The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-26


done last week, not six weeks ago, at
THE time of the stake pulling. Further,
the officials were not forced into
truce with the tongers.
No stakes hnvo been pulled by them
since August IL, and that was done
without warning and while ] was en-
gagged on the Potomac. Upon my ar
rival later. not vcstige Of certain
lines was left for evidence rs to cor
rectncss, nor did l know what lndi-
viduals mad done the deed The ag-
would seek redress in the courts, and
/ trusted this proper step would be
taken. 1t was not. While not to be
oondoned, II was no more a case for
case of removal by persons Of a
field fence which they claimed was en-
croaching upon tie public highways.
The owner of the fence would be the
stable or sheriff. Until the aggrieved
private interests should have papers
executed.
Upon reaching the scene six weeks
ago l secured assurances that no moro
such acts should occur, and stated that
the State would proceed to define the
correct boundaries, as the law pro-
vides and actually demands of my COM
cecded to put back their stakes to
suit themselves. and they are there to-
day pending determination by the
States surveyor Not a single planters
oysters have been depredated upon.
Last week 500 men and score OF
women assembled to again pull the
stakes and go in on the grounds, be-
cause they claimed the planters were
robbing the. public domain out of sea
son and under protection of stakes put
there. not by the officials. but by
planters. over whose location there
was grave question. met this crowd.
and after long parleying and u proper
display of authority, changed their
determination.
promised that the surveyor would
arrive this week, and TINT l would
request eight planters to stop work
on the debatable grounds for few
days. 1t was much TO the interest of
planters to prevent depredations All
but one of the eight readily acceded |
The other refused, and as this firm was
special permit from the commission
(see statute). this special privilege |
for dredging was revoked few days
ago. Dredging is a drastic and irri- |
tating method of operating, and the |
Legislature wisely gives the oyster |
Commission the arbitrary power to is
sue or revoke snch privilege because OF
the menace TO public property and the
public peace.
was nos forced into a truce, and I
was prepared to resist violation or |
the law No overt act occurred, and
II you condemn the policy / pursued
determined rights. your sanctum t
heroism is to be appaudcd. Had the |
crowd started to pull stakes not put |
there by surveyor or officials, but by !
aggravated cases, not all OF the hun
drnd or more plots that were not in
question:. had they begun pulling and |
putting women and babes 10 the front. |
would you have opened with shrapnel
and rifles on them? Answer this, and |
tell me also please, II the slaughter |
of fifty or more would have been more
to my credit than the diplomacy that |
did not tarnish the majesty OF the I
law?
Whether the Baylor Survey should be
ton. 1t Is Law. ard my chief duty
is to see that 1t Is not transeressed
so long as It is law. Pardon me for
asserting that Just such articles as
you arc writing are reprehensible, and /
untinely when no session OF tho Leg
islature is to be influenced, and when
at this crucial period they inflame the
will tend to precipitate hloodshed
quicker thar anything knew. should |
II be brought on. you, Mr.. Editor. will /
seek immunity Will you also defend
courts for what must be fearful mas
sacre of citizens of Virginia over |
doubtful rlghtsf BY tact, and not by /
'coddling." the law has been upheld.
no rights materially injured and blood
shed avoided There Is no escape from
fire when human beings are huddlcd
in boats on broad waters: city mobs
can be fred into and dispersed with
small loss OF life. There are buildings
and defenscs for refuge, but there can I
be no such scurryin, or fleeing from
carnage on the water.
Communication Of the press (outside |
of your interests) and the approval OF
his adviser. the General, may I
we'll satisfy me as against the cause
you seem to have taken up for one o,
two firms whose interests were not
seriously crippled, and whose special I
privileges were revoked for few
days as conducive to the greatest good
for the greatest number and the avoid
ance of bloodshed
You Will proceed, no doubt unin-
tcrruptedly in your prominent odlto-
rial columns with biased attacks upon
my official procedure, unwarranted by
the press dispatches and reports of I
your own representatives who have.
be IN on the scene with me. I chal-
lenge you to lodge specific charges !,
against me before the proper tribunal
for incompetency or any dereliction
interests have not progressed under
my administration. or else cease your
display of spleen because / do not |
pander to your special "interests" or
Views. w. MCDONALD LEE,
Commissioner of Fisheries.
Newport News, Va. Sept. %, 1910.
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