The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-08-16

gained Labor of Virginia was held il
Lynchburg on the 18th. with delegates pres
ent representing the Farming Interests
the Knights of Labor. Cigar Makers
Union, and other organizations.
The convention was called to order Al
ll;30 by l.. Clark Ieftwich, the president
and on motion Mr.. w. Fl. Mullen. editor
of the Labor Herald, of Richmond, was
made secretary. Prayer was then Offered
by Mr.. John S. Bethel, of Richmond asking
God s blessings on the deliberations of the
body.
The president then read from manuscipt
| his address. He contrasted the situation
OF labor in Europe with America, de-
nounced child labor, land generally endorsed
the preamble of the Knights of Labor
He asked the convention to express itself
on the tariff question, and said he hoped
the Blair bill would be unanimously en-.
dorsed. He expressed the hope that the
utmost harmony would prevail, and that
the delegates would not forget that they
were there as Virginians working for the
. DGSG lUleTtSb Vi GUe OJdlt.
| The Committees on Credentials and
Resolutions were nominated by members.
| but afterwards on motion of Mr.. Mullen.
the president was authorized to name all
committeeman.
| The Committee Oh Credentials was ap.
pointed as follows: Sampson, of Manches-
ter; Conway. of Henrico; Mosby, of
| Lynchhurg; Fields, of Richmond, Smith
of Staunton.
| At the evening session the committee
| through it's chairman, reported forty.fiv
| delegates in attendance, representing labor
assemblies in Richmond, Manchester,
| Norfolk. Lexington, Halifax, Lynchburg,
Reusens, Stanton, Amherst and Henrien.
They represented 10000 working men.
On motion committee Of five was ap
pointed on resolutions as follows: Mullen,
| Milton, Downing, Sykes, and Bowls,
| The committee returned, and while
they were out. MessIs. Sampson, Tyson,
and Bethel made short labor speeches.
Mr.. w. H. Mullen, chairman of the
Committee on Resolutions, presented the
report, which after lengthy preamble.
states that its chief object is to bring about
an amelioration of the working people;
demands an immediate check upon the
granting of monopolistic privilege, that a
stop be put to the employment of children
of tender years; demands an Improvement
in the convict laws; demands the estab-
lishment of a bureau of labor statistics
with competent ,aboring mau in charge;
favors the establishment Of the inspec-
ton laws on flour and fish, and asks for
the appointment OF meat Inspectors the
protection of miners and others engaged
in hazardous undertakings; the enactment
of laws for the proper recognition of
trades unions by corporations, that en-
ployes be paid in lswful money; demands
the adoption of the Blair educational bill,
and pledge ourselves to antagonize all who
do not favor it, demands the enforcement
of law prohibiting foreign pauper immi-
grafton, denounces the present election
laws as the result Of machine politics, and
favors the adoption of a simpler form such
as the Australian election laws and favors
a protective tariff adequate to fully pro-
tect the workingman and manufacturer.
AT the night session. Mr.. Leftwich Of
fered the following resolution which was
unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we are in favor of the
| repeal of the tax on tobacco and also that
on fruit Installations.
The plank in regard to pauper immigra-
tion, was declared by Mr.. H. D. Bowls, of
Reusens. to be Of greater Importance to
organized labor than the tariff or any
other plank. He related his experience in
coal and iron regions with the pauper labor
of Europe, and speaking of how the labor
| ing men have been deceived by Congress
men, he said: s'In the streets of Lynch
| burg | stood with Samuel I. Hopkins and
received his promise that he would vote
for protection and every bill calculated to
| benefit the workingman.
gave that man my vote, and where is
| he to-day? Under the condemnation of
every respectable workngman. I have
never spoken much but I tell you if Sam i
|
| |. Hopkins is renominated by the labor
party against my vote, I will spend every
hour, day and night, in working and speak
ing against him."
| The platform was adopted as whole.
| Mr.. H. D. Bowls, of Reusens, stated
| that by request of the Stonewall Assembly
| he offered the following resolutions:
Reso' ICED: That we condemn the action
of the Hon. Samuel L. Hopkins, Labor
Representative in Congress of the United
States, for violating his pledge to labor in
| the Sixth district. by voting for the Mills
| bill which is q direct blow to labor and
American industries.
| Resolved. That we condemn all other
| Representatives Of this State who gave the
Mills bill their support, and We will now
| and hereafter hold them as enemies of
| Labor and American Industries. and will
use all the influence we have with our fell
| low laborers to defeat them. should they
run for Congress again.
! Mr.. Leftwich also went for Congress
man Hopkins with gloves of, and said he
was the only labor Congressman from
| Virginia. and if he vas not denounced, the
Labor party would never have another.
Mr.. Bowls again took the floor and went
for Congressman Hopkins. declaring that
he (Hopkins) told Lynchburger that only
property owners should vote.
Being put to vote the resolution was
unanimously adopted.
MI j. 8. Butler, of Norfolk, offered a
resolution endorsing the blue label of the
Inter National Cigar Makers Union, and
the label of the Knights of Labor.
Adopted.
Mr.. II. n. Engleke offered the following
resolution;
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this
Convention that it would be for the best
interest of the workingmen of Virginia to
cast their votes for labor candidates for
| President and Vice President of the
| United States.
Resolred, That Streeter and Cunning
ham; nominees of the Union Labor party.
receive their united support.
On motion of Mr.. c. Y. Mosby the reso
luton was laid On the table.
IN THE INTEREST OF FARMERS.
Mr.. Leftwich offered the following reso-