Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-07
snounces Employment Of Convict
Labor as Disgrace to State
Of Virginia.
DELIVERS LABOR DAY GRAFTON
Republican Candidate for Governor
Discusses Labor Conditions and
Laws Before Crowd including Many
LadIes--Judae Mann, Delayed by
Railway Accident. Falls 10 Arrive.

Before a crowd of several hundred
people, including many ladies'. CAPITA n
William r. Kent. Republican nominee
for Governor OF Virginia In the NO
vember election. delivered the Labor
Day oration on the Casino grounds
Yesterday afternoon. speaking from
platform erected at the back OF the
dancing pavilion. Judge William Ia.
Mann. the Democratic gubernatoriaI
nominee, also had been expected 10
make an address, nut he failed To pu'
in an appearance. II was stated later
that an accident on the Norfolk a
Western Railway between Petersburg
and Norfolk had delayed his arrivaf
at Norfolk aud when he had finished
mis- speech at Ocean View 1t was too
late for him to come TO this city.
President A. c. Koontz, of the Cen
trail Labor Union. presided ana IN
brief address he introduced state La
Dor Commissioner James Il. Doherty.
of Richmond Commissioner poherty
made n short address and concluded
by presenting Captain Kent. The Re
publican nominee was greeted by ap-
plause as he arose and addressed
Chairman Koontz-
A Touch OF Politics.
While his speech was not political
one. he injected an issue of the cam
paign into Il just before closing. This
issue is the employment OF convict
labor by the State. He declared that
the Democrats had hired out the con-
yicts to factories and that they are
producing shoes and other articles
which are put on the market In COM
petition with the product OF the ia
boring man. Such condition OF anairs,
he said. is a disgrace on the state OF
Virginia and its people and is unfair
to the labcring men OF the State.
Following his discussion OF convict
labor. Captain hent went 10 to snow
the conditions OF the laboring men IN
other states and to cite laws enacted
In these states for the betterment OF
the laborers. Then he compared those
conditions and these laws with the
conditions and laws in Virginia.
Labor Holds Balance Of Power.
Continuing. the speaker told his
hearers that the balance OF power IN
every State in the Union lies In the
hands OF the laboring man. He urged
that man to go TO the polls and vote
Il have shown you that Virginia Is
not in the list of states that have
framed the most laws for the better
ment of the conditions OF labor. f1na
out why and insist on government
that shall protec: your interests: tina,
shall give you more healthful shops,
better sanitary conditions both In the
factory and the home adequate inspec'
ton of mines. mills and factories and
more rigid laws. and their enforce
ment, regarding child labor. See tina;
your children have the privileges and
rights CT education before they arr
put to work. Demand that the con-
yicts OF the state be worked on the
public roads aud not in competition
with honest labor. Stand on your
rights at all times and be independent
and free" continued the speaker.
Conditions In Guatemala.
Before taking up the conditions oil
labor in this country. Captain Kent
gave a brief resume OF the history OF
tlkdsil'u ldtOt ofU thth SbVNC VI
the conditions OF labor in Guatemala
where for three years he was consul
general from the United states. Tie
said that the conditions of the labor
ing classes in that country probably
are the most sbject OF any In q
Christian country. The status Of the
country is that OF free men. but in
reality the laborfng man there Is NJ
better than slave. He then painted
a graphic word picture Of the wretch
ed condition OF these serfs.
The speaker then compared tins
conditions Of those people with ths
conditions Of the lsboring men n
Virginia He then went on 70 give the
general conditions throughout tht
country and fnsIly came back TO :
discussion Of Virginia. leading up &C
the convict labor question.
On TIE Speakers stand