The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-25
took place, but without interrupting
the course of his argument


| took place, but without interrupting
the course of his argument.
Liquor and Milk.
! Mr.. Richardson read a statement In
regard to the discussion between him
| self and the News Leader, which Ia
printed IN full below. At the close
OF this reading he gave an effective
1 object lesson illustrating the position
of the afternoon paper. Taking a copy
OF the Leader. he twisted 1t into the
| shape of man, and producing bot
! tie of wine- colored fluid. which proved
to be tea, wrapped the arm of the
News Leader figure around its neck.
! stating that this illustrated Sle foster
/ ing care of the liquor traffic exercised
by the paper. Placing bottle of
milk beside the tigu.e. the free arm
Was seen TO be motioning the milk
away. thus illustrating the attitude of
that paper towards contaminated milk.
! Said he: The News Leader declares
we want Local option for liquor. but
| Statewide for miIk.'%
| In closing. Mr.. Richardson made an
! effective argument against the plea
OF the liquor traffic for union labor
! votes. stating that by far the larger
| portion Of liquor liz scab and not union
made. but while demanding union votes
the liquor traffic demands also union
boys to drink it's products.
| A large audience estimated at sew
eral hundred people all told. heard the
speeches and frequently showed Tits
approval by applause.
Respects to News Leader
| Il want it distinctly understood that
have no personal crouch against
the News Leader. said Mr.. Richard
son. do not know who its editor is.
! nor do | know who has written the
several articles under discussion In It's
news columns. The only excuse for
any. further agitation concerning the
| paper is that it does not give a square
deal" on the liquor question. II APP
7 pears to brook no criticism of it's
! policy, and it's news columns reflect
its prejudices on this subject. The
/ highest type Of journalism expresses
I It's opinions in the editorial columns,
and presents current history accurate
" In its news columns, But not so
with the News Leader. 1t boasts of
Its greatness as newspaper and un-
/ deniably does measure up in large
proportions in ability as a news gath
erer and in the making ola creditable
paper in many respects, but when IL
comes to lighting for local option. It's
/ editorials abound In defense of that
I
/ and at least some history OF prohibi-
/ ton movements are distorted In the
news columns.
Matters of recent occurrence testify
10 the correctness of this allegation.
Even last Saturday the New Leader
/ did not have the courage or fairness
/ to publish the little milk shake"
gave 1t from this platform Instead
/ Of giving the square deal the News
Leader "hit below the belt in that
II refused to publish what was said
about 1t, and in news story about
/ the meeting became very sarcastic
and held the speaker up TO ridicule,
4 There would be no serious objection
to. the ridieule II what was said had
/ been published
II am not afraid to publish In my
/ news columns, so to speak. alongside
/ my editorials. what the News Leader
said about me. So here goes The
! News Leader said in Its news story:
| THE Rev f. J. Richardson made
number OF pictures illustrating the
! prohibition fight and then rose to a
question OF personal privilege He
denied the accuracy of this papers
report on the size and animation OF
/ the meeting held the previous Friday
evening. when he undertook TO I'LL
| the vacancy on the program OCCASION
| ed by the absence Of the Rev, IL. ID,
c. Maclachlan. MIR. Richardson did
not think the meetings was as sparse
| ~ attended or as dry as the News
| Leader pictured IT, His idea seems to
| he that he Is a magnetic speaker and
| this his statistics were bright and
| lively.
| 1.-THE attendance on the meeting
| last night was larger than on the
I MT 1AAy ~
| interest was shown by the large crowd
present
! I'm this report there Is some evil
dence of growing accuracy In reports,
| but the News Leader errs when II
| states that the speaker denied the ac-
! curacy Ut this papers report regard
ing the preceding Friday evening.
There was denial, but 1t was followed
| by proof. Of the inaccuracy by three
other newspapers witnesses.
| Personally. have gotten beyond
| the point of being thin-skinned In re-
lation TO the attacks. direct. or In
| ridicule- coated shot OF the News
Leader Is more pathetic than other
wise. and reveals situation OF
polemic helplessnoes-or. in other
words. that It ts hard-up for argu-
ment. Merely to illustrate. would
! say that there have been attempts on
my life by advocates OF liquor during
my experience OF nearly eleven years
as a league worker In this State and
shafts or ridicule have been hurled At
me before. Some years ago profni-
mont ofiiciai OF certain county In this
State, while drunk. attempted to shoot
me with revolver whom there was
not the slightest soccasion for such
conduct. Only a few weeks ago some
fellows At courthouse not thou
sand miles from Richmond tried 70