The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-05
LIQUOR QUESTION
NOT ON PROGRAM
Virginia Federation Of Labor to
Avoid Political Dis
putes.
MEETS IN ANNUAL SESSION
More Than One Hundred Dele
gates in Attendance at
Lynchburg.
MEETS IN ANNUAL SESSION
Especial to The Times-Dispatch. ]

Especial to The Tlmes-Dispa ten.
Lynchburg. Va. June with more
than 100 delegates present. the Nir-
ginia Federation of Labor opened its
seventeenth annual convention here
this morning. the meeting being called
TO order shortly after 10 o'clock in the
y. NJ. c. a. auditorium by President
Phil Metz. Addresses Of welcome on
the part OF the city and the Chamber
of Commerce were made. responses de-
livered and the committee on oreder-
tails appointed. after which the session
adjourned until 2:3o this afternoon.
when the report OF tho committee on
credentials was hoard and the formal
transaction of business entered into.
President Metz was asked regarding
report that the liquor question was
slated to come up IN the convention.
lie stated that there vas nothing In
the report. The Virginia Federation
OF Labor" he said is organization
having as its purpose the welfare of
the laboring man and the bcttermentI
chief purpose. There are. OF course.
Individual OPINIONS among It's members.
but as a body II is neither wet nor
dry: and 1t does not intend to become
mixed up in political questions"
IN the absence of Rev H. TT Stevens.
of Roanoke. who was to have offered
the invocation, this service was per-
Farmers Union.
Welcomed By Harper.
Fred Harper. representing tile city
and the Chamber of Commerce. extend
ed a warm welcome 10 the delegates,
and was followed b. +. II. Mayheld.
business secretary OF the Chamber OF
Commerce. Mr. Thornhill was desig-
mated by President Metz to make the
response. the president himself fol-
n mr. in IaF Of
tion. There was frequent applause
during the speeches.
President Metz. in brief but ear
nest speech and in appreciative words,
expressed the thanks OF his organiza-
ton for the hand OF fellowship extend
ed by the city and the Chamber OF
Commerce, and stated the object Of the
organization in bringing its convention
to this city. one OF the chief reasons
being, he said. that Jnorganized labor
here and in this section might see some
OF the results to be accomplished from
united effort and later affiliate them
selves with the organization.
The purpose of organized labor" he
declared. lis not to pull down. but to
build up, Notwithstanding what some
newspapers, capitalistic newspapers
especially. have to say to the contrary"
Referring 10 the last session OF the
virginia Legislature. he said there was
some legislation the laboring man did
not get. but 1t is because you did not
put the people there TO represent you."
he said, and expressed the hope that
the next Legislature would see as men,
oers Of its body from every section Of
the State men having at heart the vel
rare OF the workingman
Ihen we can get legislation TO
help the women and the children"
he closed his remarks. which were
received with enthusiasm. with n plea
Tor harmony and good feeling.
After calling the roll to determine
who were delegates and who were
alternatcs. Secretary E. c. Dawson
stated that he had received through
Miss Mary Johnston, of Richmond. Gre
dentials for two delegates represent
ing the Equal Suffrage League. who
desired seats in the convention. the
two delegates being Mrs. John II. Lewis
and Mrs. Dexter Otcy. both of this
city 1t was stated that three other
delegates from Richmond had been
expected, but that now 1T was doubt
ful II they could come.
One delegate moved that the creden-
tails be accepted. President Metz
stated that at the last meeting of tho
federation such a motion was not
necessary. and he ruler the motion out
of order. stating that when the dele
gates come they are eHlitieu ~ ac"''
In this convention"
RuIesNJ T. savage. II. J. McAlister. j
d Tatem. z ". Biakey and ]. Z. Padsett.
Report o. Presidential VI stoppard. J. T.
Enright r. II. Greenwny. G. T. Miller and
-. X Hutchins -
>y,nrheste- J. NJ. Levy. T. Landlord. d. ii.
Mitchell and Mis-. Belle Taiiey.
Resolutiou.-J. y Dreamer, Miss Minnie
Young. Frank Williams. II. C. HOWE. j. g
i'G Finanee-D. F.. Doher,y, J. f. Bergen
dahl. a. c. Lithkoon;z. j. X Rankin and
c. 5. Hoos!er.
Music-G. I.ichensteIn and J. NJ. Kaufman.
Tomorrow n special com Will make
roror. ms to EanctioninE the executive COM
mittee's action in Withdrawing support from
the Roanoke Industrial Era and the Norfolk
Unionist the committee being composed ri
f L. Walters. Frank Wheeler. u l..
o. rIen c. II. Goodman and 7. II. Kauf-
msn This seem. TO be the most interesting
phase OF the convention for tomorrow.