Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-06
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
IS R0UNDLY CONDEMNED
Method of Electing School Supcrin-
tendents Denounced Before State
Federation of Labor.
SHOULD BE LOCAL CONTROL
HARDWOOD Also Says People Have
Been Compelled to Pay Thousands
OF Dollars Because of Manner Of
Handling SchoOlbook Contracts.

Especial to The Times Dispatch.l
BRISTOL, VA. June 5.-The Virginia
State Federation of Labor opened it's
twenty-firSt annual convention In the
city Hall here at 10 o'clock this morn
irS, with more than 200 delegates In
attendance. representing Norfolk. New
port News, Richmond, Petersburg,
stanton. Danville. Lynchburg, Roa
noke and other Virginia communities.
The delegates were welcomed by Mayor
&. NJ. Warren. on behalf Of the Virginia
municipality. and by Mayor j. II. Fau-
cette. on behalf OF the Tennessee mu-
nicipality. and \. Gray Ciiliver, on be-
half of the Bristol Board OF Trade.
Badges were presented to the dele
gates by the Board of Trade and repre-
sentatives OF the local unions, bearing
n picture of the new 100000 school
building here. surrounded by the in
scription: Educated Youth. the Hope
OF Virginia" In the outer circle of the
badge is the inscriptions: "Virgibia
Federation OF Labor. Bristol. Va,
1916"
Following the formali,ies of the open
ing session. the convention got down
70 business.
CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE
HAS EIGHT CONTESTS
Following the welcome and response
which were greeted with frequent APP
plausc by an audience that filled the
hall. President Hickman named the
following AZ committee of creden-
tials: ]. B. Clinedinst. j. ]. Donnell, J.
NJ. O'Conner RI. Reed. 7. NJ. Adams.
S. G. Priddy. and Miss Minnie Young
The convention then adjourned until .
o'clock. but at that hour the creden-
tails committee had only partially COM
pleted it's report, there being eight con-
tests in more than 200 delegates. The
convention organized. but no business
was transacted In the afternoon, pend
Ing the final report Of the credentials
committee.
Among the speakers at the after
noon session were, 6. =. Harwood. of
Richmond, president of the State Typo
graphical Union; F. l. Mccarthy, of
last named former president of the
federation.
Mr.. Harwood made a pointed address
on what he conceived TO be the present
situation in Virginia with reference
20 schoolbooks He condemned the
pi csent system of elcctinG school super
intcndents by the State Board Of Edu-
cation. declaring that elections of that
character should be controlled locally
He also scored in vigorous style the
manner In which the State Board of
Education has handled contracts for
schoolbooks. declaring that tho people
of Virginia had had to pay thousands
of dollars more than would have been
necessary under different management
W. r. Fields reviewed the history
Of federation work in Virginia. point
ing TO evidences of marked advance
ment along all lines.
Mr.. Mccarthy, the Boston speaker.
advocated tbe adoption by States Of
an anti-injunction law to conform to
the Federal anti-injunction statute.
j. G. DUKE is SEATED
DESPITE OPPOSITION
The final submission Of the report
OF the committee on credentials to-
night was followed by n stormy SEES
sion in which heated argument was in
dulged in over the right OF j. G. Duke.
Of Richmond. legal stenographer and
licensed lawyer. TO be seated. Duke.
who is twenty-three years old. is
member OF the Office Workers Union.
the first union of the kind organized
in the South. He is also licensed to
practice law in Virginia and this fact
aroused opposition to his being seat
ed a delegate.
Duke made a spirited explanation OF
his position. admitting his purpose to
practice law as a profession. but con-
tending that he should not be barred
from participation in the federation
because Of his purpose TO have a pro-
fession The vote to seat him was
probably three to one. in spite OF heat
ed protests on the part of the oppo-
sition.
All delegates finally were seated. in
Guiding H W Mullins against whom
4 formal protest had been entered,
President Hickman announced the
working committees of the cohven-
ton, following which the body ad
journed for the night.