The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-11-17

~ ~ ~ - IL "A r. IN E.W -
body unanimously requested the correction
Insre WAS no charge that the reporter had
Intentionally misrepresented the matter. The
paper saw lit to make apology, and IL not
so intended, worded the report OF the incident
IN Il way that caused the conference to con
ceive that the aggreyed member was charged
with duplieity, watch called forth resolution
81 the conference insisting that the proceedings
be correctly reported by the paper IN question
or the stan Of reporters be requested to desist
from the use OF the reportoria1 privileges of the
conference room. The incident was the occasion
Of the fiery editorial In the Richmond Journal
which protested in a communication promptly
forwarded TO the Journal copy Of which is
hereto appended. inasmuch the Journal has
seen fit to decline the publication and has made
1t the subject of editorial reference, and the
occasion OF further abuse OF DR.. Cannon
DO not see how the Journal can he heartily
Tor the conference and against Cannon with
reference to this incident when the conference
promptly and decisively sustained its long time
faithful and Jealous member who Is constantly
honored by his church in being placed and
tanned ia most prominent and responsible posi-
tion 1t Is not very complimentary to the con-
ference or the church and not to the credit OF
the Journal for this faithful steward to he
paraded as marplot' and allen buffer and
the soicitade of the Journal that he be found
OUT is rather ludricous
In asking you to print the unpublished pro-
test am not conscious of any desire for per-
sonal notoriety nor do l feel that | am penning
these lines for paper that would be sub
seinent to any improper motives purposes
on the part OF any of its stock holders or staff.
Very respectfully.
W. NJ. BlCkERS.
Richmond. Va. November Is 1910
Protests the journal Editorial.
Editor Evening Journal:-~It is not in
troversal spirit nor in anger that respectfully
protest the leading editorial in the Evening Joar-
nal. The writer would not pose represen-
tative Methodist in any implied pretenson of
adequate activity usefulness in the church
to which he belongs and dearly loves. and from
the sacred precincts of which his mother and
father have been lifted to the church triumphant
in the skies. But tho protest will be distinctly
a representative Methodist one as / sure
Will voice the sentiments of the Methodist
masses. BY way of preface / will say that I
am quite ready TO believe that the Journal itsel.
Will thank me for giving it the opportunity to
get itself right before the public instead OF bear
ing the burden imposed upon itself by an OK
preston so evidently written in hasty temper
ana tno onense intended) with SO evident care
lessness. 1t Is not supposable that the Journal
would wantomy malign msrepresent the
conference. and yet your editorial on
Cannon accuses this representative body OF
doing the bidding of man. The man
being evidently included in the referece to Ger
tain ambitious politics-clerical indiv iduas''
agstating the Randolph Macon matter and N
intmating its belief that of the newspaper
men reporting the conference is fasiter'' and
practically expelled him from the church where
the conference is being held" etc. Then you
arraign this supposed detection In quite strenu-
GUS style. the climax being an assertion that
you would believe oath any reported who
has had any experience with the Rev. James
Cannon. Jr in preference to DR.. Cannon" Now,
IL you seriously entertain such view OF DR..
Cannon and believe the conference would do his
bidding. your estimate Of Methodist ethics Is
not of an exalted standard. and yet YOU will
know they or the salt OF he earth" The
Methodist conference is not succeptible to the
charge Of being swayed or ruled by any die
incidentally you will permit me to
say, that II such plastic condition obained /,
personally. would prefer Cannon, think. for
the position, tnasnuch he has been faith
full and indomitable worker for his church. and
all the thruSts of the enemies of his popularity
have but served to more clearly reveal his n
derfui capacities for usefulness and his superb
elf-control.)
The resolution of the conference to which
Your drastic reference Is made (and which, by
the way. you failed to publish) the result
of certain newspapers failure to comply with
a most reasonable and respectful resolution OF
the conference and the publication OF what the
conference concerned to be disengenious article
that to use an old saw, made the apology
worse than the offense." The motive was not to
brand reporter wilful falsifler, but to
insist upon the correctness OF the papers re-
ports, and in the event of satisfaction on
this score to ask that this paper desst from
making any report. The original proposition to
exclude the reporter from conference reportorial
privileges met with no favor and DR.. Cannon
himself expressed disapprobation of it, atating
that he had no reyengeful feelings in the Mat
err. And why the temper displayed by the
Journal and the withdrawal OF the reporters OF
the several papers? In good truth had the incl !
dent occurred with any other central figure than
DR.. Cannon twhom you grievousy misrepresent
in your charge tina he the most intent
upon expeiling the reporter" and. implicitly be-
newspaper there would not have been many
tery editorials and comments You plainly dis |
close this in your reference to his dominating |
the Anti-Saloon League. Bluntly DR.. Cannon |
has excited the antipathy Of the ro-Iicense
papers Tor anti-prohibition papers, il you
choose) by his persistent and potent activity and |
his wonderful facility Of bringing things to pass /,
All strenuous characters. such this walk /
amidst he fires of defamation or denuneiation
History is continually repeating itself
The Methodist Conference is a conservative I
and sane body of Virginia Christian gentlemen |
and DIR. Cannon Is splendid representative OF
The body--nether needing any defense at my
hands ] have not the pleasure of intimate I
acquan tanceshp with DIR. Cannon and I have t
svery reason to feel kindly towards the repre-
'entatives of the Richmond press, many of whom [
ire my personal friends and having been In a
way connected with he craft for three decades
" more. But l want tn say very frankly I
md earnestly that / admire the courage of the I
conference in demanding just treatment for It
self and its~much abused but brilliant and true |
member. at whose devoted head many stones
ire cast And 1t is not yelled threat but
word In due season" when l suggest that the
press can III afford to be placed in any other
attitude than that of absolute fairness with ref
renee to these matters.
Most respectfully,
". NJ. BICKERS
Richmond. Va. November IL, 1910.
The Doll and Toy Fund.
mo fha iroNS atch u