Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-07
Juniors Said to Be licensed al
immigration Tactics.
CLAIM DOMESTIC LABOR INJURED
Commissioner Of Agriculture Target
for Charge That hs Brought Euro
peans Here At a Time When Ameri.
can Workmen Were Idle.

RICHMOND. VA. Mar. 6.-MemberS
of the Junior Order United American
Mechanics are ready to support any
person who may enter the race for
the position Of commissioner OF az.
riculture and immigration in Opposi.
ton to Commissioner George w. Koin.
er.
The members are talking as indi-
viduals and not rs an order, but they
are very much in earnest, and they
are talking openly about their will
insness and desire to defeat Mr.. Koin.
err
The reason is given that Mr.. Koin.
er, as commissioner Of agriculture and
immigration. acting under orders Of
the state board OF agriculture, went
to Europe and succeeded IN bringing
many persons to this State for posi-
! tons when there were and are many
men who are asking for work OF any
sort. This notwithstanding the com.
missioner was restricted to bringing
farm labOrers and domestics to this
country, no skilled artisans Of any
class or calling being asked to come.
Mr. Koiner. it Is well understood.
Wa sacting under orders. The Juniors
believe many mechanics have come in
under the law. though they entered
and claimed to be farmers. and In this
way the number Of unemployed skill
ed men has been increased in this
State.
Has Heard Of Opposition.
Mr. Koiner said that he heard that
there is some opposition to him on
the grounds stated above, but he does
not understand how he can be singled
out for the reasons that are being as
signed. He says he merely did what
the board of agriculture commanded
and that in executing the orders of
the commission he followed closely
the laws Of the State and was care
full not to enlist any person for en-
ployment hereatout who was not a
farm laborer or q seeker after homes
in this State-tnose who wanted to
buy and become citizens of Virginia.
II there are others than farm 1aborers
or homeseekers in the State or who
are working at any other business
than that for which they were sought
to come to this State. he says he does
not know of the facts.
So far there has been no announce
ment of a candidate in opposition to-
Mr.. Koiner, and State Treasurer Har-
man. OF Rockbridge, Superintendent
Eggleston. of the department Of public
instruction. and the secretary Of the
commonwealth so far have plain sail
ing. with chances that they will get
away from the post with no one in
the class fifth them
Other Candidates Absent.
Judge Mann. Of Nottoway; Henry
Tucker. of Stanton. and Samuel W.
williams are all out Of the city to-
day. Judge Mann, ii is announced at
his headquarters TO-DAY. Is still en-
gagged in the circuit court of Motto
way. and he has not completed his
statement regarding the liquor traf'
fic.
Judge Williams is swinging around
the state in the search for votes. and
from his headquarters here he Is re-
ported to be finding a great many
of them. The force In his Office Is
jubilant and they are pegging away
and sending out vast quantities OF
literature.
legislative Candidates.
Candidates for the legislature-that
is. the house-from this city started
out q few weeks ago with q rush and
all at once they have subsidized. M
one is hearing from them. Perhaps
the matter of amending the charter Of
the city OF Richmond so as to provide
for a commission to administer the
affairs of the city. as recommended
by Mayor Richardson. has put them
to Studying conditions. The candi-
dates will be asked to state their
position on this question when they
take to the hustings. and possibly they
are engaged in feeling the public pulse
on this subject before making any an
nonucement.
The campaign will be in full swing
in this city within the next month.
just as soon As the weather opens up.
From present indications there are to,
he not less than ten candidates for the
hoIsc this number including all the
old men and Eve hew ones. Will
il be a clean sweep or will the old
men retain their posts? That is a
question to be decided in the primary