The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-06
MAKES ATTACK On v|R-
GlN|A's BIC INDUSTRY

fCs neinuad from First Page.)
ing very prolific of good results. and
reflect great credit on yourselves and
the organizations you represent and
the labor movement in general And
while II Is not my privilege to offer
any suggestions as 10 your policies at
this convention. I feel assured that
the labor movement in your State Is
in safe hands, knowing AZ DO Che
records of quite a. number OF your
delegates here.
Newport News Shipy ard
"Eut / want to call the attention Of
the convention to the deplorabae CON-
ditions existing at the Newport News
Ship Building and Dry Dock Co. the
largest industry II the state. II pxfsc-
ticaIly receives no attention from the
State Federation, and while II may not
be generally know that the company re-
ceivas from the government 200
extra for the building Of tine battelship
Texas. with the understanding that 1t
would be built ON the eight hour basis.
the company absolutely refuses to in
stall said eight hour day and psrsts-
tently evades the law pertaining to the
building OF said ship.
And to show that the company
was under the impression that the
basis they started several departments
working under the eight hour law with
government inspectors on the ground
to see that they complied with same,
but when pay day rolled around the
men received eight hours pay no6
eight hours work. when was ex-
pected that the company. who had re-
ceived 81. 5oo,0 extra for the express
purpose of paying the help ten hours
pay for eight hours work. But I'm the
meantime the management of the ship
building company waited on Attorney
General Wickarsha1n. and for reasons
best known to themselves, the attorney
general ruled that the eight hour day
Only Applied TO the men actually work
ing on the Texas as she stood on tire
| stocks, while all the other departments
are working ten hours
Injustice to Men.
THE men employed In the shtpyard
feel that an injustice Is being done
them and also the government mas
much as the sister ship to the Texas.
the New York, which is being built In
New York Navy Yard. where all tho
employees work the eight hour day and
receive at least thirty per cent more in
wages. and also are paid for all holt
days. including Saturday hlf holidays
durtn- the summer month";, besides be-
Ing paid for fifteen days Leave during
the year, winch goes TO prove that the
Newport News Shipbuilding Company
10 making enormous profits and its
attitude continues 10 be unfair with It's
help
II you ask airy merchant In New
port News how business is he will toll
you that II liz very bad. and when
you ask him to explain why that IL
when there are more than 5000 men en-
ployed In the vard. he will tell you that
the majority of them are not receiving
WAGES that they should and Just bare
" enough to keep body and soul to-
gether.
Now gentlemen and dele~ates that In
verv bad condition and there should
be something done to change 1t for
the betterment 80 men now there
and Tor future generations to come
And one thing that might be done to
help improve conditions would be the
adoption by this convention OF the eight
hour day as the slogan for the ensuing
year IN the State OF Virginia"