The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-13
MONDAY, JULY 1s. 1908.
THE sMALL-Fny or JOURNALISM.

can call their own; VINO are reg ului
from mental prostration or because
regularity Is tangible asset; VINO
never had an independent thought, and
are frightened when they meet one IN
the road; who take their opinions
whole from their so-called leaders, and
solemnly declare that black is white
tf the boss OF the ward tells them So
these inert and complaisant creatures
have naturally, in times past had
their poor filings at The Times-Dis-
patch.
Unable to conceive OF an unsuitable
conviction, ignorant of stlie meaning
OF a principle which is not to be sur
rendered at nod from the stump,
they have, naturally. seen nothing In
the course OF this paper but treason
that favorite epithet Of the facile
{ dullard Because The Times-Dispatch
would not swallow the nonstrosity OF
free silver in 1896, 1t was. and has re-
NAMED, TRAITOR" with those loving
tloyals who would pull for revision
X OF the Ten Commandments II their
State committeeman babe them do so.
For the impotent crew that have
snapped at its heels through these
twelve years, this newspaper feels
nothing but Indifference. 1t had the
courage Of its convictions at a time
when this meant heavy loss to news
paper-loss of circulation, of money,
and. most important, of influence. That
courage, which they could never have,
it still possesses. But now happily it
has the qualification of seeing its
course largely virtdicated and its con-
ception of newspapers duty in the
ascendant.
Possibly its own example has had
some part In that change which has
taken place in the newspaper thought
of the State in recent years, which has
made virile independence and adher
ence to principle common, and which
Z has made the servile party organ" so
i largely obsolete. At any rate, this
change has Enthusiastically taken place.
There are score of papers thinking
for themselves and speaking their
minds to-day where there was one In
1896, and we find The Times -Dispatch's
understanding OF Democracy In theory
and practice, now echoed in every great
newspaper in Virginia.
The small-gauge newspapers, the
thick-and-thin newspapers, the news
1T,
their principles are Of another COM
pany. To these the failure OF The
Tines-Dispatch to go out" again in
1908 Is bitter disappointment.
Whether they are far away and merely
observe. or whether they are closer
home and draw heavily upon its col
umns. with the tmitative paste-pot and
scissors. they would have made capt.
tai out OF this newspapers adherence
to Its convictions. In the one case
the cry OF traitor might have meant
improved party standing: in the other
it might have meant subscribers.
So we find the always Industrious
Danville Register, In its issue Of july
10th. hopefully predicting that The
Dispatch would bolt" and add
ing that even If 1t did not do this. ut
Will aid the Republicans almost as
effectively by fighting in the ranks
of the Democracy" In proof OF which
4 it quotes what 1t calls "a sample ut
terance, which shows that The Times
Dispatch had hoped to the last to see
Bryan defeated for nominations"
The Registers ever busy discovery
department and Old Sleuth methods
have of late set it at loggerheads
with nearly every unhysterical paper
in the State. 1t is rightly called the
Nicholas Carter OF Virginia Journal
ism. But why should 1t have gone
q to such pains to SHOW" what has
been SO often stated IN these columns
plainly. explicitly and without nys-
terry, gum-shoes or false whiskers to
deceive?
The unhappy Register, and others OF
Its type are free TO derive what pres
tige they can from their drab and
feeble innuendoes regarding The
b Times Dispatch If yapping is their
cue. the field is clear for yapping
The Times-D Dispatch, for Its part. is
perfectly satisfied with its alignmen,
IL in the Democracy OF Virginia and OF
the country. It finds itself every.
where in the company OF honest ant
able newspapers, who preferred an
Z other candidate 10 Mr.. Bryan. and sal,
so; who wished no novelties embodie,
& in the platform. and said SO; but VIII
ardently desire the overthrow Of Re
publican principles and practices, AM
are acting. and will act, accordingly.
The sentiment which these paper
represent Is strengthening every da,
Is and will continue to strengthen. !
we do not misread the signs Of tn
timsA. 1t viii ba dominant in the Demo
cratic party at q time when tn
N Organ" Danville Register style. wi
have disappeared or suitably trimme
Ia .