The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-30
kick very mich. but they feel 1t was an
unnecessary burden.

FRO BONO FUpIlSS'
Stanton. Va, July oath.
Granting every proposition that our
correspondent lays down TO be true
which we do not, he proves by MS own
argument that it was necessary 20 can
out the troops. There was much disorder
in the city, ana If, as our correspondent
says, the police would no, suppress w.
1t was the bounden duty OF the Mayor
and the chief Of police to ask for troops
There was nothing else for them to do'
But our correspondent Is too hard on
the Mayor. His famous saying ABOUT
being In sympathy with 1.-THE boys was
not, we feel sure. correctly interpreted
1t was an unfortunate speech at the UNIV
for 1t was made In the midst OF very
disorderly crowd. But the Mayor dld not
mean to say that he was IN sympathy
with the rioters. He was speaking OF 'nS
strikers, and there were no strikers
among the rioters. He meant TO say
that he was III sympathy with the strike.
and that he had shown his sympathy
BY refusing to ride on the cars, but ne
followed that UP with tho announcement
that unless the disorder ceased he would
ask for soldiers. The disorder did not
cease. and tho Mayor true to his word,
called upon the Governor to bring the
soldiers to Richmond.
We are not apologizing for the Mayor,
but are simply stating the facts IN the
case, as matter OF justlce. Mayor
Taylor could not possibly have meant
to say that he was in sympathy with the
rioters. because as VIC have Just stated,
he warned them that II they did not
behave themselves he would call Tor
troops.
Nor are we npologizing for the police.
Some of tho men were undoubtedly de'
linouent, but for that very reason It
was necessary to have the soldiers. the
police might have been able to handle
tho situation, although we doubt IT. out
the simple fact Is that they did not
handle ". and tho Mayor and ch'et OF
police, realizing the fact, asked the ala
OF the State government.
AS for the disorder in Henrlco, that
was not Richmond's affair. and Rich.
u,ond is in no way responsible Tor II.
Sheriff Solomon declared that he could
preserve order in the county. and refused
to ask for troops. even after they had
been asked for in Richmond. He discov-
cred later however, that hs could not do
so, and yielded to the inevitable. The
fact that Sheriff Solomon refused TO
call upon the Governor for aid, even after
such aid had been requested IN Rlch-
mond, and the fact that he subsequently
asked for aid, showed. beyond perad-
venture, It seems to us. that the Mayor
and chief OF police of Richmond were
right in the course which they pursued,
and we do not see how the taxpayers
of Virginia can reasonably grumble.
There was much disorder even after
the soldiers arrived. and there is every
reason to believe that the disorder would
have been very much greater II the au-
thorities had refused to call for troops,
If they had refused to do so and there
had been bloody riot in Richmond.
the blood of the slain would have been
on their heads and they would have
received the COnueHliidllo1' t"eJ '4SsN'''S'A'
The taxpayers of staunton and OF
other cities and communities In the State
should be very slow to condemn the au-
thorites here for asking the Governor
for troops, and very slow to condemn the
Governor for responding promptly and
effectually to the call, Some OF these
days, although we hope not, the tax
payers in other sections may find them
selves in the same predicament. and II
through the local authorities they call
for them to protect life and property
from the lawless element, they Will ex-
pect the Governor to respond with the
same promptness that he exercised IN the
Richmond case.
| =-------------
Judge Alton B. Parker, whose name II
now frequently mentioned in connection