The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-03
PROBE DEEP.
month.

Now that the Council has determined
10 Investigate charges that havo been
made against present members and for
mer members OF that body. we do not
feel like saying II told you So" but we
cannot permit the occasion to pass With
out calling attention to the fact that the
newspapers Of this CITY, representing tho
sentiment Of the great majority of people,
urged the Council several months ago,
when tho charges were first made, TO IN
yestigate them then and there. members
of the Council who, for reasons sutil-
cient to themselves. declined to go into
an investigation. were warned that the
charges could not be hushcd up, and that
they were making q bad matter worse
by trying to do SO. Tho mere fact that
tie Council refused to investigate caused
all sorts OF gossip and speculation. SO
far fro1n hushing up the scandal, thou
sand tongues were set to wagging. and
this has been from that day until now
leading topic OF conversation upon all
occasions when questions concerning nu-
niotpal affairs were brought up between
men. If the investigation had been or
dered promptly at the time, 1t would have
been over and done with long ago, and 1t
would have passed very largely out of the
public mind. AS 1t Is. tho scandal has
been kept alive, and now, nearly twelve
t months after the charges were first
made. the Council finds It necessary to
Investigate
Our remarks are not intended to con-
denim, but to point lesson. This Is no
day for conceament. The public will
not tolerate it, and whenever charge
is brought against public official the
best way. and the only way. to hush 1t
up is to Investigate 1t forthwith and let
all the facts come out 1t is the only
way to allay suspicion and to satisfy
the public
This investigation was Inevitable. 1t
has come In response to public demand.
There may be no ground whatever for
the charges. We hope to heaven that
there is not. We hope that every man
whose name has been mentioned In this
connection will be able to show a clean
SCORE and to get complete vindication.
= But the Investigation must be thorough.
There must be no technical lodging. It
Is the bounden duty of the Council to
burn on the light, and 1t Is the bounden
duty OF those who have been accused to
Jet the investigation take the widest
possible range If any ono of them Is
guilty he might as we'll confess. If he is
innocent 1t Is to his interest to have a
full and free Investigation, If he at
tenpts to dodge behind a technicalty he
will certainly fall short of vlndication.
This investigation Is not to be like a court
\ trial, and tho evidence that will be forth
coming should not be hedged about by
the technicalities of tho law, which are
deemed to be necessary In court trials.
Representatives OF the people of this
community will be on trial before the
people. and the object OF the invcstiga-
ton viii be to show whether or not mem
oers against whom grave charges have
been brought have been faithful or faith
ess to the trust which the people have
3 Teposed In them.
II the men are innocent. the whole COM
munity will rejoice, for the honor of
Richmond is dear to every honest clti-
zen There is no disposition to prosecute,
but there So demand for all the facts.
There Is no sympathy In Richmond Will,
the practices OF the boodler. and there
is no room here for him. Let us go to
tho bottom OF all these charges. Let us
hove thorough cleaning up while we
are about it. Let US convict or vindicate
the accused and be done with It.