The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-06-16
LABOR men MEET
IN PORTSMOUTH, VA.
Federation Hold Very Important and
IIE$eIesting SessiOn-President
HirShberg Makes Report.

NA.-opeclal.-Ihe Federation OF La
Dor was called to order at 10 O'Clock
Thursday. After roll call the body
extended a rising vote OF thanks to
the Business Mems Association for the
automobile ride through the city and
the water trip The Credentials Com
mittee reported siXty-five delegates
present The Legislative Committee's <
report was read by j. J. Creamer.
chairman, and was received with a
vote OF approval. Richmond will be
the next convention city. Sidney Gates
placed the city in nomination, and il
received the majority vote.
Phil Metz, of the Brewery Work.
ers OF Richmond, will be elected first
! vice president, the second honor on
the elective list.
President Hirschberg's Report.
The report of President Hirschberg
was today submitted and referred to
the committee on the presidents re-
port.
In part the report says:
To the Officers and Delegates of the
t1fteenth Annual Convention of the
Greetings:
We are again privileged to assem-
Die Tor the purpose of reviewing the
work accomplished by the State Fed
Grafton of Labor, through its officers
ana attiiiated unions, and for the pur-
pose OF mapping out the policies of
the Federation for the ensuing year
In conformity with the laws l hereby
submit my report:
October IL, 1909, I visited Wash
ington, as authorized by the Execu
tive Board, for the purpose of assist
ing in welcoming our chief. president
OF the American Federation of Labor.
samuel Gompers. The welcome af-
Iorded Mr.. GomperS was one that will
long be remembered by everyone
thousands of unions were in line and
numerous floats conveyed words of
welcome. On the 18th of October I
had an interview with Mr. Gompers
and requested him to cooperate with
the State Federation of Labor for the
purpose OF placing an organizer in
the field. He assured me that at his
earliest convenience he would take
| this matter up and, If possible, COM
| ply with our request Several letters
| have been received from him since
that time, but nothing definite has
been accomplished. 1 suggest that
your Organization Committee be in
| structed to formulate a resolution set
| ting forth the necessity for an organ
| izer in this field from the American
Federation of Labor. Virginia de-
serves this at the hands of the Fed
GRAFTON, and should get this consider
| alton.
The Presidents Position.
The president here intimates that
the office of president is that of a
| iiS Z ASdd anu urges lnat the Exec
| utiVe Board of the Federation should
place at his disposal a sum sufficient
| to visit the various points in the State
| that he could become familiar with
-ondiuons existing in the several sec
! ions.
Other OFFICERS.
The president recommends that the
various vice presidents. who accept
| the honor, be required to faithfully
fulhll the duties imposed by the con-
stitution Of the Federation, or be re-
moved from office and his successor
elected by a referendum vote OF all
| locals affiliated.
Recognizing in his report that the
office of secretary-treasurer is labor
ious for the compensation received.
President Hirschberg recommends an
increase in salary and the provision
for a typewriter.
Richmond TO the Front.
In reviewing the work of organiza-
ton for the year. the report says:
Il regret to report that a great deal
of inactivity has been shown along
| this line from several cities This is
not true of Richmond, as the gain
here has largely increased, reaching
the high-water mark for any one
year. Seven new locals, with a mem
| bership OF between twelve and fifteen
hundred men, have been formed,
while large number of names have
been enrolled in the old organizations.
Richmond is far in advance of any
| city in the State in organization. I
earnestly hope that other cities may
| follow in the wake of Richmond to
the end that Virginia may be thor
oughly organized"
| AffillatiOn.
The State Federation should formu-
late plan to secure the corporation
! of every local in the State. There is
no reason why every local union in
the State should not hold membership
| in the Federation. This matter has
been sadly neglected in the past and
| VIII require hard work to overcome
| these failures. 1t should be made the
| duty of someone in every locality to
seek to bring about this cooperation.
and this is the only means of solidi-
| flying the organizations in the State
r.. Legislation.
The Legislative Committee elected
at the last convention was called upon
TO render a great deal of assistance
during the session of the Legislature.
/ 1t is safe to say that without their as
sistance laws would have been placed
upon the statute books that would
have been detrimental to the best i'm
terests of the working people. Their
influence had a great deal to Go with
the passing of laws that Will be ser
Viceable to the toilers of Virginia
This matter will be more fully spoken
l suggest that the Legislative Com
mittee be required to hold a meeting
in December prior to the meeting OF
the Legislature for the purpose OF
discussing matters pertaining 20 legis-
lation. This. in my opinion, lis very
important matter, giving the commit
tee ample time to communicate with
the locals throughout the State re-
garding plans affecting legislation. Al
the suggestion of the Legislative Com
mittee 1 visited several sections in
/. Virginia in relation to some of the
bills which were pending during the
session of the Legislature. and, nc
doubt. the committee will make full
, report of this matter.
Delegates to \. +. of l..
1 respectfully recommend to the
, Federation that delegates be elected
to the next convention of the Ameri
? can Federation of Labor.
} The president recommended the
; election of a delegate to the American
Federation of Labor; that it is O
: vital importance that the Federation
and the affiliated crafts should b,
| represented. and that the Federation