The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-29
TIME FOR CALM AND EARNEST THOUGHT

N ever there wss o t5fBe in TIE
htas,yy Of Virginia vfen u'cr
Annud keep their heads bear In
ystra sneir obligations As c''j- q
~sr.s of tho commonwealth and
o,rsw-ve wfth clear eyes s1tj cool
iuAgrp~xa the course ~ events
wttn,n :ynv norsssxs. thai sansc L.
&cAAy.
Ynr tragedy In ts,e Valley of
Virginia. in which two armed
men engaged tn breaking
wevc killed by inspectors engaged
ID enforcing the tas. has brought
intn sharp relief the most vital
Srms.sssnn now before our people
---~lsau the peoples viii, aE t's-
rwxxssr<3 In law. be enforced, Of
sxnaIl n b., allowed tn become in
eanr<5vr because eiesperadoes re-
hsc To obey:
IS That question Is Mt the bottom
q che entire affair which has No
uusCh perturtnd the neighbor.
nufs1 Of Woodstock and Winches-
- and has esccasioned endless
npRnnseuf throughout the state.
DaaeHeAs and absurd rumors have
u some extent helped TO stir M
naoafnv ever the occurrence
rurncws so wholly at vartance
MIR the facts szsh - opposed 60
svcry reasonable probability thAs
a1nsom any citizen consd satisfy
hinanaf. IL he would take tfss
Auahan, Of their cznpttnes@
The arma thing that w~ au
ahnnId do, In this incident as i'm
sG2hers, b t. weigh wosl every
ynrn which comes to us affecting
% enforcement of Law or the
aan engaged In that necassaxx
0ouupaeDon; ASK whencc 1t came,
anl why: ask how tho dtspense~
u "a sanry KNOWS the truth of
- f.,e he gsihly rosaiss. Usually
- story and the teller win fade
nuzy. and with them win disap-
pear any feeling nj rrfttcisyp fer
4lsc n,en against whom, the tale
= directed
\ general application of this
poll<y would have gore far TO
EUvgus the cxcatencut which or-
omTed In the Valley over the
ucn1ssock Affair. Isauorites
sno bury spreading the most
slniseex stories and many weN-
Unnning individuals wcre de-
6n1vcd thereby---happiiy. only for
- moment Sober srcoDS
x1loaght and the diaxovery vi un-
6Gnaahle facts, together. may tsc
Aependcd upon IN Lring about n
ghcaosone support for the forces
n INV and order.
I1ae problem of rhe organized.
ARMED and lAwiess bands engaged
b deliberate violation of the stair
IA federal laws ,ernain. and viii
ruanain until the outlaws are
siE1xen from the state or are com
na1Ied % lenrn the Iceson of ohe~
A1emoa Encouraged In their do
- a&xasnde both by greed and
~ The apologies srssuitousiy
pnwnEoered ON their behalf by
9ooncfla be allies Of fhe uqucr
en1nc, they race mp and down tho
1ehways of the state In swift au-
stunsohiics, armed with .hotguns,
fstpls and repeating rifles, ready
b GgI,t at any moment when they
jiinAy be interrupted in their
cssrts. This Is net speculation
II il ekas baisbed fact
Sergeant Chichester Of Fred
ericksburs, who has captured
rsDhsbIy moro blockade runners
than any Other Individual In the
sease. has been fred upon point
h1ank repeatedly by men whom
M WAS placing under arrest.
atlax.sIousiy, he has escaped
aSIsc, though stiIi aston threat
esnd by the bootIecger- bund.
Constable Flynn Of Chesterfield
fkumty likewise has been shot at
ne after time by Iiquor outlaws.
nnEb az these brave local officers
- straight ahead about their
tneas, wndefe<red by either
{nDe&e ~ threAts---buf tho men,
- rsanairs-
1870 without number. liquor
a~e S,octlcErers. p.oonshfn- V