The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-20
ROANOKE, VA. JUNE 90, 1894.
THE POSTS EXPOSURE.

We appreciate enterprise in every
thing and when a newspaper appears
with story introduced with big dis
play head, which savors of q scoop over
its rivals in journalistic fields, 1t is
oftentimes an effort to be com mended.
But there are scoops and there are
scoops. Some are essentially OF the
sensational kind and are received with
more or less allowances for their accur-
acy. Some may be technically correct,
but wrong in their inceptive. principles
and seem utterly inexpedient to be
thrust upon an unsuspecting public.
We are surprised at tho staid and
conservative Washington Post. II al
ways gives the news, and dips into the
sensational but seldom. In fact it
pounces upon those publications which
seem con .inually bent upon startling
tho public with sensational exposures.
But even the Post has dropped into this
line of business, and Monday morning
furnished it's readers with the details of
narrowing plot to blow up the capitol
and other Government buildings with
dynamite. Its first paragraph starts Off
thus:
plot which, it is said had for it's
object the destruction Of the Capitol and
perhaps other government buildings has
been slowly coming to head in this
city for some weeks past. Fortunately
the secret service and the police au-
rhorities have been kept informed, al
most from the time OF the arrival of the
plotters, of their movements and plans,
and the closest precautions have been
observed to thwart the conspirators
should their Vaccinations approach the
point Of actual violence.
The story goes on to give the details
OF the plot, how the police had been in
formed; what buildings had been Sc
lected to be destroyed; how the scheme
was worked out in connection with the
Coxey movement, and how the anarch-
lists who were engineering the whole
sale plan Of destruction had been
thwartsd in their efforts by the lack OF
excitement which they supposed would
occur when the commonwealers would
take some concerted action.
The incidents are indeed interesting,
but the Post makes o mistake in pub.
fishing at the same time the career of
one Honore Jaxon, late Of Chicago, a
half-breed Indian, and general all
round schemer. To this gentleman was
ascribed the honor of originating the
idea, and the article, under a Chicago
date, went on to state how he had been
connected with all the important move.
ments Of a sensational nature to take
place in the Windy City of late That
Jaxon may be bad man and capable of
working out such dastardly plots may be
conceived from his paren.Gge, but lit.
tie paragraph was inserted which takes
credence from tho whole story.
This paragraph was as follows:
Honore j. Jaxon is remembered in
this city IS man capable OF advocating
the most blood-thirsty and revolution
airy ide.s, and to gain notoriety he would
be willing, no doubt. to identify himself
with any movement. He is, however
not regarded here as having the courage
to do any one injury.
With such person at it's head any
plot can scarcely be expected to be
pushed through. We cannot believe
that any serious idea Of doing so was en-
tertained, and it would seem as II the
Post was wasting good space to open its
columns to such a silly and evidently
improbable scheme as was tnere worked
out.