Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-09
Entered at the Newport News va.
postoffice as Second-Class matter.
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER .. 1909.
PROPOSED MASS MEETING Tc
DISCUSS OYSTER QUESTION.


Major James n. Stubbs' suggestion
that a mass meeting of people IN
terested in Tidewater Virginia be held
for the purpose of discussing propos-
ed legislation during the next term
of the Virginia assembly is an excel
lent one. The meeting should be held.
by all means. and every oyster plant
err. tonger and packer and fisherman
who is interested in the prospect c.
having the Baylor survey broken or
I'm other legislation that may be at
tempted in the assembly should be
present.
No matter that Is to be considered
by the next legislature is OF such vital
Importance to Tidewater Virginia as
the oyster question. The average man
has 3 very vague idea Of what II Is
ali about. but the talk about breaking
the Baylor survey that has been going
on ever since the present genera
ton can remember. Is stronger now
than ever and II is certain that de-
termined effort will be made during
the next session to bring about this
object. Planters. the men who lease
grounds from the State and cultivate
oysters. are behind the movement to
break the survey, while the tongers.
III lt..l., hrr n IN
oysters from what is known as the
natural rock, strenuously oppose the
proposition. The planters say that
the oyster industry of the State is
going to ruin for lack of cultivation,
and that Virginia is losing thousands
of dollars every year by not follow
ing the example of other states which
have leased practically all of their
oyster grounds to private parties On
the ether hand the tongers declare
that 10 give the planters sway will
deprive them OF the means OF making
a living. and rob cvery citizen of the
State of the right to take oysters from
the public rocks.
These arguments have been made
and repeated and masses of statistics
have been brought forward to sub
stantiate the claims Of both sides.
And the result is that the ordinary
citizen. having no direct interest in
either side. is in doubt as to just
what the legislature ought to do.
Perhaps many members CT the leg
islatgre are in this position, therefore.
1t is possible that mass meeting OF
sll parties interested might bring
about much desired results. The
senators and members OF the house
viii have an opportunity to hear all
sides Of the question discussed by
the people most interested. and they
may gather information that will be Of
inestimable value to them when they
are called upon to discuss and vote
upon oyster legislation. Representa-
tiycs from this section are expected to
knog more about the oyster and fsh
questions than their colleagues from
ether parts CT the state. and any
information they can get from their
constituents viii be welcome.
Newport News is the logical place "a
hold the mass meeting. II Is more &C.
cessible to ali Of the communities IN
terested In the oyster question thar
any other city. which fact probably
was Recognized by The Gioncestel
county people when they decided upon
the meeting place. The people o
Isle Of wsgai. Nanscmond. Princess
Anne and Norfolk counties can rcacl
here readily by crossing James river
Warwick. York and Elizabeth citl
countiss. largely Interested In 40
Qssstioo, are At cur very doors. an