The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-18
Let the Record
be Kept Straight

| DC NCDl oll dlSlll
Elsewhere we reproduce an editorial which
appeared in the Richmond Times Dispatch of
Tuesday under the heading: "A Statement to
the People of Virginia" While the article is
directed more especially To the Roanoke Times,
there are certain references which make it ex-
cusable for notice from While the general
purpose of the article may he commended since
all just acts better late than never.
might say In passing that it should have been
addressed more especially to the general
sembly Of Virginia than ito the peopel of Viz
ginia," since the offending article was directed
towards the former and not the latter This.
however is question of ethics which may adj
init Of diversity of opinion, according TO the
code in which is trained, and is not the
"raison detre' Of this notice from us, which
is:
The Times Dispatch says 1T would have made
earlier amends for it's original article that Of
June s, 1918, except that II prevented from
doing by the immediate personal attack made
upon the individual owners of that paper. To
use it's exact words 1t says:
And this article would have later been modi-
fed had 1t not been for the fact that the
tic1e itself made the Immediate cause for a
personal attack upon the individual owners
Of the Times Dispatch"
The capitals used in the above
Since far as have seen. the only personal
attack made upon the owners ~ the Times
Dispatch came from this paper and its editor
let examine the records SO as TO keep this
matter straight The original article which
called forth the whole controversy appeared IN
the Times Dispatch of June 9Th. Within a few
days thereafter several papers in the State
took exception to the statements contained
therein in none of which were there any per-
sona attacks. These papers we're The Rich
mond Virginan, the Newport News Press. al
{ Ffx-a
other very conservative and equally as fair
contemporary both Of which IN general
accord with the purposes of the Times Dispatch
hut deplored Its methods and stated. but to
none Of these daily contemporaries were replies
made, 1t only after the obscure country
weeklles had taken notice of the charges that
the Times Dispatch made reply. jumping on
them, while shying from its more formidable
opponents. And here is where came in
on the 18th Of June, our first issue after
the appearance Of the article of June sth, the
Courier, whose editor was a member of the
general assembly attacked by the Times Dis
patch, called upon that paper for particulars
and specifications for its charges. Instead OF
this there came even offense than was
contained in the former article, this appearing
In the Times Dispatch Of June 10th with a
personal criticism of tho editor of the Courier
for not taking exceptions to the attacks made
i by the Times Dispatch upon the general as
semhly OF more than year previous
| Following this. in the issue of the Courier of
June goth. appeared signed editorial again
demanding of the Times Dispatch. or of its
/ owners, specifications of It's charges SO far
there personal attack made upon the
( owners OF the Times Dispatch although we had
in possession the information later used in
the personal attacks upon them No notice
was taken of this demand. 1t then in the
issue OF the Courier of June eth, after for
hearance had ceased to he n virtue that the
personal attack was made. nearly three weeks
from the appearance of the original offending
article in the Times Dispatch. so the facts in
the are that there no Immediate at
tack, but long suffering and great forbearance
Further still that the friendly criticisms of the
Newport News Press and Lynchhurg News aside
from requests and demands from other papers
during the three weeks Intervening was suf-
heient warning for the much delayed modifca-
ton.
There is just point we wish to make
in closing The Times Dispatch says IL would
have earlier made It's modification had ii not
been for the attacks made upon it's owners
The Courier has stated in the past that it be-
lievcd the West bill would have passed had il
not been for the attacks made at the time
by the Times Dispatch upon the general assem-
bly, For this have been criticised Should
the general assembly show less resentment for
charges. acknowledged too severe, than the
Times-D Dispatch for those, of which, at
least have been proven true?
However, again congratulate the Times
Dispatch as we did few weeks ago upon al
least evlncing something Of sanity in dealing
with public measures and public people OF the
State And. with the above corrections and
criticisms. we congra tulate it upon making final
Acknowledgements of its 1t was the only
manly thing to do.--Blackstone Courier