Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-11
Norfolli's Latest Paint

JJANING presented Richmond's case with
iiawiess logic and so conclusively that
even the Ledger-Dispatch must have been
wholly, albeit unwillngly. convinced of this
citys total dryness as compared with the
Gampncss of the Hampton Roads capital
apologies to Newport News), we had en-
pccted that our Norfolk friend would re-
frain ut least temporarily in its use OF the
microscope with which to detect flaws in
this siniess city. But not so. Routed bag
and baggage, horse foot aud artillery, in
its assault on Richmond's fair. dry name,
it returns TO the attack, but from another
and unexpected angle. Here, too, just as
when ii sought To prove Richmond wet he
cause Judge Waddill feared for the saf ety
Of Il boatload OF liquor in the local harbor
which, as every fair-mindcd, impa rtial per-
soi will admit demonstrated nothing ex-
ccpt that our general and long-continued
thirst had reached dangerous point, the
whole logic Of the case is against Norfolk
But listen to this. Just because a
burglar, wise in his generation and prof
cient in his chosen calling. admitted in court
that while his home in Richmond his
professional calls were paid only in Nor
folk, and when not engaged in Dorch-clmb-
ing and safc-breaking to thwart the prof.
tecr, he lived honestly and quietly in this
historic city, where ii is n crime to sell
cigar on Sunday, the Ledger Dispatch pro-
ceeds verbally to castgatc Richmond 1t
charges this highly moral city with training
burglars, sending them forth to ravage its
Ecighbors. and welcoming them on their re-
turn to grow fat on their profits. II fur
Their demands that Richmond keep its
burglars at home to prey on its own we'll
stocked stores and bullying banks. Did any
one ever hear OF SO foolish n demand? 1t
Is even Sillicr than the same papers pre-
posterous attempt to prove that Richmond
is not cmphatically and enthusiastically 100
per cent dry.
The facts are these: Richmond's burglars
40 to Norfolk for the same reasons that
Richmond's thirsty souls go there-they
know they can get what they go after with
minimum inconvenience They dare not
burgle lin their own home town" for in
addition to its dryncss, Richmond is we'll
policed. The boldest burglar cannot ex-
pect to hurgle here and get away with it,
What more natural. then, than that the
wise burglar should step down to Norfolk.
where things are different, oh, so different,
hurG!c little to his own profit make pro-
vision for the happiness OF his wife and
Riddles and. his duty performed, come back
u Richmond and home. place so quiet
and peaceful that no one would suspect Il
burglar of seeking residence here? It's all
80 Siihpic, so obvious, lnat even the Ledger
Dispatch must understand, now that the
situation has been diagrammcd
But Richmond wants to be fair. II can
not agree TO keep its burglars at home
It's patronage OF home industries does not
extend so far--but what it can do, il will
IL will agree TO lend Norfolk few OF Rich
mond's efficient policemen for purposes OF
instruction. and under such tutelage Nor
folk may be able to build up IA force that
will protect it even as Richmond is pro-
icCted.