The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-26
EVELYN BYRD
REPLIES TO ALDERMEN
Answers Resolution Critcizing His
Recent Utterances introduced
by Col. Barton HI. Grundy.
TAKES THREAT IN A
PICKwICKIAN SENSE
Expresses Wonday as TO What Board
Meant When II Contentcd Itself
With Passing Resolution Instead Of
Taking "horc Drastic Action"

Mr.. r. e. Byrd. of counsel for the
jitney operators. has answered the
Board of Aldermen of Richmond
which recently passed q resolution
which severely criticized Mr.. Byrd for
having expressed himself rather freely
as TO tils undesirability of having cer-
tain members Of that board continue
in Office.
The letter refers to the board In
90 aernl, but no opportunity Is lost
for taking II OUT on Colonel Barton
II. Grumpy in particular. Colonel
Grundy was the outhor of the resolu-
ton to which Mr.. Byrd refers. The
Board of Aldermen in the resolution
not only answered Mr.. Byrd. but gave
ITSELF a clean bill Of health regarding
the opinion which Mr.. Byrd expressed.
The letter was made public yester-
day afternoon and was widely read.
Col. Grundy refused to make any
comment on il beyond saying that 1t
was not addressed to him. and that
IL referred to councilmanic matters
and not personal ones.
The letter from MIR. Byrd Is as fol-
lows:
Il have been in the mountains Of
Southwestern Virginia for some time
and only yesterday did / have the
pleasure of reading Colonel Barton
Grundy's somewhat violent defense OF
his political chastity
II am informed that the coionei
sells to railway companies lubricating
oils made by a subsidiary or the
Standard Oil Company. Being very
efficient salesman. he has creased MS
way to considerable prosperity. Win
such Affiliations It is most creditaoie
to the colonel that, when he ID not
selling oil. but Is performing the du-
ties of a municipal statesman, ne can
act with perfect impartiality In deal
inEs with the interests OF his GUS
toners That he can do this ! gather
from the very energetic certincate OF
character which he has given himself
in his resolution.
II said that the Passenger and
Power Company exercises In munici-
pal affairs a control which Is to the
advantage of the company and TO
the disadvantage of the people OF
Richmond. only said In public Tor
publication what hundreds OF men
are saying in private not for pubiica-
ton. ANY obseryant citizen OF Rich
mond with an intelligence slightly
above that of an English sparrow can
see this. I do not include Colonel
f,rundy In this general statement. be-
cause the colonel, while he is mucn
more intelligent than an English
sparrow has one of those rare and
beautiful natures which lis so simple,
so trusting so unsophisticated. thar
he is sometimes the victim. but never
the accompiice, OF evil-doers. being
of such an innocent and confiding
mind. II is unthinkabie to the colonel
that a railway company would try TO
put anything over ON the Board Oh
Aldermen.
but. after all. why these Mysteries?
l said that members of the Councfi
who supported the contentious OF the
Passenger and Power Company should
be retired to private life.
why not? They were elected TO
represent the people, not dominant
corporation. Did the colonel support
the contentious Of the Passenger ana
Power Company? l did not say 90,
and il the colonel were not such
pure and passionate patriot ! would
be minded that II Is the CALLED jade
that winces-
Il note that the colonel, In draw.
ing the resolution, contents himself
with It's passage. instead of adopting
more drastic action" l am properly
terrified at the possibilities OF this
dark threat What sort of drastic
action is contemplated Can the
Board OF Aldermen fine and imprison
for contempt of their ma!estiesg Is
the CoiCnet niTttSSI, WIN Oht is1ha va
a standard Oil tank and the other
ON a railway car. SO great hgure
that he cannot be criticised without
committing the crime of lese majestic!
The words drastic action invoke
other unpleasant possibilities The
coioners military career antedates my
acquaintance with him. but he doubt
less achieved his title by deed OF
martial valor upon some stricken Held.
He no doubt understands the use OF
the weapons OF war as well as ne
does the qualities and virtues OF his
own lubricating oils Am TO be
led out to military execution. with
the colonel acting as lord high exc
cutioner? Or am 10 take the threat
as am inclined to take the colonel
in a Pickwickian sense?
II cannot return to Richmond for
some weeks, but these things will
wait: and when I do return I will
take occasion to submit such remarks
to the public in relation to the resolu-
ton as am advised are proper.
fstvnedl "R r. BYRD.
.sMountain Lake, Aug. %, 1915.