Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-07-21
Chamber Of Commerce Determined
d Secure Labor Tor Tobacco Co.
GOOD Place Fob BOYS AID GIRLS
RsV. e. T. Wexford Says He Found
Conditions at Plant Nest satisfac.
tory--spccial Committee Appointed
j to Handle Ma:.er.

a Various plans for SECURING labor for
the American Tobacco Company's TO-.
cal branch were discussed AT n special
meeting OF the Chamber or Commerce
last night. It was finally decided IL
put tho matter into the hands of II
T committees of two. to be appointed by
the president with full power To act.
The committee will be instructed TO
confer with the management Of tho
Z FACTORY and then proceed upon sucl,
lines as II may deem best.
Manager lambeth OF the local
branch. was present ut the meeting
and made n brief statement OF nis
difficulties. He outlined what he hal
done to make the factory pleasant
place for the employees and stated
that lii spite Of all that he could do
less than one hundred and fifty boys
aud girls were at work IN the D,ant,
which can employ from five to seven
hundred without additional room or
machines. He nis0 referred to tho
fact that he had offered his employees
fitty cents for each new hand brought
to work and said this had had little
or no effect
Mr.. lambeth answered many Qucs.
tons In regard to the wages paid by
lis company. the treatment of en-.
ployes, etc. satisfying the members
OF the chamber that the difficulty In
securing labor was not on account vi
& conditions ut tho plant.
MIR. Wellfords tSatement.
Rev. e. Y. Wexford who was ono
OF six ministers who visited the plant
this week, stated that he found con.
nj In ,t,,,
H tory and that he thought Il an excel.
lent place for boys and girls to work.
He went on to say that he believed
the pricipnl cause for the difficulty IN
\ securing labor was that Newport
News was too prosperous" that
most of the families were so situntcd
that tho girls and boys were not COM
PEELED to work.
Others who spoke were Mcssrs. W.
j. Nclms, o. ID. Bachelor, A. Roscn,
baum, r. II. Harvey. i l.. Patton,
a. l.. Powell, George Nelms Wise and
president w. d. Llvczey All Of
these gentlemen agreed that canvas
or the city should he made to secure
girls and boys for the factory. BE.
glnners at the plant are paid 81 a
week until they are able to make
more at piece work Some of the
experienced girls make more than $40
per week.
I.s Collectors to Help.
1t la probable that the committee to
n be appointed ~ tho president will &c.
: iect an energetic man or woman 20
canvas the city and vicinity. It is
also likely that the collectors for real
y estate and Insurance dealers and In
stalment houses will he asked To take
up the work, each to receive fifty
cents for every hand secured.
The business men are manifcstng
& much interest in this proposition, MS
\ most of them realize the Importance
OF keeping the tobncco factory here
and supplying all the labor needed.
communication from y. r.
O'Brien. of Roanoke, in regard to the
n establishment of hosiery factory
I here. was referred to tho now enter.
prise and statistics and information
\ committees.
resolution, offered by Mr.. George
Nelms Wise. providing for tho an.
po,ntment of committee with tho
View OF organizing q First District
league. was referred to the legislation
and taxation and commercial usaras
& committees.
"A communication from the editor
or the Southland Magazine. offering
70 Publish a "wrltc.up" of Newport
!. News II the chamber will pay for a
number of cuts. was referred to tho
& advertising committee.