The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-11
"sHAsiELEssNESs AND MALICIoUsNEss"
OF "wI.T Newspapers

tive Committee OF the Anti-Saloon League at
Newport News. which was adopted by the Con
vention as It's own opinion, is evidenced every
day. The first meeting of any of the League
committees since the Convention at Newport
News was held on Thursday The Executive
Committee OF the League transacted It's business,
and adjourned. The special items of interest
were the decision of Dr. l. r. Wexford that ow-
ing TO great pressure OF work, he would be I'M
able to accept the Office OF president of the
League; the election OF Mr.. X. s. Barbour as
president of the League, the transference Of the
duties of Superintendent to the Headquarters
Committee, and the reelection of the present
executive workers tef the League
1t would seem that there was nothing IN these
things to give any ground for Misrepresentation.
But the wet" newspapers do not require any
ground for their actions except desire to mis-
represent the League.
The EpsntHg journal is generally recognized
as utterly reckless In its statements concerning
both persons and things. But it was not only
reckless IN this case, Ii was utterly shameless,
The leading editorial In The Journal is entitled
"Dr. Cannons Change" In this editorial the
effort is made by the editor to convince the pub
lie that the decision of the Executive Committee
TO transfer the duties pertaining TO the superin-
tendent to the Headquarters Committee is sim
ply change In name and not in fact The
proof presented for this statement by the editor
Of The journal is that the first name on ohich
(the Headquarters Committed is Rer James
Cannon, d. D." AT the close of the editorial the
statement is made: "Dr. Camnom's name is sttlF
at the head Of the Headquarters Committee and
il keeps us suspectiHg
II would seem impossible to the average man
that any editor would be so reckless and shame
less as to base an editorial attack upon state
ment which has foundation In fact, and.
moreover, which is hatly denied by its own news
columns. On another page of the same issue of
The EretlnG Journal was printed the following:
This committee has the following members,
who elected yesterday: r. S Barbour
chairman. Rev Henry Pearce Atkins Rev.
James Cannon. Rev ". A. Christian Rev Thos
semmes. Rev, f. T. Dadmun. Rev Ryland
Knight"
Here it is distinctly stated in She news col
umns of The Erentng Jourma! that MIR H. S Bar.
bour is the chairman of the. Committee, and that
Rev. James Cannon is member OF the Commit
tee as be has been since it was formed years
ago. But what cares The Evcntng journal for
80 worthless a thing as 2 factF The Executive
Committee of the AnttSaloon League had held
q meeting. Something must be said that will
discredit the League and especially Rev. James
Cannon Nothing did occur upon which to base
such editorial. and the editorial mill, win
its usual righteousness and shamelessness,
ground out its grist regardless of the facts
stated In Its own news columns. What are facts
when wet" newspaper is writing about the
Anti-Saloon League?
This wet newspaper. in this same ed
itorial, says this change will presumably relieve
DIR. Cannon of the individual responsibility for
his carnations and take him from under fire.
This is quite amusing. II WAS as chairman of a
committee that DIR. Cannon wrote the report in
which set forth tn righteousness and
shame lessness" Of wet" newspapers But when
the report was criticised by one or two persons,
DR.. Cannon did not ask to be relieved of the
individual responsibility for his emanations "
On the contrary. he arose and stated emphatcal-
~ tffat he aid not ask any one to assume re-
sponsiblity for the statements in the report, but
that he was entirely willing TO take the entire
responsibility. But of course The Epcatnq Jour.
nal is never expected to regard so insignificant
thing sa fact.
1t Is also amusing 10 see how. anxious The
Journal is to make the public believe that DR..
Cannon Is going TO leave Virginia 1t says, We
will miss his Christian utterances in the Rich
n,oad Chrisfidn Adpoca.e.' etc DIR. Cannon has
stated that he does not expect TO leave Virginia,
rocate, and he has been reelected to member
ship on the Executive, Legislative and Head
and he Is announced 10 preach at High Street
and West Street churches. in Petersburg on
Sunday as a representative of the Anti-Saloon
League work These facts do not seem TO ind
cate that DIR. Cannon is going to leave Virginia
as The Epenag Journal declares. But what are
facts 10 The Eventn9 Journal
Secretary McAlster furnished Il statement to
the reporters of all the afternoon papers, in
which, referring TO the action of Or. Wexford, the
following language was used.
"'Tr Wexford who was elected president Of the