The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-10-08
REV DR. r. H. PITT IN THE RELIGIOUS HERALD

abusive diatrbe had been delivered. So far as
we can Judge, the direction of the campaign
from that moment passed into other nanos.
though 1t continued under the name OF the Or
ganzation there formed. 1t Is simply unoe-
lievable that the men who led that meeting were
the promulgators Of the nnumerable frauds
and fakes that went out from those headquarters
II these gentlemen were to avow their direct
responsibility for the stuff with which Virginia
was flooded. high as our opinions Is OF tnelr
characters we should find 1t difficult to beheVe
them For our part we prefer to believe. and
we do believe, that they were utterly incapable
Of such conduct Nevertheless, their high and
honorable names. the influence of their use
full and distinguished lives were all used by the
adriot managers of the liquor forces to support
every OF these publications The people OF
this Commonwealth were for a time utterly be-
yildered and confused by the situation thus dis
closed TO them. OF course. the gentlemen who
signed tie call for the meeting In the Academy
did not furnish the bulk of the money which
flowed through the nquor headquarters like
river Only interest In the round world
would have provided the necessary means for so
lavish expenditure. Well, there is A situation
which we regard very significant and very
unfortunate. In noting 1t we venture TO eA-
press in sincerity the hope that herearter'
when our citizens Of honor and distinction, our
men Of high character and long and eminent
service, feel 1t necessary to unite for any par
ticular purpose that they will stay united ana
will manage their propaganda In their own way
and that they will not suffer their nohoreo
names and influence to be used as bufwark
behind which utterly selfish, corrupt and un-
scrnnulous forces may entrench themselves.
g. The course of our daily press speaks Tor
itself Our secular brethren have prooaoiy
learned their own lesson. Our kindly resaro
and high appreciation of them Will serve. we
ere sure, to acquit us of any injustice or I'M
pertinence when call their attention TO the
fact and Comment on 1t. that with few ex-
eeptions such as The Richmond Virgfnfan' ths
Roanoke World. the I4ynchburg News the bras-
tol Herald Courier the Clifton Forge REVIEW
end the Charlottesville Progress, all the daily
newspa pers opposed Statewide prohlpitlon. we
are bound to say that some of these IN 'neil
opposition were as dignified and reasonable
as could be expected in so exciting calnpAie.
But there were others that seemed uttery 70
abandon for the time all reasonable ciaiia
to be organs of public opinion and to become
marc channels for anything and everything which
the uouor forces cared to empty into tneH'
There were abundant evidences, too thAt aiohs
with this shameless subservience TO the liquor
interest came swollen circulatons PLAINLY .e"
porary and artificial. Many forces compiheo
to bring signal victory to the temperance cause
one Of them which has not been noted Is fouho
in the course of this portion OF the DAILY press
of the state.
1t is perhaps useless to comment upon 1t, yet
Il must be plain to every observent and thought
our daily papers tends to diminish rapidly and
surely that class OF our people. already small.
who are still disposed TO believe Whatever tney
see in print If 1t is persisted In, the time Is
NOT far distant when the friendship OF these
daily papers for any public cause will be reck-
oned as a liability rather than as an asset
Even the daily papers In opposition tnat pur-
sued higher and better course ought to learn
from this election how important 1t Is TO get
into intelligent sympathy with the oest moral
sentiment Of the great state wnloh they SICK
to serve
4. There were individual instances OF in3us-
ttce and misrepresentation. some OF them due.
doubtless to the excitement of the time, some
to reckessness the part of their authors,
and some to Jack Of information For the most
rart these were corrected and apologized for.
Several however. remain unexplained and I'M
accounted for. Let them pass. In the small
and obscure part which we bore In the discus
sion, we sought honestly to be frank. fair rea-
sonable and restrained. Certainly, so TAR as
our intentions and spirit were concerned. we
should rather have seen the whole cause defeat
ed than Il, have been guilty OF any deliberate
injustice to anybody connected with the oppo-
sition.
We must live together, and we welcome the
hearty cooperation of the really strong men
who were identified with the opposition in the
effort which must be made to provide
in practical and reasonable ways for carrying
cut the will Of the people. We have never
doubted that our great, leading daily news
papers would. when Virginia's voice was made
clear and articulate lend their influence to Sc
cure the faithful enforcement of the laws. We
made little merry In opening paragraph
over their swift acceptance of the situation. In
closing would more gravely and earnestly
express our high appreciation OF their spirit
and purpose. Let not only live together In
amity, putting behind any animosities that
may have grown out of the campaign but let
lbs work together in all good will for nob!er.
purer, better Virginia.!
His Choice.