Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-11-13
oysTERoIEN's UNION.
(Southade !Sent;nelN

A large number of practical oyster
men assembled for the purpose of
organizing into union, and at z
O'Clock p. m. the meeting was called
to order by w. w. Moody, of Middle
sex. W. j. French, of Syringa,
was elected temporary chairman, aud
G. il. Walker, of Freeshade, secretary.
On motion the temporary officers
were made permanent. On motion
W. W. Moody was elected president
and the duties and privileges emu
merated as follows:
To organize at once the wnole of
!ldewater and to be endowed with
power to employ counsel to do what
ever may zoe needful to gain leglsla-
ton for the good of the organization,
and to be head to the movement, to
whom all communications from any
and all of the subordinate bodies
should be addressed, and to be the
chief to act, in case of need and
emergency.
On motion the following resolu-
tons were presented for the consid-
Grafton of the body, and were unani-
mously adopted in their entirety:
Resolved L. That whereas the pres
ent laws now in vogue relative to the
oyster Industry appear to be good for
all, doing no injustice to either tonger
or planter, we heartily endorse the
law as it now stands.
Resolved 2. That whereas there is
great danger of the Baylor Survey
being broken by the coming Legisla-
ture, we urge that the greatest care
be taken to bring all available influ-
ence to bear upon the Legislature, to
sustain and hold sacred the lines of
the survey as it now stands.
RESOLVED 3. That this body REQUIRE
of every candidate for, or representa-
tive in the legislature or Senate
written pledge (placed in the hands
of our president) to support any and
every bill offered by this body for
the good of the tongers, when it does
not encroach upon the rights of
others, and to defeat as far as posi-
BILE every bill offered before the Leg
islature or Senate that tends to en-
croach upon the rights and privileges
OF the oyster tongers that they now
enjoy; and that when one fails or re-
fuses to so pledge himself, we as a
body will not support him, regardless
OF his politics, and will forever there
after defeat him for any other office
he may ask.
Resolved 4. That whereas there are
places it is believed that planters are
infringing upon the public rocks by
moving their stakes out further than
their survey extends, and also having
surveyed to them bottoms that are
included in the Baylor Survey as
public rocks, and as the power is
now invested in the Board of Fish
cries to order resurvey Of such
planters plot, we ask that the legis-
lature enact law, giving the in
spector the right and compelling him
upon complaint of two or more citi-
zens, to order and make survey,
and if the planter is found to be too
far out, he is to pay cost of such SUR
.vey and otherwise the State to pay
same.
RESOLVED 5. That whereas this or
ganization is for the good of all
parties catching oysters, that it is
required by this body that every
tonger and local buyer of oysters
shall join this Union, and be gov
erned by the laws of same to promote
this cause, and upon failing so to do,
the party SO failing will be dealt
with as other unions deal with such
(viz: hoycott). If q buyer, all Union
men must refuse to sell to him. If
u tonger, then Union tongers must
not sell to the man who will buy
from the scab. This cause is now of
vital Importance to both longer and
buyer, benefiting all alike and should
be supported by all.
RESOLVED 6. That nothing in the
foregoing resolutions shall be con-
strued to be antagonistic to plan ter
or propagation, where there is no en-
croachment upon citizen in striy-
ing to get living.
Resolved z. That every member Of
this Union be required to pay the
sum of one dollar for membership
card and dues for one year from this
date.
RESOLVED 8. That this body is hap
py to find such an utilization between
the expressions of its members as
sembled here in reference to the reso-
buttons adopted by this body, and
gratified to see such enthusiasm ex-
pressed, and We congratulate our
selves on the harmonious relations
existing between us.
On motion Of r. L. Blake, an ex-
ecutive committee Of three was APP
pointed to act in conjunction with the
president. They were as follows: w.
II. Revere, @. w. Mercer and r. L.
Blake.
On motion Thomas Y. Lawson, of
Harmony Village, Va, was unani-
mously elected treasurer of the Oys-
termen's Union of Virginia.
On motion it was decided that we
adjourn to meet at this place on
Monday night, November End, 1908,
for thepurpose of Issuing certificates
of membership and collecting dues,
in accordance with the foregoing
resolutions.
G. II. WALKER, Sec'y.