Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-12-27
THE TREND OF AFFAIRS.

The two daily papers of Richmond
have become trust property, if reports
be true. The Dispatch has been pur-
chased and will, it is said, be run in the
interest of the Sea Board Air Line. 1t
is known now, as it has been long
known, that the Times is practically
owned by the Richmond Locomotive
works. These ale the papers of the
largest circulation possibly In Virginia,
and seeing that they enter so many
homes, these corporate interests have
sought this steaIthy and insidious
means of controlling public opinion.
This is but the beginning of the end
There are now but few papers in any
of the great cities which are not the
absolute property of corporations,
trusts and syndicated capital. 1t il
thus these enemies of the people seek
to spread their dangerous propaganda,
'Gis thus they hope to break down all
opposition, and turn the masses into
their own avenue of thought. To say
that such a scheme is not q deep laid
and dangerous one, is to talk like a
fool. 1t will widen with time, and we
may look at any moment for papers oil
no more weight and force than those
published in our own town, to be
dragged in chains to the Bastille of
wealth and imprisoned there. Soon
there will be no independence Of
thought. The moment one dares OppOse
their plans, or lay bare their designs
just so soon will some force be brought
to bear upon him, as will hush bis
voice and destroy his identity. Fal
more free may be the voice of those
who oppose the tyranny of the Gar in
Russia, than the individual who dares
edit paper in these United States
which has the temerity to speak fol-
the people. AS the Standard Oil Co.
now crushes out competitor, as the
Sugar Trust compells the merchant to
swear that he will not sell sugar at a
lower price than the trust fixes, as the
protected trusts command Congress to
tax poor Fillipinos, so will wealth soon
destroy any mans business who dares
publish paper which they will call
Socialistic, Populistic, Anarchistic OF
any other odious name they may,
through their powerful press, choose
for the occasion. We do not pretend
to know the means by which this will
be brought about. but that it is fast
coming no one with eyes can fail to
see. 1t already is termed treason to
say word derogatory to organized
capital. Today Mr.. Morgan is far
more powerful than Mr. Roosevelt, but
when Mr.. Roosevelt and Mr.. Morgan
go hand in hand where do the multi
tude stand? We hope the people of
Virginia who drop in their money to
support the Dispatch and the Times
may at least enjoy more ably edited
papers than they have before had, even
if they be more baneful. When We
are robbed, or buncoed, or held up,
we like the thing to be done in high
class fashion, and not in fendish, low,
savage way that any thug might en-
ploy, but with velvety, kid glove,
four hundred, college bred, air about
It, that kind which compells admira-
lion for cleYerness, and not disgust
IN account of brutality. For some
7ears the editorials of both these papers
lave generally been slop and slush.
We hope the Air Line and the Loco |
n olive Works may find some writers
v ho will lift those papers above the
'Iatitudes of the past, even if by so
loing they poison the minds of the
eople and SOW the seeds of revolution.