The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-03
Business Men Deny That Sol
diers Are Required to Pay
Unfair Prices
RETAIL MERCHANTS
ASSOCIATION ASKS
FOR INVESTIGATION
Chamber Of Commerce Also
Wants Inquiry Made-Mr.
Alger Says it Would Be
Agreeable to Him

The leading merchants and other
prominent business and professional
men of Petersburg resent with indig-
nation the charges made by Lyman q.
AIser. of New York. that the soldiers
Of Camp Lee have been overchargsd
| by Petersburg merchants especially
hotss and restaurants
The chamber OF coLamarce and the
Retail Merchants association have
taken action denying the charges and
The Yirginian is IN receipt of several
letters. which are printed herewith.
taking the same view. All are OF the
opinion that the charges of MIR. Alger
| do the business men of that city great
! int Justice
/ Mr.. A1ger insists that MS allegations
are well founded and expresses a de-
! sire that there may be al inwsstiga-
, ton
! The board of governors OF the cham
! Der of commerce directed Secretary
Martin to write to Senator Thomas s.
Martin. requesting him to ascertain
| which, il any, department OF the gov
ernment Mr.. Aiger representa-. and IL
J he does represent any department to
arrange that he shall be required TO
prove his statements, or else apologize
| for having made the statements ac-
credited 70 him.
| The Retail Merchants association
pAs sed resolutions demanding that the
| Richmond newspapers send rspresea-
| tatives TO investigate the conditions
| about which complaint was made and
that when this investigation proves
| that the statements made regarding
| the conditions are untrue, then we de-
nand that the papers give due cor"
reetion thereto .- ...
LETTER wyorn ss~v~~mer MANI.
A lsttsr from Ex Governor Nsnn to
The virainian. which was net rscetved
until yesterday and which we ara glad
/ 20 print. follow .;
| Editor viratnian;
| Sir,--your editorial Of this morn
ing comes shock TO the citxens
| OF Petersburg. and in view Of the
serious charges made, should be sup
| port I'D by the strongest kind OF evil
dsnce II Ia an untustiAaels attack.
/ NO. only ON the city of Petersburg.
! but on the commonwealth OF which
that city is sn important part
We gather from your editorial that
whatever OF evidence you have comes
from Lyman s. Alger. Of New York.
tive OF the United States public ser
vice reserve. VIII you kindly tell me
and the outraged citizens OF the city
OF Petersburg who Lyman 6. Alger is.
| and what IL the United States public
service reserve l don't know but you
must, as you not only publish q com
municatiou from this man. but as
| sumo the responsibility for his state
ment in an editorial
am n citizen OF Petersburg and of
| Virginia 80 much Interested In their
good name and progress that feel
J constrained TO deny the truth of Nr.
! Aiger's statements, and OF your edi-
toriai and call for proof I suppose
you are full handled with proof. which
must have satisfied you. but we claim
the right 10 be confronted with our
accurers and TO have the facts in de-
tail upon which you base your charges
! might atop here but an my inter
est In the welfare of the men at Camp
I.ee 10 as great as yours, and "a I am
ready 10 do everything possible TO
prevent their being imposed on. ana.
10 go farther, and say that VIII do
everything In my power to zee that
every possible effort shall Be mako for
their happiness. welfare ana sn.oy-
ment. I believe this to be the senti-
rnent OF practically all OF the eitisens