.
Yates, pass ID away, resolutions of respect
drawn up by s. A. Cohen, J. L. Brown
and J. III. McAden, on behalf of the
Chamber of Commerce, were taken to the
Chronicle by the President of the Cham
Der, they were refused insertion unless
they were paid for.
Recently the Chronicle has seen fit to
single out for malevolent notice preachers
of the gospel as violaters of the law
in emitting to give in their salaries for
taxation, which simply means that they
we're gtilty of perjury. This, too, we shall
pass without comment.
have lived in Charlotte forty years
and my character, whether good or bad
is made; and it is not in the power OF the
editor OF the Chronicle to help or hurt it.
1t is not enough to say that published a
statement knew to be false. The person
making such a charge must prove it before
it will be believed The editor of the
Chronicle has appealed to the public in
making such an assertion in q newspaper
! and leave the public to Judge whether
he has adduced single fact, anything
beyond his own bare assertion, in support
of it, aud whether be has not pilloried
himself in the place where he sought tc
place me. RICHARD N. TIDDY.