The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-22
PEOPLES FORUM


day, morning was shown an editorial in the
Richmond Evening Journal of Tuesday. March
10, entitled Has Dr.. Cannon Retired"
am never surprised at anything that ap-
pears In the columns OF the Evening Journal
of a personal sensational slanderous nature.
especially concerning myself And have been
the less surprised at such things since the
present editor has been in charge of the edi-
| toral columns. He has never forgiven DR..
Cannon because tho Virginia Conference ex-
PEELED the reporter Of the Times in Norfolk
about twelve years ago, when the present ed-
tor of the journal the news editor OF the
Times and when he did his best to destroy DR..
Cannons reputation at that time, by false ana
sensational head lines. And he has been espe-
cIay vicious. because after investigating the
matter. Mr.. Joseph Bryan had an editorial apoi-
ogy made to DR.. Cannon for the vicious and
| slanderous attacks OF this same news editor.
who is now the editorial writer of the Evening
Journal
| II anything were needed to show the Intense
ly personal anmus of this editorial writer In
the Evening Journal it is the fact that al
though the article, entitled "A Personal Word,
!, was signed by Rev. ]. Sidney Peters, as well
as by Rev. DR.. James Cannon the attack of
| tho editor is made upon Or. Cannon alone,
| and the editorial is entitled Has DR.. Cannon
Retired?"
| So much for the personal animus Of the at
tack made by the Evening Journal.
| But. inaxmuch the Evening Journal has
| asked the question: some facts will be stated
which DIR. Cannon would not have stated ex-
| cept for this personal attack upon his char
acter
In the issue OF The Richmond Virginian OF
Saturday. April 20, 1911. in an editorial entitled
Boomerang Hypocrisy of the Evening Jour
! max" statement was made as to the attitude
of DIR. Cannon and Mr. Peters concerning the
! Sunday morning paper. That statement Is
given in full at the close OF this article. From
| that statement 1t will be seen that nearly
| year ago Mr.. Peters and DR.. Cannon stated
| publicly that with the convictions they hold
| on the subject they could not become respon-
| sible for a Sunday edition.. Their position
on this matter has not changed since April 20.
! 1911, and soon as 1t was definitely decided
| that d Sunday edition would be issued. Mr..
| Peters and DR.. Cannon retired from all official
! responsibility for the same.
! But has DIR. Cannon retired and is he not
he owns stock in The Richmond Virginian?
Let
| DIR. Cannon does not own majority of the
stock in The Richmond Virgnan. He does
not own one-third OF the stock. nor do he and
Mr.. Peters together control one-half of the
stock of The Virginan. He could not
alone determine any of the policies of The
! Richmond virginian today. nor could he have
| done at any time. 1t is possible that he
! could have prevented the publication of the
Sunday issue of The Nirginian by entering most
vigorous and strenuous protest privately and
! publicly and by appealing to other stockholders
| to unite with him in that matter. but DR.. Can
non does not believe that he should have fol-
I lowed That course There are many other STOCK.
| holders in Tho Virginian Company. many OF
. whom have put thousands of dollars into the
| paper. They have respected the convictions OF
| Mr.. Peters and DR.. Cannon on the question OF
Sunday issue and in the summer OF 1911.
when 1t decided to enter into the morning
field. contrary to their personal judgment, these
other gentlemen agreed that they were willing
that The virginan should run tor six or nine
months in the morning field without the sum
day issue, and II at the end Of that time 1t
became evident that the paper could be made
( sef-sustaining without the Sunday issue. they
would rejoice in that fact. But II 1t became
! evident at that time that tho paper could not
/ be made self sustaining without a sunday issue,
then Mr.. Peters and DIR. Cannon agreed that
| they would make no further protest against the
Sunday issue, but would retire from all ofticial
connection with the paper.
T While The virginian Increased in circulation
! and in business during the eight months in
{ the morning field without the Sunday issue.
/ yet 1t evident that It could mot be made a
permanent proposition without the expenditure
/ of very large sum of money, unless 1t should
I publish Sunday issue.
| Mr. Peters and DR.. Cannon did not feel that
they could insist that the other stockholders
should continue to put in money, contrary to
their positive convictions, as to the wisdom OF
! doing, and they have retired from the
| directorate Of The Virginian.
DR.. Cannon stated to the board OF directors
that under circumstances could he ever
agree to accept any profits from his stock in The
/ tiCnmOfl0 Slr&fntAIi. as that pfOnt must OF ne
cessity be based upon tho advertising in the
| Sunday issue. He furthermore agreed with
leading persons connected with the management
OF the paper that he would give them nm OPP
ton ON his stock whenever they desired TO pur-
chase the same. He did not think that 1t would
! be treating them fairly to offer his stock to
/ outside persons. All It would inevitably weaken
! the influence and control of those who were
I trying to make the paper success. He felt
that II men who are putting forth such strong
efforts to make the paper a success should sue
/ coed, that they were the ones who should have
| right to purchase his stock, and therefore he
/ has given to them tho option. These are sim
! pie facts which can be substantiated by tes-
| timony Of the in the company. who did
| not agree with DIR. Cannon concerning the mat
/, ter OF the Sunday paper. but DIR. Cannon did
not think that 1t was proper for him to state
these facts In the article printed In The vfr-
gilman of March 1S, 1912. for had no done SO.
| the Evening Journal could have said with some
| show Of justice that DIR. Cannon trying to
| make parade of his conscientious convic-
| lions, but as tho Journal has made this SIAN
derous attack upon his character, Dr. Cannon
! feels that his friends have right to know the
! exact facts In the
And now having made the above statement.
DR.. Cannon thinks that he should repeat what
was said by Mr.. Peters and himself March
| IS. 1912.
at is hardly necessary for US to state that
while we will have official connection with
The Virginian in the future. yet the paper will
receive our hearty support. and we shall feel
the deepest interest in it's continued welfare
and prosperity"
In the editorial Of April 20, 1911, it was
to their associates, and indeed to all men, the
rphf IN AArf 1ch ING