The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-17
NEGRO IN THE FIELD OF LABOR
HOT DISCUSSION IN THE FEEDER
ALTON YESTERDAY.
Resolution Reaffrming That All
Labor, Without Regard to Color,
Is Welcome, Finally Adopted.

Nashville, Tenn, Dec. 16.-When the
American Federation of Labor met to-
day the committee on resolutions intro
duced resolution urging the Fedora
ton of labor TO give its earnest en-
cOuragement to the proposed legisla-
ton in behalf of the union BARRIERS Of
the country The resolution was dis
cussed by several delegates and finally
referred to the state branches without
recommendations.
Delegate EIderkin offered a resolution
reciting that as the supreme court. in
the decision of the Arago case, has
held that specific enforcement of con-
tracts to labor are not inhibited by the
constitution of the United States, the
American Federation of Labor appeals
to 'all lovers of their kind to watch
for, and if possible prevent any legis-
latiOn by any state legislature or by
congress, which shall in any way give
force to the principle laid down in this
decision
The resolution also urges upon con-
gress Ito blot from the present stat
utes the provisions which now make
this principle enforcible upon seamen
and fishermen"
CONVICT LABOR.
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
employ lent of convict labor should be
primarily for self-suppOrt. and at the
furthest for the making Of goods which
should be used in state institutions.
The SOuthwick bill, which is to be in
trOduced before congress, enbOdieS the
idea OF the committee. and it is rec
commended that it be sanctioned by the
federation.
NEGRO QUESTION.
The negro question occupied the ma
jor portion of the afternoon session, and
a heated discussion was brought on by
a resolution introduced by Henry Lloyd
reaffirming the declarations of the fed
Grafton that all labor, without regard
to color, is welcomed to it's ranks, and
denOuncing as untrue in fact the re-
ported statements of Booker T. Wash
ingtOn-that the trades unions were
placing obstacles in the way of the
material advancement of the negro, and
appealing to the records of the fedora
ton as complete answers to such false
assertions.
This resolution caused much spirited
! discussion.
Delegate Jones of Augusta, Ca,
spoke, claiming that the white laborer
could not compete with the negro Ia
bcrer, though organization would i'm
prove conditions materially.
President GOmDers took part in the
discussion, explaining that the move
ment was not against the negro Ia
borer, but against the cheap laborer,
| and that the textile workers of the east
! had been compelled to contribute of
| their means to teach labOrers in the
south the benefits of organization. He
!. also made the point that the capitalists
would like TO profit by the failure of
} lob
! ing the negro an impeachment to labor
movements.
| c. P Frahey, a Nashville delegate,
| insisted that the negro was not the
! equal of the white man socially or in
.dustrially. He grew warm in speaking
! of President GOmpers remarks regard
/ ing the negro in the labor movement,
and stated that the president had not
vetoed the commission of a national
/ organizer who had DatrOniZed non
union white barber shops in preference
/ to a union negro barber shop The or
/ ganizer had simply been allowed to
resign, and no publicity had been given
! the matter.
! In answer to a question regarding
the name of the party, Frahey stated
it was Jesse Johnson, president of the
Pressmen's union.
James O'Conneu and P. j. Mcclure
spoke to the resolution. The latter in
sisted that Booker T Washington was
attempting to put the negro before the
public as the victim of gross injustice,
and himself as the Moses of the race.
NJ. D. Ratchford insisted that draw
ing the color line would be an almost
fatal blow to the organization Being
recognized again, Mr.. Jones asked
| whether there should be any efforts
made in the east to organize the Chi
nese who came in conflict with union
/ labor.
President Gompers then ruled that
| the discussion cease. The resolution
which had caused the heated debate
was adopted, and the delegates went
into executive session.