The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-16

THE HABIT OF DENIAL

IfiE HABII OF DENlAL.
Almost all the North Carolina papers. and not
4 j few of those of other Southern States have
lately been much exercised over reports OF what
h ~. Governor Rebert Broadnax Glenn had TO say
in Cincinnati concerning the attitude OF inc
South toward negro education. According 10
the press reports that from a number OF diner
ent sources carried practically the same story
the ex- Governor undertook to say that the South
erns States generally, and North Carolina III
particular had refused the negro tar chance
expcnding but 1.-THE of the school funds upon
his education. and that this condition was "dls-
grace to civilization and other things typical
Of the expression of the we'll known Carollnlan
platform vocabulary.
When, rs he occasionally does, he cX-Govcr-
nor lit briefly in his home town Of Winston
Salem from his going TO and fro III the earth
aud from walking up and down IN H. he denied
in toto that he had used any one of the expires
sions 50 generally attributed TO him. Instead
he related. he told the people of ONO that the
South had done all that ii was possible that she
should do for he negro; that the North was
/. Jointly responsible with the South for slavery
and so chargcabe with Its results and that the
negro should be helped by the North and West.
That he should have said anything that might
be construed as a criticism of North Carolina or
. the South. was a suggestion that the ex-Gov-
,ernar repudatea with scorn as malicious mis-
representation.
If In this connection we desire to say that we re-
NAMED dumb during this firing exactly because
we knew what the outcome would be. No sooner
had ne seen the reports than we knew the denial
would be forthcoming. OF late the denial has
become habit of Mr. Glenn's. He uses it ON
all and sundry occasions. 1t seems, either that
all newspaper men are liars with a particular
penchant for giving the Tar Heel orator roast,
or that he is the one man whom they fail to APP
preciate and understand. Strangely enough,
also, they one and all misunderstood him TO the
same effect. 1t is either a monumental CON
spiracv Of libel. or a strange bit of psychology
working TO the hurt of a great aud true man.
When in Washington recently, the Ex-Governor
was reported by some dozen different cor
respondents to have announced his candidacy for
the Senate He denounced the story as entirely
false Other incidents of like nature have in
dicated either pernicious collision or a strange
telepathy toward error in the newspaper fra
tcrnity in the case Of this laxative and approch
y able man,
Tic truth probably is that the ex Governo
does not know what he saws. even after he ha
saidalt His oratory is like The food for volume
II il like the chip on the breast of the flood 70,
I direction. His discourse changes with every
ripple OF emotion. He bols like cataract owe
rocks, and sweeps like frcshet through the low
D Lands. He makes his pictures 10 his mind, utter
them with his tongue banshes them from hi
memory. The reporter, however can but follow
with more or less lteralness. He is to he eX
Fused ii be takes as serious statement that whic
foams for moment upon the tide of imagnatio
and enthusiasm. And when. after he has calme
down. the sex-Governor undertakes to deny tn
statements attributed TO him, because he does NJ
remember 10 have made them. he ought to RI
member that he is attacking the one partcula
point Of character which the reporter has, Thi
Il il his accuracy of statement, and it made be sal
that on this point, the average reporter has
deal more character than many of those who see
to discrcdit him
We do nor believe that ex-governor Glenn
I guilty of the despicable conduct of "trying
ON the dog; this is, making statements TO hay
them reported and then, If the effect is not plea
ing, knowingly DENYING the matter delibcratel
disseminated We do think. however, that thes
Incidents coming one after the other, show tina
he ought 10 prepare his speeches and then site
10 the text If he does not, it is NOT the veract
Of the reporters but that of himself, which wi
suffer in general reputation.