The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-01
PITT FROM THE PIT.

PITT FROM THE PIT.
WIFE much pleasure we observe that the
"I&&a Devoted Ia Religious Matters of The
Richmond NtrginiAn founded ana supposed -
De controlled Ia great measure by The 4srN.
James Cannon is edited b the Rev. h. Ii.
Pitt, d, d. ef the Baptist denomination and
editor OF the Religious Herald. his shows Tor
The Nirginian broadening tendency and q
recognition of high character aud strong talent
which we approve very warmly,
The conjunction between 1g. Fitt and The
firg3n!a1 made especially notable 10y the
fact thai two Years ago pr. PITT censIvcd
rather bitterly and his Baptist newspaper sab
Jectcd 10 something Ike a boycott because br.
Pitt In has capacity as a citizen had announced
his purpose - vote Tor Tucker fer Governor
of Virginia. lie accused Immediately and
directly OF having gone over 70 the whisky
ties" Now he Is doing a page IN A daily Rev "
paper supposed 10 be the special representative
Of the Arti-Saio0n 1Sesguv-
The incident illustrates the danger there al
ways Is when any 81 Us undertake 10 supervise
and control the coaselenees % our neigabors on
the theory that u moral question is involved.
Ii iS So easy Ii 30 easy 10 step from the
conclusion thAt the man who is doomed 90 per-
dition because be Ri4 uot Vote for special
policy which believe re be essential FOR
moral welfare. 20 The conviction that he is also
condemned 70 perdi1jnn a servant Of the deNll
ard enemy to mankind II ne declines 70 vote
for a regard IS representing and up
holding thar palcy.-Rosuoke Times.
The above from the Roanoke Tunes is writ.
tan in the usual interesting style of Mr. A. b,
Williams, and with the lack OF accurate state
ment which is frequently characteristic of his
writing The idea conveyed is that Dr. Pitt has
recently been aided to the contributors TO The
I.rgtn4an, whereas. as our readers know. he has
conducted the Religious Page OF The yfgtn,an
ffem the bt- inning
The intimation further is that it ID remarka-
BILE that Dr. Pitt should do work for The psrgtn-
Ton because Rev. James Cannon is supposed to
to exercise some control over that paper
1t in declared that this shows Il Broadening
tendency the part of he ptrgsnan, because
two years ago the Roanoke Times says. DR..
Pitt was censured rather bitterly and his Bap-
list newspaper subjected something like u
boycott because DR. Pitt in his capacity as a
citizen. had announced his purpose Of voting for
Tucker for Governor Who denounced him
bitterly. who boyeotted his paper? Not The
TtrGintan Not Rex. James Cannon. AS a mat
ter OF fact at the Norfolk Convention. when the
Anti.saloon League declared that it would con
tinue the Local Option policy for the year 1903
DR. Pitt and Rev. James Cannon in entire
accord Or. Pitt wrote a letter TO Or. Cannon
to stand positively for the Local Option policy
and DR. Pitt declared atterward that be though
Or Cannon had rendered a great service to the
cause Of Temperance BY his insistence upon tina
course And vet the newspapers hostile TO Dr
Cannon accused him, and stin accuse him, O
3 Standing for a continuance az The Local Optior
policy in 1909 for political reasons Why dix
Dr. Pitt stand for Local Option and commend
Or. Cannon for 80 doing? why is Or. Cannon
h be abused and YllAfed for hla 41iln1l- and Dr
Pitt praised? As matter OF fact. there VA
no bitterness between Dr. Pitt and Rev. Jane
Carmen, which rnases II strange thar Br 1'it
should do work on paper with which Or Can
non is connected
In reference to that campaign az 1900. 1t Is 10
often forgotten that there Was 30 difference be
tween the candidates on THE Local Option pole
as party policy. The difference in tn
personal attitude OF the two candidates. MI
Tucker said that in q city his vote would b
governed by conditions. and in election 70
Statewide prohibition ne would vote wet
Judge Mann said that in any local option ele'
ton he would vote dry" and In State-wid
election he would vote dry" The difference
therefore was OF personal conduct in fac
OF a given situation, and not difference as
Local Option party policy. Statewide pr
hihition entered in only as possible contingel
ey. and In that event there no question
10 where the t~o candidates personally stood
1863
But Dr. Pitt vas never consigned to the pi
~ the Foonoke Times indicates, by DR. Cann'
or by The vrGtniGn because he saw III 10 70
for MIR Tucker, because he favored Loc
Option policy. Our understanding has bee
"a that fJr Cannon consigned 70 the pit
- - yet newspapers
S
IN THE CAUSE or PEACE