The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-08
AND THE PROUD SHALL BE HrMBLFp,

u statement to the People of Virginia" the
usmes-Dtspatoh feebly denies that 1t has backed
down from warfare fee offceholders ana
legislative lobbying-a conclusion pretty we'll
fastened upon the minds OF the people and
openly charged in the Roanoke Times. Here
is the language Of It's denial:
spray. when has the Times Dispatch backed
down? Where has It ceased from its war
fare against combinations " Zee oIF9@n'." ,I
10 prevent q fair expression 81 popuiar VII
ar in what Issue has I withdrawn its strlc-
aures against improper lobbying?
these facts las to lobbyng) are open and
well known They have uttered even as far
as pognoke They have not been bNnked In
f1anytlle Their effect IS felt on the SHORES
Of the Rappahannock and Ia the foothills 81
the Aieghanies
sIf the legislature. upon consideration, thinks
4. wise To cxpend the time and money ana eau
Abe witnesses and take the evidence necessary
10 fully investigate these statements the IlneS-
Dispatch will he glad 70 appear ana ASSIST 'ne
investigating committee with every means ~
sts power
Now that the Supreme" Is still willing, hut
no longer insfstent: Is in receptive mood as
an invited witness and no longer vociferous
volunteer-why let the dance 20 ON. So say
we If 1t has anything up its sleeve those from
the SHORES Of the Rappahannock" to the foot
hills Of the Alleghanies" and beyond have
right n fe;fe+. y efe-eeFaF- ia know H. even as
the pca-Dispqtch people would Imply. they
want the rest that Land and others are holding
IN their sleeve The electrical display may
clarity the atmosphere Heretofore the modest
supreme" has had all the stage in showing
OF the desplsed state officers. An investigation
may nut different color on the picture, and
the final scene may be Disappointing; the In
dfctment may not be sustained and boomerang
may appear as the curtain goes down. What
ever the results, those pilloried by ex-parte
newspaper statements have at least right 70
be heard
Thinking men who have nothing but the
States welfare at heart have advised Repre-
sentative Land to retire his iaures; that ia
not push for the investigation he insists upon.
The short time Of the legislature is needed,
In wise opinions. for transacting important
matters Of State interest, We believe this has
been the expression OF the Roanoke Times, as
well as Of The Richmond Ttr0inian and other
papers which have seen time and money fritz
tered away by Investigations" instigated by
sensational papers. some of whom thought them
selves immune until now. But we have no mind
to push our once vindictiye morning contem.
porary into something that now appears dis
tasteful to 1t, and II Mr. Land and his friends
think that the Times Dispatch will continue
to be good, and not forget the retribution that
is lowering over it. we would advise that they
and the people Of the State accept this apology
with which our contemporary closes it's state
nent" to the people Of Virginia:
TT such an investigation he held the Times
Dispatch Will state to the committee then. as
II states 10 the public Of Virginia nova that Il
regrets the Incorporate language made use Of
s. 1918.
."rhe general intent ~ that article was to
declare that fee nfflcehoIders and lobbyists and
special interests had brought such pressure 10
hear on the members OF the legislature TO
defeat the VIII Of the people and prevent the
enartrnent If laws demanded by the state at
large. and 70 secure the passage Of acts de-
signed 70 benefit individuals at the expense oil
the public.
.sThle statement was c0uched in language that
unnecessarily harsh, offensive and severe
Such language should not have been used and
the Times Dispatch regrets ITS appearance in
these columns.
fed had II not been fer the fact that the article
itself made the immediate cause for
personal attack upon the individual owners OF
the Ti1ncs-Dspatch
Even at this late day the Tlmes-Dspatch
ncation and withdrawal 81 language that, under
other conditions. u would have made long ago
This do
Though punctured ever and anon by name, or
Official position, we have not yet seen where
any oficeholder or. lobbyist" has cried Hold"
asked for quarter. Nor have they come the
crybaby act when singled out as individuals
On the whole, hte incident has been whole
some. Whether content to let it end here or
not, We are not In position to say, To way
of thinking &ho apology Of the Extreme should
be- taken Although 1t would be letting them
down easy, life is too short and fraught with
too many vital issues to be wasting time over
sfndietiyeness, or even vindcatious, Land has
been freeing ants up mullen stalks They are
animals that annoy and sting. and have to be
occasionally attended to. but advice is to
Eait ill bigger game DreTs cover.