The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-01

Jokes with the News Leader. Our pur-
pose in discussing the subject Is To set
at the merits of the case and to aid the
City Committee, as far MS we may, in
adopting that course which will be in
the best interest OF local government
we are not concerned about the candi-
dates, either local or State, so much ms
we are concerned about Richmond.
The News Leader Gays that, according
to pubic report, tho committee has nj,
ready decided OF its action If tint were
true. we should have nothing more to
shy on the subject; but, in point of fact,
the committee will not decide Until It's
next meeting is held, and we again !ex'-I
press tho hope that we have produced
argument SUFFICIENT to convince the com.
mtttee, II 1t needed to be convinced
TINT there should be two primaries In
stead OF one; that our local contest should
be determined in a local primary.
x SO far the News Leader has said noth-
ing to change our view, and we submit
the case without further argument
4, EE------:-=-=---=-=
The Church and Mr.. Rockefeller.
A good friend of. ours, whose opinion
we highly esteem, because hefis not only
a wise man, but just man. thinks that
we were a little hard oil MIR. Rockefeller
In yesterdays paper. We said that the
methods OF the Standard OH Company,
of which Mr.. Rockefeller is the head,
Ind been exposed and condemned, and
that when lle offered to contribute slOOCD0
10 the Congregational Church for mis-
slonary purposes, an opportunity was
afforded TO give these methods a rcbuke,
and that We believed that such rebukc
would have been worth far moro to the
cause OF religion than the money which
Mr.. Rockefeller had contributed.
Our friend thinks that we were wrong
in condemning Mr.. Rockefeller unheard.
lie believes from what he has heard
that MI. Rockefeller is himself n pious
man, We have also heard from distin-
gulshed preacher, who is very Intimate
with Mr.. Rockefeller, and who frequently
visits him his home, that he is good
man and trying to do good. We fnre not
disposed to condemn my man unllcard,
and we are willing to concede, as our.
friend points out, that the Standard on
Company has greatly reduced the price
OF oil and given the people II better artt.
Gle at a lower price,. But tile Standard
OIL Company has not been condemned un-
heard. II t has been condemned time and
again by those who have looked into It's
affairs, and 1t is notorious that It's meth
DDS have been cruel and leartless, to say
the least. These methods, according to
common report, and according 70 the
popular verdict, which is rarely wrong,
arc contrary III all respects TO the tea els
ings or the Bible and the teachings OF
the church, and the church would be
untrue to. itself il 1t did not condemn
such methods always and rebukc them
whenever opportunity serves II the
Standard OIL Company has not been
convicted, It is at least under the gravest
suspicion, and we hold that unless the
church is satisfied that the charges
ugainst it are untrue, and that there is
no ground for the popular verdict, 1t
should not accept money from the mead
OF tina orgnnizauo to carry on its work PIX
The Times Dispatch Is liberal III all
its views, but however liberal we may
be, We cannot think that the cause 9 +
religion is helped, but rather injured
when the church, BY any act, seems %
give countenancc to ways and means OF
plinE IN wealth which its own code
denounces. sii;s s
s,G sf5 f6iSf5 ----===----- iitss 5Ei sl