The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-18


statewide prohibition. X.
"Was the Language Extreme7"
In the last issue OF the Advocate the editor
requested the editor OF the Religious Herald
10 point out the language In the legislative re-
port adopted by the Anu-saloon League Con-
ventfon which the editor of the Herald con-
stdered to be extreme" Tho editor OF the
Herald replies In editorial entitled WAS the
Language Extreme?" in which the editor Of the
Herald quotes certain language used in the re-
port follows: The wet newspapers be-
gan a campaign of Misrepresentation. SANDER
and vilihcat,on Of the work and the workers
OF the League which they have continued with
increasing shamelessness. viciousness and mali
ciousness to the present hour"
Referring to the comparison of newspapers
which act as travelling bar-tenders for the
liquor business by selling their columns to ad-
vertse intoxicants, the Herald quotes
treme the following: Both making money
out of the damnation of their fellowmen,
and whenever men can bring the consent of
their minds to make money in such busi-
ness they will not hesitate to SANDER, abuse
and Willy in every possible way those who
are destroying the profits of their business
by their efforts to save their fellowmen from
ruin"
extreme and violent leave readers TO
judge" Concerning this the editor of the
Advocate says that in his opinion, this Ian
guage Is not extreme or violent" except as
the horrible facts which the language describes
are extreme and violent" The newspapers
referred to in the report have carried
campaign of Misrepresentation, SANDER and
abuse, and have continued 1t with shameless
ness. viciousness and maliciousness to the pres
ent hour" and this conduct the part of
the wet newspapers has continued since the
convention to the present hour. the readers
OF those papers know.
Furthermore the editor OF the Advocate be-
leves that newspapers which advertise intoxi-
cants equally with bar-tenders making
money out Of the damnation of their fellow
men, ana that IN the sight of God they stand
On exactly the same level bar-tenders. And
the editor Furthermore believes that whenever
men can bring the consent of their minds to
make money by the damnation OF their fellow
men, they will not hesitate to SANDER. abuse
and vilify the workers of the Anti Saloon
League, who are fighting the business of the
saloon. and are also fighting of necessity there
fore, the advertising business of the wet" news
papers. The editor of the Herald may consider
this to be extreme language, but the editor OF
the Advocate believes. with John Wesley. that
the men who sell liquor aid and abet the
same, Pensioners General' of the people
and that men Who with the present degree OF
enlightenment on the liquor question, will sell
or advertise intoxicants which ruin and eter-
Aally destroy their fellow men, will not hest
tate to destroy the regulations OF the persons
VINO try TO stop their poisonous business The
editor OF the Advocate leaves to readers
| to decide whether the language is extreme
or violent" when used concerning such per-
1 sons. Indeed, the newspapers to be
! blamed than the liquor dealers, for they know
better than the dealers
The editor Of the Herald says that the above
| language IL "bandying of epithets." and the
editor joins to this the language, Sensual cove
tous and wicked men,"
As to the first language have already
stated our opinion that it is simply just
Characterization OF the conduct of these wet
newspapers Now. as to the expression, Sen
sual covetous and wicked men," we quote the
paragraph in which 1t occurs:
Continued vhcation of Anti-Saloon League
workers has been for many years the favorite
weapons of the drunkard- makers in every State
in the Union. The fact that an accusation is
made against an Ant-Saloon League worker
! by wet newspaper should be prima facie evil
dence that it is a SANDER circulated help
| on the business OF their liquor advertisers. We
must defend and support our workers against
these assaults Of sensual covetous and wicke.
men,"
men" refer to distinct class of persons They
refer to those persons, whether liquor dealers
or newspaper editors, which vilify and Islander
| League workers. They do not refer even to ali
newspapers which advertise liquor They re-
| Ter specifically to those which make assaults
| upon our workers Such men declare,
| to be sensual, coyetous and wicked" Ger
| tainly the editor of the Advocate believes tina,
| this language is not too strong to be applied
| to men who viiify and abuse engaged in
| Temperance work. One other expression might
have been used with much appropriateness
| namely they assassins of reputation and
| deserve to be characterized In correct language.
| As to the language used by the Times Dispatch
| We have nothing to say. but We cannot agree
with the editor of the Herald that the Ian
guage quoted by him from the legislative re-
port Is a part or a parcel OF "a bandyng of
epithets' 1t Is simply characterization of
conduct in proper language.
The editor OF the Herald says that, While
we think the attack on the unfriendly secular
press went too far. yet it only incident
| H. report whose general and remarkable excel
| lsnce IL fully recognized. We have no doubt
| that this portion of 1t written under the
| influence of a deep resentment, for which we
| fear there too much ground"
! The editor OF the Advocate did not write that
portion of the report under the influence of deep
resentment, IL by that 1t Is meant that 1t was
1 the expression OF personal animus. That por-
| ton written under the influence OF a con-
viction which could not be shaken off, that
the time had come to set before the people
| of Virginia the actual condition OF the tenn
perance warfare: to point out the real leaders
OF the opposition. and to properly characterize
| their conduct. Nothing that has been said or
done since the report written has altered
| that conviction. and the conduct of certain
| newspapers since the convention has proven the
| accuracy of the Characterization.
We thank the Herald for pointing out so
promptly the language which IL considered to
! be extreme and violent" We cannot agree
with 1t for the reasons given above.
On page two We print extract from the
Presbyterian of the South, which sets forth
Clearly the conduct Of the wet press
Christian Advocate.
Dr. James Cannon.
We have noticed with deep regret the atti-
tude of some OF the papers of the State toward
DIR. James Cannon. The epithets applied and
vuigarity INDUCED in by these pspers, simply
bring reproach upon journalism. DR. Cannon
1 In ton oil wv he IN n ~ ~t~-s-