The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-28
STATE PRESS
Captain Willard.

| The resignation Of Captain Joseph Willard
| from the Corporation Commission removes
| from public life one of the most remark :
able rich men in the country Captain
| Willard might be justly called model of
the wealthy American. or more aptly, what
a wealthy American ought 10 be. Willard
| Is not of the new rich" class. He was
! born with silver spoon In his mouth but
1t has not spoiled him. The sons of the
very rich are usually not worth passing
notice. Their ambition Is to get in the
social whirl across the sea, hobnob with
a kind of nobility and make asses OF them
selves. while true nobility looks on in dis
dam To his friends, and they are legion,
| he Is and always will be plain "Joe" Will
lard. While others of his class in wealth
| have followed life of ease and comfort,
this young man was carving out his career
| along with other American boys. and handl-
capped as he has been by wealth, his was
not flowcr-strewn path. IIo has had TO
| labor for all the honors that came to him,
and that is why his life has been worth
while. Fortunate is the State that has rich
men who are not spoiled by wealth, and
who will remain joe. or Jim or Jack
throughout their livcs-men that will not
allow the possession OF money lead them
| into the so-called social whirl to rot and
decay. and to mngle with the degenerates
| of this and other lands. 1t required cour-
ago in Captain Willard to cast his lot with
the people and be one OF them. Had he not
been handicapped by being millionaire
he might have been Governor of his State
Compare him, ii you will Cor darc), with
the Astors, some of the Goulds and Wander
bilts and hundred others we might mem
tion, and his life stands out in dazzling
brilliancy Think what he has escaped by
being man instead Of snob Virginia is
to be congratulated upon having, among
her many attractions, rich man who has
remained clean and honorable, and who
would rather be laboring for her than
spending his time and substance in luxuri-
Gus ease,-Williamshurg Gazette.
The Proposed Oil Tax.
Speaker Byrd in the House OF Delegates
on SATURDAY offered bill providing for the
inspection Of all kerosene and other illumi-
mating oils sold in this State. Under the
provisions OF the bill the State Corporation,
Commission ia TO appoint an oil inspector.
VINO Is 10 nave assistants. including chem
ISL a taN OF half cent per gallon Is to be
charged Oil companies to pay for this. This
Increase is aimed at the Standard OIL Com
pany. inc Speaker seems to look not be-
You'd the end of his nose In this matter.
Does ne not SEQ that II the state puts the
tax on OIL tho owners of the oil will simply
raise the price and then tho people will pay
the TAX! But the prevailing Idea with many
of the present legislators Is "the people be
d." Mr.. Byrd has become one of the
most radical members of the Legislature,
and with such radical at lis head but lit
Ito can be expected of the body.-Alexandr!a
Gazette.
Future Liquor Legislation.
90 ,ner9- VII 30 nothing doing in liquor
matters III the next two years. And thus 1t
Woniu seem The organization has won out
ana ana is carrying out Its agreement. However
ms inuy pc we can but think 1t Is fortu-
na.e Tor mo cause of temperance that it
may be true. We think, in the long rum
ho,nlhg Will be lost. If Statewide prohl-
pl.ion IS best and right it will ultimately
triumph. majority of the voters even In
inc STATE are doubtless opposed to liquor
ana ana us evils but they are not agreed as TO
inc best plan OF destroying them. No cause
s w. ihuue such progress and gained ground
.t,s 'hah has temperance in Virginia In
h ne ius, rev years. 1t is being accomplished
u ,tn' dlsponsaries, highscense. local OPP
sauBnt ana lnstilled now into the younger
',a as never before, and who can tell
~, IN Few years the traffic may be de-
r $780, ana the minimum OF evil may be
treme m s mnmoas invoking the aid Of ex-