Evening star., 1944-11-22
Emmett {. DAWSON,
Former Alexandra
Mayor, Dies al 66

Emmett c. Dawson, 66, prominent
labor leader and former Mayor o1
Alexandria, died last night in
Doctors Hospital, where he had beer
a patient since November 4. Death
was attributed to thrombosis. He
had been in failing health for more
than a year.
Mr.. Dawson had been a member
Of the AFL International Associa-
tion of Machinists for more than rs
years, and had served as general
secretary-treasurer of the associa-
tiOn since 1917. Before receiving
this post he had served as organizer
for the association, and prior to that
was business agent of Richmond
Lodge, No. 10.
His activities in the ranks of labor
drew him into Northern Virginia
politics in 1912 when he opposed
Representative Smith in the Demo-
cratic primary. He was defeated.
Served cn Council.
Before becoming Mayor of Alex
sndria in 1884, Mr.. Dawson served
as member of the City Council
from the 9th ward. AS councilman
he worked for a Public Works Ad-
ministration program for the city,
and after becoming Mayor he led a
program of school improvement.
The first colored high school in
NIyio tr,In foI 111siy,
his term in office, and other pro-
grams carried out during his ad-
ministration included the reorgani-
zation of the fire and police
departments and the rescue squad
A native of Virginia, Mr.. Dawson
was born in Chesterfield County. He
was graduated from the Virginia
Mechanics Institute, and later
studied law at night school.
In 1901 he was appointed labor
representative to appear at the Vir-
ginia General Assembly and he re-
ceived credit for much of the States
child labor legislation. Later he
served as joint legislative repre-
sentative of the Virginia Federation
of Labor and the National Farmers
Educational Cooperative Union.
Served in Many Posts.
Mr.. Dawson served as an official
with the Mount Vernon Mortgage
Corp, the Teck Construction Co.,
the Great Western Corp, and was
a member of the Advisory Commit
tee of the National Defense Council,
the Committee on Training Within
Industry of the War Production
Board, the Virginia Apprenticeship
Council, the Virginia Selective Serv-
ice Board of Appeals No. 3, and the
Virginia Advisory Committee of De-
fense Training.
In 1887, Mr.. Dawson was brought
to trial in Federal Court in Alex
andria on one of two indictments
growing out of a petition in bank
ruptcy he had filed in November,
1885. He was cleared, however, of
charges of concealing more than S.
600 when he declared himself bank
rupt. A previous trial had resulted
in hung jury.
Veteran of War With Spain.
A veteran of the Spanish-Amer-
lean War, Mr.. Dawson also served
during the World War in the mobi-
lization of the country's manpower.
He was member of the Episcopal
Church and was 32d degree Mason,
a member of the Shrine and a
knights Templar He also was a
member of the knights of Pythias,
the Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose
and the United Spanish War
Veterans.
Mr.. Dawson is survived by his
widow, Mrs. Laura Dawson, 2704
Mosby place, Alexandria; three
daughters, Mrs. Merrill Heflin, Alex
andria; Mrs. William Bryant, Rich
mond, and Mrs. Albert Stark, Wash
ington, and three sons, Preston and
Clarence Dawson, both of Alexan-
dria, and Milton Dawson, Washing
ton.
Funeral arrangements have not
been cOmpleted