Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-09-07

After a lengthy and somewhat
acrimonious debate, the new common
council. meeting last night in its tirs'
regular session. adopted resolution
extending an invitation To the Virgi-
ria State Firemen's Association 10
hold its 1911 convention in Newport
News and assuring the iiremen OF a
cordial welcome to tins city. Presi-
dent ID. s. Jones. Counclmen George
w. Whitley and r. NJ. Nelson and
Fire Chief W. X. Stow spoke against
the adoption of the resolution. and IL
went through with only two majority,
the vote being seven to five.
Councilman w. G. Harris. of the
Third ward. offered the resolution I'M
der the roll call for the presentation
of petitions. memorials. etc, and he
asked that the rules he suspended to
take actDn on it. This motion pres
vailed without division and the de
bate en- the measure began at once.
Mr.. Harris opened by saying that
he Thought the council should take
the action proposed so that Il might.
in measure. offset the undesirable
advertisement received by the city
few weeks ago when stories TO the
effect that this city does not want
the convention were published In
newspapers in several states.
HANDWRITING On the Wall"
Declaring that he could see the
Handwriting on the wall" Council
man Whitley. OF the Third ward. ar
gued against the adoption OF the reso-
luton. saying that II the council took
action In the matter now 1t would
cause diseensicn and strife in the fire
department and that while he wanted
20 see the convention come here and
would gladly vote for an appropria-
ton to entertain the visitors, he did
not think that the council should do
anything that would cause strife
smong the firemen OF the city.
Councilman w. f.. Jones said that
ne knew nothing of any strife in the
department, but that with the light
he had before him he would vote for
the resolution. Councilman West, of,
the Third ward, took the same views
and spoke briefly in favor Of the
measure.
Calling Nice-Presdent tarris to the
chair, President Jones took the floor
and argued against the resolution. lie
Eaid that IL a man sent him word that
he was cpning TO his house and ne
(Mr. jones' did not want him he
would not extend the invitation. He
felt the same way. he said. about the
firemen in this case. He said that II
would cost considerable money to en-
terrain The convention and that the
city had entertained the convention
twice and that nc thought it was best
to let the matter drop.
"let Sleeping Dog Lie"
Councilman Nelson, OF the Fourth
ward. said nat he thought the coun'
cH had better let a sleeping dog
lie" AS he understood the matter.
he said. IL was merely misunder-
standing among the fremen; that
everybody knew that when the con
vention came here the city would do
its part toward entertaining them and
that the council had best not take
any official cognizsnce of the matter
at this time
Fire Chief w. X. Stow was granted
the privilege Of the floor and explain
ed his connection with the matter.
He said that on the day before the
convention he had gotten wind" that
the fremes wanted to come here and
that he had told the delegates from
the Central and East End companies
20 oppose any move TO bring the as
sociafion here. On the second day of
the convention he received a telegram
saying: ~Fraiey elected president.
convention forced on Newport News.