The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-10
DUTY OR COURTESY ?

On the strength of the reported findings Of the
Rictnnond Vice Commission. both Richmond pa
pers that have expressed opinions incline to the
riew that the report viii recommend the aboli
zion OF the segregated district, and that # this
Is true the Mayor both will and should enforce
the law forbidding its existence. These papers
feel that the Mayor matter Of courtesy
90 the commission, should follow ifs recomnen'
dAtions The Richmond Fleming Journal holds
that Mayor Ainslie cannot, OF course issue an
arder to close the district until he has heard
the report OF his own commission, as such
course would be the height Of disooartesg." The
Richmond Times Dispatch states that.
Mayor Ainsiie who appointed the commission.
probabiy will fee himself boGnd by It's report
and the Times Dispatch. wtt2h heartily APP
proved the appointment. fcolE that 1t will be
euaaIly bound. II this commission. after It's
carefaI investigation, argeg the abolition Of the
aggregated district, the district should be ahol-
shed
Thus we have the remarkable spectacle OF Two
daily newspapers III Richmond, the capital city
Of Virginia, declaring that official courtesy by a
pubiic ofhciai to members of body appointed
b him should take precedence over. and prove
mere binding than. the sworn duty of that of
I
oath Of office given by him TO the people as a
guarantee OF faithful enforcement OF law.
The Richmond journal, with that fine courtesy
and fairness that characterizcs that paper. de-
slares that tho work Of the commission has re-
seiyed a great deal OF emphasis from the edito-
sial columns OF certain of reform organs
IN Richmond and other cities"
A. tnattar ar Tar he work NJ he commits
SIGN has received very little attention from any
paper in Virginia a matter OF interesting
sacf TIE Viygtnian. and other papers OF yir-
ginia which believe that official duty and obliga
tspn To obey thu law are more binding that Of
Ecial courtesy to a bob however able and intel
5 .igens--~appointed by Official TO investigate
any subject, have been concerned with one
fhtng-the enforcement OF the law of the State
which the officials of Richmond have sworn to
cnforce and have not enforced. The commits
sion rs we have said before, is fine a body
III men and women has investigated any sub
1nct Ia this or other cities. The fact Of law
n eakOrcexaent Ia mos affected by that fact. how
pyar for tho Mayor ot Richmond had an oppor-
nnxafy before ts= appointment Of The conrsafsslon
~ enforce the law and failed to do so.
H None OF these considerations alter the fact
the Jo1rr7snt st1d fsprteh give
ui1sf~nce to the acHef that official courtesy
sAOuad overbear official duty that tnen sworn
I b enforce the Law justified 81 disTasariing
thear oaths of Once by ID. opinions Of other
4nnrsons N fact the TIN ss- D soatch's view
aeans that this sense o. of9eial courtesy Will
Asud both the Mayer oHa itself % support the
4 remnissions recor1m erdations regardless of
soA0t those ssnaG:Sons meg be fc~ the ssEe
4 Of courtesy TO the commission Mayer Ainslie.
who appointed the committee, prcbab,y Vi1l feel
himself bound by this reporf ant the Tfraes-
Daspntch, which heartily approved TIE appoint
ment, feels that It will be equally hound be-
eauee. III this commission, after careful inves-
1 81gation urges the abolition of the district the
\ district should he abolished" Suppose ta.e report
ehould BE- for segregation ana TO permanent dis
f1gard Of 'sw. wouid they De equally bound?
The adrost Nefos Leoder has sefgained from
comment, ether ron 'ecS Of IN opinion CT the
willingness express II. Ii dissuSsiag Tic lsshe
4 at prev.cns lme ,hat paoer admitted its ina.
hlltty to make decision, stating that it was
frank 10 admit we do not know row expedent
Dr ~ NAAN NtF fuiS " iHsiunSgiN t!lc
d FnJe OF all the year
Argument cannot o}~e: &c eeld fact that the
Z ~ 81 Virgini2 xfica expressly so~is4s the seq
frated dis4r.cg. as agar a2anIa@cna ard ofscia4
oths unkept IL lis city. The Iosrndt itself
@xk4tes that the portion that has been taken is a
akeshift'' which represents the efforts of Of
kMSors cf the Law 10 handle In the most effective
oaner the evil OF comgnercialzed vice" II
~ represents the refusal of officers To obey
W. low or TO have others, obey IT. The most
g1cs1ye manner of doing right is doing it,
r. Times Dispatch also viesxs segregation as
eering" with the situation. saying that:
paete segregation was not 10 he expected
the failure OF the end ssagh8 Is material
ensfrs there is oayioas.y ssr1hsr reason
,vvisiaH does NOT beiieys IL any COM
eith evM when defsnAfrs a. aA&ra<a-