Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-02-04
FARMERS UNION.
Political Significance of the orsan'za-
ton Will be Injected

Richmond, Feb. 1.-THE fourth an
mail convention of the Virginia divls-
ION of the Farmers Educational and
ca Operative Union, called to sit at
:.ynchburg February a, . ana =, prom
Uses to be a very memorable affair by
reason of the political Significance
which will be injected into the procee'-
ings. The city auditorium in LyncA-
BURG. has already been reserved for the
meeting and i: is estimated that nearly
1000 farmers, including visiting dele
gates from the State Federation OF
Labor, will be brought together to
partic;pate in the convention and to
assist in drafting a platform OF pro-
gfessive political principles, which IS
to be a standard wherewith the organ
cation will measure candidates for
public Office in the approaching cleo
tions in Virginia.
Among the most mooted questions
which will engage the attention OF the
union at the approaching convention
will be that of the convict labor con-
tract, just signed between the state OF
Virginia and the Star Clothing Manu-
featuring Company, of ST. Louis Inc
farmers of Virginia are not only on
record as bitterly opposed to the hlr'
ing out of state, criminals under con-
tract to private corporations, but have
employed Aubrey E. Strobe, former
state senator from Amherst county, tc
represent them in an effort which Is
soon to be launched before the Cir
cult Court of Richmond, for the nullifi-
cation and upsetting of the agreement
between the state penitentiary officials
and officers of the St. Louis clothing
manufacturing company
Richard Evelyn Byrd, for severa
years speaker of the Virginia house Of
delegates, will act as legal representa-
tive of the State Federation Of Labor
also a party to the impending suit
against the prison contract, and it /;
thought very probable that both
Strobe and Byrd will appear before
the meeting of farmers at Lynchbure
and deliver addresses.
1t was said by several local labor
leaders that the platform to be adopt
ed at Lynchburg by the Virginia farm
ems would be distinctly progressive
The object of thus placing themselves
OF record as advocating progressive
measures, said the labor men, will be
for the reason that the farmers intend
to have every candidate for the next
general assembly make open avowal
of his political principles before guar
anteeing him the support Of their or
g&nization.
every man seeking public Office in
Virginia. said the speaker, "will be
required by the Farmers Educational
and Cooperative Union and by She
Virginia Federation of Labor to place
himself upon record with regard to
his political standing. BY which is
meant that each candidate for Office
will be asked whether he favors GER
tain specific progressive principles OF
government or not, and upon his an
swers will depend the Trainer and Ia
Dor vote"
1t is said that never before in its
history had the union found itself in
a position to command so great
strength This was explained by rea-
son of the fact that the organization
today is thoroughly organized in thir-
Hy-one counties of Virginia and has
619 unions in this state
The meeting in Lynchburg, which
will continue for three days, will be
presided over by D NJ Gannaway, OF
Cumberland county, president George
T Bridgeforth, of Lunenburg county,
is vice-president OF the organization;
d. M. Blankenship, Of Campbell coun-
ty, secretary and treasurer; A. B.
Thornhill, of Appomattox county,
business agent.
Inspector Clinedinst, Of the State
Federation of Labor, together with
Howard T. Colvin, secretary of the or
der will be delegates from the Fede-
&ion of Labor to The farmers meet
I'D be
S one had