The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-30
A PUBLIC MISFORTUNE.

Richmond Is suffering In moro ways
than one from the strike. especially from
tho disorder that has come along With IT,
IT Is a well known fact, however pain
full 1T may be to admit It, that there is
much prejudice against Richmond IN
some parts Of the State, and 1t will do us
no good to become burden to tho tax
payers. It has been given out that 1t is
POSTING the State OF Virginia two
thousand dollars day to maintain
order in Richmond and vicinity, and the
taxpayers of the State will not love
Richmond any the more for putting this
burden upon them. In vain will we plead
MAT the great majority of our people are
N favor OF law and order. The fact is
that the soldiers havo been brought here
TO suppress riot and the whole city Will
be held responsible for 1t.
1t is true that out of s2,212,c 90 collected
by5the State on account of real, personal,
Income and capitation taxes. Richmond
paws s2Ss,ooO or more than ten per cent.
But people do not stop to consider such
details.
When riot broke out in the coal fields
at Pocahontas several years ago. there
was bttep complaint. as we recall, Of
Z the expense incurred In restoring peace.
Ii was to be expected, however, that
In a strike like that. where the strikers
we're composed very largely Of foreigners.
there would be lawless outbreaks But
the idea that practically all the soldiers
in the state must be brought to Rich
mond IN order to keep our own people
from destroying life and property has
dlsgustcd the whole State, and the tax
payers resent the idea of having to pay
two thousand dollars a day to make the
people at, the capital city behave
There is another consideration. Rich
nond and Manchester have heen adver-
Using far and wide as desirable places
for investment We have urged outsiders
to come here and build factories and
start various enterprises, giving them
assurance that their investments would
pay. Mr. Gould, one of the richest men
in the country, finally came and bought
IN our street Gar lines. but the prop
erty had hardly come into his possession
before he had {; disastrous strike on his
hands and before terrific assaults were
made on his property.
We are not making plea for Mr.
Gould, nor arc we rebuking the men for
striking. If they were not satisfied with
their situation they had a perfect right
to strike. no matter who owned the road.
But that Mr. Goulds property should be
wantonly destroyed and that his em-
ployes should be stoned and fired upon.
and that the very life of his enterprise
should be threatened in this community,
must make him feel a little sore over his
Investment in Richmond Mr.. Gould has
wide acquaintance and large influ-
ence among men OF means, but we fear
that IL this thing goes on much longer
he will not be apt to advise any of his
friends TO invest their money in Richl
mond and Manchester.
1t is disagreeable to have TO say these
( things, hut we, as citizens of Richmond,
might as we'll be frank with ourselves.
We are suffering, and we arc going to
suffer, for this season of riot. and tho
longer 1t is continued tho greater our
suffering will he,
How long Will We, as sensible and
Iaw-abidtne people, permit this state OF
things 10 continue? it is our own affair
and the sooner we return to our normal
condition and send the soldiers home
the better IT will be, II is time for the
patriotism and common sense of Rich