The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-30

before the war, and after following his
destinies throughout that struggle was
one OF the national organizers of the
Woman's Relief Corps, service for
which she Is we'll beloved by the Union
veterans throughout the Northland.
And while a Union veteran will thus
have charge of the House deba ties on
the Civil War pension bills. confed
crate veteran. William Richardson ra
Alabama, will be the chief engineer Of
all legislation affecting pensions grow.
Ing out of our older wars, as we'll as
our little brush with Spain and routine
service in our standing army and navy.
Ihns, there are two pension committees
of the House. Chairman Sherwood's be-
ing designated as invalid pensions"
and Chairman Richardson's as pen
sions' pure and simple.
When a boy of only sixteen Richard
son left his home In Athens. Ala, to
join the Confederate army Twice he
was wounded without giving up, hui
finally at Chickamauga he received a
wound which totally disabled him from
further fighting.
So IN April Of the closing year Of
the war, he received his parole. bur
within few months he became a mem
Der of the Alabama Legislature, to
which he was twice reelected And
while serving as a legislator he made
good use Of his time and studied law.
being admitted to the bar The year
mat his last term expired. Then,
few years later. he became county
Judge, holding this office for twelve
years. When General Joe" Wheeler,
hero of the Civil and Spanish Wars.
resigned his scat in Congress. Mr.!
Richardson was elected as his success
sor. and he has been re elected ever
since.
Union Man Is Labor Chairman.
Members of our labor unions Will he
interested 10 learn that William E.
wilson, of Pennsylvania, the new
chairman of the House Committee on
Labor. is man who has himself been
both sweating laborer and labor
union official.
Brought by his poor parents from
Scotland at the age of eight Wilson
was soon set 10 work In the Pennsyl-
Vania mines, shovcling onto cars the
coal which his father dug. Al eleven
he was half member of the Mine
Workers Union. AS in the case OF
James =. O'Gorman, the new Senator
from New York, and OF Senator Gore,
the fiery orator from Oklahoma, the
debating society gave Wilson the in
itial impulse that sent him on his CON
srcssward career lie tells me that
when SIN mine boy of fourteen he
orGanized az Arnot. TioEa county. Pa.
debating society, which regularly
met in the shop of a friendly cobbler
and here. into question hox.. he
and his youthful colleagues droppcd
queries concerning current topics mon
winch they desired further cnlightcn
n t..
-hc slips were drawn out, one ny
one and thrashed over by the young
Massacres' whose appetites for solid
~hetted as he days passed.
When the cobbler's shop YEAS torn
down these youths with the weight ~
me countrS's destiny upon their shoul.
nerS looked vainly about Tor anothe,
sheltered forum, and were reduced IN
ms necessity of meeting on the Village
green where five dusty roads crtme
.osether-a place still called. in their
honor. Congress Corners" When
,Meh'y one the Scotch miner married
hut soon aftcrward was blacklistod
49, ''i - ~ pclnicloitS actiV-
ny IN ihe union. So he left his youne
"ride behind for time and went West
making his way by digging ditchcs.
ooinE farm work, laboring In n saw
'''iii ana. as pikeman IN a lumher camn
SpiashinE often ncck-dccp into The wa .
Ter. FINALLY. however. he reached .
INNING camp. got Job. sent for his
orinc' gained tho respect OF the union
.sa"crs. helped organize tho Unitci
mine Workers Of America. returned a.
rennsyivania and became a right hand
man OF John MllseAell .puz!ns As