The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-24
COMMENT
The Reform Records.

The appointment of John Shelton Williams as
increased the pleasurabie interest of progressives
in the present administration, and especially of
the financial end of 1t. 1t is added evidence OF
complete change in the attitude of the govern
ment toward the countrys interests. The men
who taking charge Of affairs not look
ing at the people through the big end of the
telescope.
The New York World sententiously observes:
Nobody will ever accuse Thomas r. Ryan Of
having secured the nomination of John Shelton
Williams. OF Virginia, assistant secretary of
the treasury"
Truly the old order changeth The men in
the high places not only honest Democrats
and progressives but they are sophisticated 1t
liz no benefit TO the people of country to have
honest men in public office If those men have
not sufficient understanding TO know when they
are being bamboozled into running the govern
ment for the benefit of those with special in
terests Most of the men in the presidents
cabinet know the game"
Mr. McAdoo is quoted as particularly gratiaee
by the acceptance of Mr.. Williams an accent
ance that exacts great a sacrifice Of nar
sonal interests" But Mr. McAdoo's service is
of the same order.-Columbia State
Good for the Governor
We are delighted to know that Virginia has "a
governor IT. VINO Is man in every of the
WORD he has refused to commute the sentences
of the Aliens thus showing that he intends to
uphold and defend the laws of the state. The
Aliens have been given fair trial found
guilty and sentenced to be eectrocuted Eyerv-
thlng has been done TO give them the benefit
of the doubt, and now there is nothing more TO
people of this grand Old Commonwealth should
not allow their sentiment to get ahead Of their
sense OF justice, for If they do had better
abolish the courts, denounce all laws and turn
r me, country NJ over to murders offering IRE
and be done with it--Orange Observer.
What Is The Purpose of Ftp
me disposition on the part of two or more
snglHla newspapers to berate Governor Mann
nor ms decision in the Allen cases and to vigor
ousiy continue discussion with the yisw ~
jnrja
and the chief executive were all mnnstra,.sI,s 80
sfror when dealing with the charges and evil
dence adduced against the two condemned man
lmpresses us being painfully raoret,ahIa
SUCH methods might be understood and explainad
were they directed to the end of Changing ire
resuit--or of reaching any tangible defnite and
otner than to stimulate telling of resentn.ant
plusese Win which the extreme Allen SYM
r "a may regard Governor Manns action
TO ian into flames the spirit of d{ssatisfactfn, |
aho erief IN the minds of the Aliens friends
70 teach the public that its agencies for the aa
ministration of law and the preservation Of or
ger and maintenance Of peace are about TO he
guilty OF wanton judicial murder renresants |
a task to which we are loath to believe ~, 49,
lie journal in Virginia would lay it's hands fAnA
if appearances Indicate as they d. that soy |
an ehueaYor is now being made In one or more |
Journalistic quarters. it would be the kinder
view and perhaps the fairer view to conclude the
lact Is que not more to heedlessness than 10 de-
sign AT any rate ii may properly he askad
IN connection with the continued agitation 81 tha
case, cni bono?-for what purpose? To cause
Governor Mann to modify his action? Searcalv
so. For the newspaper critics In this case appear
to he employing method of discussion which
from no angle of common sense can be we'll |
expected to appeal to the governors disposition
to further consider the matter. One Of the -FOUR /
nails TO which we here have reference has scath- I
lngly arraigned Virginia's executive in mood so
fierce and language scathing il not denuncia |
tory. as to naturally appeal more to his sense /
OF Indignation than aught else. SO what's the
use We press the inquiry. Is 1t to so arouse 4
the anger of the Allen sympathizers as to incite
them TO an assault upon the pententiary with l
a view OF releasing the prisoners? or course Il
not, we viii be told-the question Is absurd |
to point Of being offensive. Have it So But H
we yet feel that the prolongafion OF the cam 4
paiEn in protest against the courts and the State
government as represented by Governor Mann. H
property 1ustiness the inquiry to what is the Il
object that ts had In vieweither that or an In II
sstance that these who hold public peace ard