Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-05
.CANNAWAY IS DEFEATED
AND PAPER DISCARDED
Farmers Union Changes Presidents
and Official Organ to Maintain
Nonpolitical Status.
TO soCIALIsTIo VIEWS
James River Clarion VIII Change
Name to Union Clarion and BE-
como Spokesman for Organization.
Committee to Direct Policy.
Especial to The Tlmes-pispatch !

lSpecial to The Timcs-Dispatch.1
ROANOKE. VA, February AT the
final session OF tho Virginia Division
OF the Farmers Education and Coop
erntive Union. before adjournment was
taken to-day. that organization went
on record as prohibiting partisan poll
tics, and rejected tho Union Star, of
Brookneal. as It's official organ.
This action was taken when tho re-
port OF the committee on paper and
Official organ was brought In. Tho
convention adopted the report unani-
mousiy. hut 1t Is understood that In
the committee there was a spirited
night over the proposition. Nothing
oiicial was announced concerning tho
real inside of the fight against the
Union Star. as the official organ, and
the defeat OF ID. a. Gannawny for presi-
deht. However. delegates who attend
ed he session of the convention and
those familiar with the proceedings In
committee were outspoken to-day In
their declaration that Mr.. Gannaway's
announcement that he was n member Of
the Socialist party, and the views ex-
pressed b. him. were directly respon-
siblc for his defeat.
PAPER IS DISCARDED
BECAUSE OF IT'S VIEWS
One member said ne was positive that
mously chosen president had he not
come out so forclbly on the question OF
socialism. Another member said the
vast majority Of tho members OF the
union favored the rejection OF tho
Union Star because Of It's socialistic
policy. He said the organization real
lied that 1t could not afford to have as
ofhcial organ partisan. political pub
iication. Those who discussed the mat
tiers said that the majority OF the mem
bership realized that the official organ
had been having a disastrous effect
upon the organization.
The report Of the committee on manor
and official organ was unanimously
adopted. 1t provides that the official
organ shall be the Union Clarion. The
paper Will be published at DiIlwyn.
buckingham County. the present paper,
the james River Clarion changing iys
title. The same company which now
publishes the James River Clarion will
publish tho paper. but the editorial
policy VIII be directed by the executive
committee of the union
Another feature OF the report OF the
legislative committee which was adopt
ed. was the provision placing the or
ganization on record as being favor
able to the strict enforcement of he
Statewide prohibition law.
Another portion OF this report favors
! the Torrens system of land reEistra-
ton.
FREE sCHooLBOoKs
FAVORED BY UNION
Tho committee on education in It's
report recommended that the union
favor the publication of schoolbooks to
be printed by the State and distributed
free OF cost to the children OF Virginia.
Tho report also favors that the com
pulsory education law be changed so
as to make the age eight to fourteen
years instead OF twelve years. and the
minimum term Of eight months. This
report was unanimously adopted.
Tho following officers were elected
for the coming year: a. b. Thornhill,
of Bent Creek. president; r. L. Dick
inson. Rural Home. vice president: d.
NJ. Blankinship Naruna, secretary
treasurer.
The convention adjourned following
an invitation from the Chamber OF
Comm"rce of Lynchburg. asking the
union to meet there next year.