The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-06
General Organizer of Metal
Trades Raps Newport
News Shipyard
BUILDING BATTLESHIP
OUTSIDE OF THE LAW
Alleges That Attorney Gen.
eral Made Ruling on S-Hour
Clause That Was
Not Intended

Charging that the Newport News
Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company
IL filching its employees Of wages tlx-
ed by the United States government
in awarding the contract for the build
ing of the battleship Texas. and that
by taking money from the pocket of
the workingman the corporation is
reaping enormous profits. James H
Smith, OF Baltimore, general organizer
of the Metal Trades Department OF
the American Federation of Labor, In
a speech at the afternoon session Of
the sixteenth annual convention or
the Virginia Federation of Labor on
Tuesday enlisted the aid of the or
ganized labor of the State in the fight
to remedy the conditions at the ship
yards.
His address created the first sensa-
ton of the convention. as his verbal
attack was delivered at the biggest
industry In Virginia and one OF the
! biggest abor-empioying corporations
In the South, a corporation which en-
pioys several thousand men and has
a weekly pay roll which approaches
the 100000 mark.
Mr.. Smith said.
Mr.. President, your excellency
Richardson, our distinguished guests.
Colonel HARDWOOD and Mr. Lamb, and
delegates to the sixteenth annual con-
vention of the Virginia State Fedora
ton OF Labor.
II gives me great pleasure to be
granted The opportunity and, In fact.
deem II an honor and privilege, 10
be allowed To speak to you delegates
to-day from the same platform as
the distinguished gentlemen who
have preceded me, and ! would not be
/ true to organized labor if at this time
/ did not pay d tribute to our noted
guests. especially Governor Mann, IN
lending their presence to this gath
ering OF labor men, because TO me IT
augurs Well for the. labor movement.
and proves to the labor men OF the
State OF Virginia that the governor IL
Interested IN their welfare. and by
the fact of his being here assures the
delegates that any bills or resolutions
emanating from this convention that
have any merit Will receive his hearty
cooperation and support Everywhere
II is conceded that Virginia is the
most illustrious of the great Arneri-
can Commonwealths. She contribu-
ted to civil liberty the tongue of Pat
rick Henry. the pen OF Thomas JET
Ierson ana the sword OF George Wash
ington: she also illumined the Chris
tan civilization and exalted the nu-
man race with the lofty character of
her Robert E. Lee. and further, the
constitution OF these United States
was moulded by the hands of her
Jefferson, her Madison and her Ma
son, And, more honor. she also was
the leader Of the rebellion of l7Ts.
and, >aesegates 70 this convention, I
venture 10 say that a governor OF a
State with such a proud record as
Virginia, who shows by his presence
here that his heart Is In the right
place, can be depended on to do what
is fair and right for the wage earn
ers Of this great State.
And YOU as delegates with that re-
cord as an inspiration. and represent
ing the rank and file OF the wage
earners of your State, have an oppor-
tunity at this time to 30 shape your
deliberations and proceedings along
Legislative lines at this convention
that your efforts cannot fail of be-
(Continusd on Third Paga.)