The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-02-16

recently been made by A. A. Yoder
Ii his motives were pure and his
methods bad. his aim was nevertheless
In the right direction SO far as the
conditions were concerned. III his mo
tives were base and his language I'M
justifiable. the improper conditions
were brought to the front and the
public conscience aroused as never
before. Soon after he came here. and
before had ever met him. ] pre-
sumed to write him q letter and urge
that he make absolutely sure OF his
proof for every charge before publish
ing 1t. His confident and oft-repeated
assertions that he could prove every
statement his seeming frankness. and
the evident fact that he was graphing
with real problem when nobody else
would touch Ii. won my unqualified
sympathy and support ! have been
both commended and condemned for
standing by him when practically not
another man would openly espouse
his cause. | have been both praised
and criticised Tor leaving him at the
slast hour. ! say with ell seriousness
that 1T was with feeling of the most
genuine sorrow that l found that l
could not espouse his cause further
and must repudiate both his methods
and his motives and zee the man who
had created 80 tremendous an up
heavai In public sentiment discredited
end condemned and imprisoned. !
have been told that treated him I'M
Justly: that his relations with the hotel
manager were without improper mo-
tixee ON his parI. that his failure to
produce evidence Was due 10 his In
ability to bring witnesses who had
talked with him In confidence; that
his sworn contradiction of his letter
Of retraction to Congressman Glass
was due 70 extreme exhaustion and
fatigue at the close of q terrible cross
examination. II Is hard to know the
heart of man, and IL II should ever
lexsinp that I have done this one
iniustiee and have In any measure
| tmpaded the cause of right ] shall
never cease to be profoundly sorry.
Under the circumstances. however. |
did not feel that could honorabiy
have done otherwise than as did,
though I would have given anything
la my power II / could have stood by
him To the end.
An Appeal for Yo<icr.
After coming to the decision IN
dictated I'm my published statement, !
did not feel that ! Was bound legally
or morally to continue TO print THE
Idea" the continued publication al
which must tend to keep alive ami
nosities and keep the public mind IN
a fer1nent that would retard rca
movement toward better conditions.
Meantime. cannot those who have
been made to suffer by this publiea'
ton afford to be generous la the haiti
Of their yfndieation7 Even viewing
| the matter in Its worst light. Is there
/ rot something about the frtendless,
/ ness OF the man and the distress VI
/ his wife and little ones that mus
| appeal To every man who has a spark
| OF human sympathy in his makeup
Have not the ends Of justice beef
fully metz VIII not those who have
+ bean offended unite with me and with
/ the public In a petition Tor the par
| don of this unfortunate man.
Wrongs Must BE Riglltet.
/ Meanwhile, regardless of the meth
| eds and motives of A. A. Yoder, ths
| outstanding fact Is that the public
I conscience has been aroused concern
| ing wrongs that must be rfghted
| There must be no further comprouiss
With these wrongs.
The social evil must he fought
! wisely but effectively.
The Sunday laws must be enforced
! The gambling houses and polio,
/ shops must be shut up and kept shut
The sentiment OF the people mus
1 he behind the peoples officials in or
/ der To enable and compel them Il
! enforce the peoples laws
A vigorous and unrelenting. bu
sane and conservative. movement
slong these lines will clear the mora
/ atmosphere and make 1t fit for ths
coming generation " our boys ane
girls. Now Ia the time 10 move.