The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-28

continued. and on rejection system in
what was called tho black belt. was
honeycombcd with fraud. 1t was AZ a
cankcr that was rapidly eating it's way
INTO the vitals of the state. and there
was none TO cry out against il until
The Richmond Times lifted UP its
voice The Times was bitterly de-
nounced by the party organs and the
party leaders, but it was in no wise
deferred. II exposed fraud 1t pro-
duced the proof and brought tho ballot
box suffers 10 justice. And ii is not
too much TO say Mat the agitation
which The Times began and the plea
that II made for pure politics led to
the calling of convention to revise
the Constitution, so az TO eliminate
the negro vote, which had been used
as preteXt for corrupt practices in
elections
While the Constitutional Convention
was iii session, The Times began an
agitation for better schools. This agi-
tation was also bitterly fought by
some in authority, and again was The
Times denounced for AN agiiator. and
a promoter OF strife. But. as before
1t was not deferred. and as a result
OF the agitation the school system was
vitaliZed, the appropriations for pub
lie schools increased and the cause OF
education greatly advanced, OF
course, The Times did not do It all. IL
did little OF the actual work OF the
several campaigns for education But
IT is entitled to full credit for arousing
the people and starting the propaganda
II was in the same campaign that
the State Library was dug out Of the
dust OF ages. which had settled upon
II, and nearly snothcred II, and made
a living institution.
1t was The Richmond Times that
began the movement for the State
Board of Charities. and it was The
Times. or The Times Dispatch, that re-
vived and energized the Health De-
partment Of the city OF Richmond. The
Times Dispatch also led the fight for
the enlargement of Richmond's Dor
ders. and for extending the city con
venicnces into the new territory.
Tax reform is I, current topic in
these days But il was not SO when
The Times began to agitate H. IT was
The Times that first exposed the in
qualities in assessments. Day after
day ii published extracts from the
state AUDITORS reports, showing the
difference in the assessed values of
the same class of property in the sew
cral counties And II pleaded for
equalization" although it was as the
voice of one crying in the wilderness.
We believe that The Times was the
first newspaper in Virginia to speak
out against the fee system. We are
sure that it exposed and denounced
the system more than dozen years
ago. and it has never ceased TO advo-
cate the reform which is now become
so popular.
II is hardly necessary to say that
The Times- Dispatch has been a leader
III promoting agriculture and good
roads and al! movements for civic i'm
provemcnt.
The passage OF the bill to separate
the races Ia passenger cars was the
direct outcome OF an editorial article
IN The Richmond Times and another
article in The Times had much to do
with abolshins the gallows in Vir-
ginia and substituting the electric
chair.
These statements are substantiated
by the filcs of the paper.
The Times Dispatch is a human in
stitution, and 1t has made its mis-
takes. as the rest of us have. But it
has achieved much for Virginia, and is
fairly entitled to the tribute which
the Fredericksburg paper has paid it.
Whatever may have been its short
comings. il has ever been n newspaper
OF honest purpose ana its owners have
never sought public office. nor asked
reward FOR services rcndcred.-Ncw
port News Times Herald.