Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-07-02
AN UNANIMOUS DECISION !.

AN UNANIMOUS DECISION.
The Supreme Court of Appeals of
Virginia has decided that the merg-
| ing of the Westmoreland Club with
the Commonwealth Club of this city
is unlawful and accordingly the min.
GRITTY members of the former club
have won their contention. We arc of
the opinion that i'll rendering this
| unanimous decision this august trl
/ bunal has saved one club and aided
| that the membership of IL social club
should be harmonious and composed
of men who have similar tastes ana
desires, in order that the companion
ship may be mutually helpful.
The Wcstmoreand Club has had ana
has today certain dignity about it
III striking contrast to the liberal
policy prevailing at the Commonwealth
Cub, where practically all men or
good character and responsibility
with the necessary amount of cash
are admitted. When you enter the
, Wcstmorcland Club, you find that it's
membership is confined to men of re-
Tined tastes, with lofty ideals and
where all rules of polite society arc
vigorously observed. Here they cher
ish the memories OF other dnvs. when
the First Families of Virginia flour
| ished and the habits ana customs or
odd Mcrrie England" were practiccd
with strict regularity.
Jurists, desiring a retreat and rest
could find it behind the colonial sur
roundings Of staid Old Westmorclapd.
me youngs'er OF today would enter
This cloisture in solemn awe ana it.
would not be long before he would
seek the companionship Of his fellows
Ill othcr ncighborhoods. Gen. Robert
IL. Lee, Gen. Stoncwall Jackson and
many other Confederate leaders
whom we might mention would have
lclt ut home in retirement here. 1t
was for these sentimental reasons
that we hoped that the minority
would win in this contest. Those of
us who know the history of West.
moreland Club, where once resided
Attorney James Lyons felt that IL
should remain us "Thc White House
OF the Confcderacy" remains.
Let the old men, who know tho hi;
tory of Virginia have one place In
Richmond, where they can "sip their
tea where in years gone by, they
could drink their mint-juleps. Yes,
Che decision OF tho Supreme Court Of
Appeals OF Virginia Is a "Godsent,
blessing to some OF these older men,
VINO have not so many years to rn-
main with us. Counsel, who ,ro,,
inns signal victory are to be commend
Ell Tor their efforts. There should he
no feeling about the matter, that
would mar the present friendly relnt-
lohshlp. From Il commercial stand
point, the majority of West Morcla nd
Club may have been right. From 3
sentimental standpoint, we arc very
much of the opinion that they were
wrong
! The Commonwealth Club does not
Eeed the Wcstmoreland Club, for 1t
mas money. The Westmoreland Club
needed the Commonwealth Club for
: II Is said to have lacked money. Now
let the money that it lacked be raised
| The popular club should assist them
III raising it. AS for u.s. let these
! "blue-blooded" Virginians have the
| scclusion, which they desire and the
! retreat, Cor which they have asked
| Harmony should be the watch-word
and the Supreme Court or Appea1s or
virginia has pointed the way to nar
mony.
Tho flag Of old Westmorcland still
flies from the masthead of this staid
institution. Governors and Presidents
and diplomats now have q place where
they can be fittingly entertained with
the proper surroundings. Let us have
peace.