The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-15
cHRnN1CIlzs o. cARNAGE.


men who correspond for newspapers from news
oenters when nothing Of special interest or i'm
portance IS happening 70 make things happen.
The favorite recourse for the creation Of public
interest is to imagine and record q fight These
gentlemen are tar more prolific Of combats than
the average promoter Of pugilism. Like Jobs
Ear-horse they scent the battle from aiar and
their snorts and ha-hahs sound shrill above
the rafting Of the 1avelins and the shouting
of the captains They JOY in strife. Their
dreams by night and thoughts by day are on
assaults, retreats, strategems, on forays and
raids and reprisals; or rear attacks, flank move
ments frontal demonstrations. sieges and sack
ings. They devise campaigns and give circum-
stantial narratives Of slaughters, great victories
and terrific routs and slaughters. Their delight
is in supposed passages at arms and fancied
elashings OF contending hosts,
For instance, they are bustly engaged at the
present in describing q sanguiuary engagement
between Captain Joseph E Willard and Or.
Thomas Nelson Page. two perfectly inoffensive
and peaceful gentlemen, of Virginia, who have
no thought Of mutual humiliation and no oo
casion for it, We have described to us in thrill
ing, vivid almost bood-curdling sentences the vim
dictiye character Of the duel between these two
over an appointment to the diplomatic service
Dr. Page Is represented as aligned with the
forces Of Apollyon. the same being Senators
Martin and Swanson. as against the heavenly
legions led by the Hon. Richard Evelyn Byrd,
and performing under the stage name of Pro
gressive" We are given details of this latest
rl,r
icled the varying fortunes and shifts Of the vast
encounter
The truth is there is no conflict Both Captain
willard and DR.. Page are capable Of represent
ing the country and State most worthily at any
post TO which they might be assigned No
reason has been given. or assigned, why both
should not be appointed or why Virginia should
be restricted to one important appointment In
the diplomatic service Both have won distinc.
ton. Neither has been extensively or conspicuous
ly active In our factional fight here. During the
last senatorial campaign Captain Willard was
driving his automobile placidly in Europe. we
believe and DIT. Page was calm in Washington
or at summer home. Both have warm friends
on each side the faetioual line. and there Is
rot the slightest evidence Of hostility of the
ators against Captain Willard or Of deadly
rancor in the breasts Of Messrs. Glass Jones
or Montague toward DIR. Page Yet we have de-
picted for US in lurid lines deadly row among
citizens who have no thought Of quarrel
So in the case of the appointment of John
Shelton Williams TO be assistant secretary of
the treasury That came so suddenly that the
men Of war had not the time to arrange and
present story of stirring and stricken field
They rally bravely, however, and present Mr.
Williams doubtless to his astonishment-ss the
warrior who led the organization" forces To
great victory. Martin and Swanson" one
enthusiast informs his public, have drawn
first blood" Mr.. Williams never has been
known In politics. lie is and always has been
q business man prominent because of his ability
and activity and especially skilled In statistics
Doubtless he was appointed for that reason on
the recommendation Of Secretary McAdoo; and
OF course, Senator's Martin and Swanson were
glad TO endorse him as a distinguished and
capable citizen Of their state. II Is safe te
say that no politics or political considerations
had anything TO do with the recommendations
or appointments.
Yet the correspondents must have 1t as an
incident Of hattie nearly altogether imaginary,
They know the American and Virginia public
IS interested more in fight than in any other
event or style Of entertainment Therefore, We
may expect to see them continue their bloody
work, TO have every wire from Washington bring
10 our ears the clash Of resembling arms; to
have citizens ana officials who really are going
quietly about their affairs represented to us
as dealing upon each other fearsome gashes and
plunging destructive weapons into each others
vitaIs
Blease, Of South Carolina, governor. has q
mania lor breaking into the news. He does
not care. evidently. how absurd, shameful or
outrageous HIS performances may he if they
win get his name in the newspapers. Twice
I be has pardoned his negro chauffeur, fined in the
police court for running an automobile at an
lawful speed Dehed by the city authorities,
insisting that he has no right to interfere with
enforcement Of municipal ordinances. he threat
ers TO pat the city under martial law. Probably
be has no intention Of doing IL; but the affair
Nas enough Of sensation TO go on the wires;
and presumably Bleaae is throughly happy over
Ais achievement