The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-09
WOULD PUT LIMIT
ON IMMIGRATION
Farmers Vote to Apply Reading
and Writing Test to All
Foreigners
COMMITTEE TO WATCH LAWS
Body Will Attend Meeting q
Lcgislature-Sccrctary Petty
Praised.

To the end that farmers mag be able
TO obtain q better and more intelligent
class Of labor. ana the country in gen
eral benefited by the exclusion of un
desirable immigrants, the Farmers Ed
ucational and Cooperative Union Of
Virginia, in annual session here yes
terday, adopted q resolution favoring
the reading and writing test as the
most feasible method OF restricting
immigration. This action was recon-
menied by the National Legislative
Committee, which appeared last March
before tho House Committee on Imni-
grafton.
Following is the text OF the resolu-
ton adopted:
Whereas, the United states lmmigra-
ton Commission, after a four years
Investigation. involving the cXpcndi-
turc OF almost S1,o00,000. reports that
restriction is demanded by economic,
moral and social reasons and speciti-
cally recommends Il reading and writ
ing test 'as the most feasible single
method for excluding undesirable i'm
migration" and suggests also an in
creased head tax Il Limitation OF num-
bcrs. money qualification and other
measures that are law In other coun
the Farmers Educational and Co -ope;
ative Union OF America in national ana
state conventions. and
Whereas, the United states is the
only country with any considerable net
foreign immigration. as Il result of her
feeble immigration laws, and
Would Come south
Whereas. ii is proposed. in order
10 permit the foreign steamships TO
y i'm IL ..1t l,
east of its immigration evils, that the
present enormous annual alien influx
of over 100000, of whom less than
$4,000 last year were farmers" be dl-
verified and distributed over the agri-
cultural sections. and n Federal Di-
vision Of information and Display has
been established for accomplishing
such purpose; therefore be II
Resolved by the Farmers Educa-
tional and Co operative Union OF Nir-
gina. IN state convention assembled,
this 9Th day of February. at Richmond,
That we earnestly urge upon Congress
the immediate passage of House rcso-
luton 1913 and such other measures
as Viii give this country some such
protection from undesirable immigra-
tion as is recommended by the Imnli-
grafton Commission and is in force in
other civilized countries such as Can
further
Resolved That the State secretary
send 1t once copy OF this resolution
10 the entire Virginia congressional
delegation. with the request that ii be
presented 10 Congress and 10 the pres
ident al Washington. r. G.
Striking Growth.
The convention assembled yesterday
morning with as many delegates pres
a n nn,hl "a,
Home could accommodate. The report
of Secretary II L. Petty was one of
the first read. 1t showed that during
the one years life OF the union eighty
one local unions had been established,
though only twenty one counties have
been organized. The total membership
al the time the report was drafted
amounted to about 5000. According TO
the charter under which the union op-
crates. a charter membership OF 1000
is required.
Having started With no funds Al all.
il was shown that there is now n good
sum 70 the credit of the organization
Mr.. Petty was rendered rising vote
OF thanks on mis- report, and the cx.
ccutive committee, which previously
passed upon his report, offered a reso-
luton commencing him on the accu-
rate and efficient manner in which he
conducted the office
VIII Witch Legislature.
y legislative committee, consisting
OF p. NJ. Gannaway and George r.
Bridgeforth. OF Luncnburg county. and
a. B. Thornhil OF Appomattox, was
appointed 10 attend the next session
OF the Legislature o look after the IN.
terests Of the farmers
The report Of the tobacco committee
was placed before the house and callnn
forth much discussion It was finally
laid OH the table and VIII be acted
upon to-day.
The Union Star, published ut Brook
neal, was made the official organ of the
union.
The convention viii close this af-
lerhoon Besides nnal action on the
tobacco committees report, the NOS,
important business Will be the election
Of officers. Although there probably
VIII be some other candidates, the IN
dicatio last night were that Presi-
dent D. M Gannaway would be electen
put the fight for other offices. It is az,
pected' VIII be lively In addition ~
we regular officials, the convention
Vii eject a State business agent. state
organizer lecturer and state sales
agent E9