The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-17
COLOR LINE DISCUSSED
NEGRO QUESTION RAISED IN FEEDER
ALTON OF LABOR CONVENTION.
Spirited Debate That Was Finally
Shut Off by President GOmpers-
Competition of COnvicts.

NASHVILLE Tenn, Dec 16-The negro
question occupied the major portion of the
afternoon session of the American Fedora
ton of Labor to-day. heated discussion
was brought on by a resolution introduced
by Henry Lloyd reaffirming the declarations
of the Federation that all labor, without re-
gard to color, is welcome to its ranks; de-
nouncing as untrue in fact the reported
statements of Booker T. Washington that
the trades unions were placing obstacles in
the way of the material advancement of the
negro. and appealing to the records of the
Federation conventions as complete answers
to such false assertions This resolution
caused much spirited discussion. Delegate
Jones, of Augusta, Ga, spoke, claiming
that the white laborer could not compete
with the negro laborer, though organiza-
ton would improve conditions materially
President Gompers took part in the dis
cussion, explaining that the movement was
not against the negro laborer, but against
the cheap laborer, and that the textile
workers of the East had been compelled to
contribute of their means to teach laborers
iii the South the benefits of organization.
He also made he1point that the capitalists
| to organize thus making the negro an i'm
| pediment to labor movements.
| Henry Lloyd said he did not ask white
laborers to take negro laborers into their
homes, but true trades unionism did
| not ask questions as to color; that the
| intention of the resolution was not to bring
| up the question of the color line. but it was
| against the words of Booker T. Washington
| that the resolution WAS aimed
c. p. Frahey, Nashville delegate, in
sisted that the negro was not the equal of
| the white man socially industrially He
| grew warm in speaking of President Com
pers's remarks regarding the negro in the
| labor movement and stated that the presi-
! dent had not revoked the commission of a
| national organizer who had patronized d
nonunion white barber shop in preference
| to union negro barber shop. The organizer
| had simply been allowed to resign, and no
| publicity had been given the matter. In
answer to a question desiring the name of
the party, Frahey stated it Jesse John
| son. president of the pressmen,
James O'Connel and P. j. Mcclure spoke
| for the resolution. The latter Insisted that
| Booker Il. washington was attempting to
| put the negro before the public as the VIC
tim of gross injustice and himself as the
| Moses of the race
| M. ID. Ratchford insisted that drawing the
| color line would beam almost fatal blow to
the miners organization:
| W. ID. Mahon charged that Jones was not
| representative of Southern trades union
| ism. having just joined the ranks
| Mr.. Jones then in his own defense. de-
| clared he did not oppose the negro but did
| contend that the negro laborer was lower
than the, white, citing an Atlanta case
| where whites and blacks had been jointly
| employed and the whites struck. He
| wanted to know if there had been any eff
forts made in the East to organize Chinese
! who came in conflict with union labor
| President Gompers then ruled that the
| discussion must cease, The resolution
which had caused the heated debate was
| cd ~ nd hn do toe inf int
| tive session.
During the day George H. Warner ex-
| planned that he had no ill-wilI towards
President Gompers in bringing to the at
tentiOn of the Federation to advertisement
of Cooper, Seigel e. Co., in the Fedora
| zionist.
The committee on resolutions introduced a
resolution which had been prepared and sub
mitted by Delegate W. e. Klapetzky, of the
| Journeymen BARRIERS international Union,
| urging the Federation of Labor to give it's
earnest announcement TO the proposed leg.
| islatiOn in behalf of the union BARRIERS oil
| the country. The resolution was referred to
| the state branches without recommended
| ton.
Delegate Elderkin offered resolution re-
| citing that as the Supreme Court. in the de-
cislon of the Arago ease. has held that spe-
cific enforcement of contracts to labor is
not inhibited by the Constitution of the
United States the American Federation of
Labor appeals Ito all lovers of their kind
to watch for. and, If possible, prevent any
legislation by any state Legislature or by
Congress which shall, in any way, give force
and erect to the principle laid down in this
decision. The resolution also urges upon
Congress ito blot from the present statutes
the provisions which now make this princi-
pie enforceable upon, seamen and fishermen
The resolution was adopted.
One of the most important reports of the
session was that of the special committee
on convict labor. 1t was the sense of the
committee that the employment of convict
labor should be, primarily, for self-support.
and, at the furthest, for the making of
goods which should be used in state institu-
tons The concentration of convict labor
on special industries has proven a great
menace to the honest laborer. who is forced
to low wages by the competition of the
cheap convict article The recent legislation
of the State of Pennsylvania on the sub
ject is to be commended. 1t is provided that
not more than per cent. of the prisoners
of the State shall be employed in any one
| industry and the Introduction of labor-sav-
ing machinery is forbidden. The Sou.hwick
bill, which is to be introduced befoce Con-
gress, embodies the idea of the committee
and it is recommended that it be sanctioned
by the Federation. This bill provides an
eight-hour day for the prisoner and will
permit only a small percentage of convicts
to be employed in one industry. Further it
makes it a misdemeanOr for any one TO
transport the products of convict labor from
one State or Territory to another to the
District of Columbia No action was taken
to-day. .