The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-22
LABOR QUESTION
ENTERS POLITICS,
Unsigned Circular Being Dis
tributed Containing Names Of
Virginia c congressman.

~ u T. < 8 1
(From Our Regular spondent.)
! WASHINGTON, .. e.. June 2l.-The
labor: question may enter into Virginia
politics this year, although there has
been little definite said on the subject
a circular, unsigned, has been sent out
from this city which blackllsts certain
members OF Congress by not listing them
at all. This list purports to be men
who have shown BY speech or vote that
ganized labor. Virginia members Of Con-
$gress on the list are 7Nessrs. Jones. May
;nard Glass Hay and, slemp. #j.s
| t's.I 4 have no idea why aIa.wasS omitted
1 from thetlist.'' asaidaRep representatives. Flood.
| OF the Tenth District fto-d day. 8 1 have
never failed. since + have been a mem
Der Of Congress, to cast my vote for
every measure designed to aid the work
ing man. N and when the employers'3Slia La
bllity bill was under discussion In the
House, made a speech! in Its behalf.
Sent Out by Federation.
Mr.. Glass has not been regarded as an
especial friend of organized la Dor. When
he was candidate for the Nomination
to Congress two years ago, his. opponent
charged 81 him with being unfriendy to
fthe4causeE OF labor. and that he did mot
employ union labor In the composing
lroomNof his papers-the Lynchburg Newr
and the Advance. Mr.. Glass showed,
however, that he paid more than the
union scale #of wages required. and the
question dropped out Of the canvass.
Mr.. Jones s record as the friend of the
laborlng man Is believed TO be gooo.
although he has not been special y active
in his support of some measures favored
by the labor unions.
1t is said the circular referred to ema-
mated from the American Federation OF
Labor, the eadquarterso of which are In
this city, The Federation insists thatit
will actively. par ticipate in the campaign
this fall, and that the votes Of work.
3ingmen will be cast only8for those can
.ddates who make satisfactory reply to
"a list of questions which will be sent
them before election day, These ques-
tions are designed to bring out the views
Of the candidates on various subjects In
which the working man is supposed to be
Interested. It is expressly stated In sew
,eral Instances that only a direct aftirnla-
tive or negative answer will be received.
President Favors It.
1t was learned to-day that the Presi-
dent has assured Senator La Toilette
that he Is hea rtily in favor of the adop-
ton Of the resolution which the latter
has !. introduced, providing for clothing
the President with power to Withdraw
from the market all q the oil and coal
lands owned ny the government II
the statement be correct-and It comes on
good authority--it is more than likely
that the resolution will be adopted, ~
Corporations have secured control OF
many thousands Of acres Of coal and oil
lands owned by the government. They
are proceeding alta rate which makes 1t
clear that II a halt Is not called they
viii have all the public mineral lands IN
a few, years 1t is estimated that there
arc 45, 900, 600 acres OF coal lands alone
belonging to the government The pro-
vision in the Five Civilized Tribes bill,
reported to the Senate this year. which
gave the government authority to dis
pose OF these lands without proper safe
guards OF the interests OF the govern :
mentt was the Immediate cause OF the
La Toilette resolutlon,5i .ss
Senator La Toilette Id to-day he was
not al, advocate Of governmental opera &
5tion OF coal! mines and oil wells. but ne
thought 1t wrong that these lands should
be sold to; corporations for q song, when
.theyG we're extremely valuable, and ne
thought also 1t would be well for the
government to retain the title to- them,
as to do SO would make It possible TO
tide the country oyer}a 3perlod OF serious
embarrassment such as that accompany
Ing the fuel famine In the anthracite
al rikaF of 1908, ii