The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-12-22
COLOR LINE DEBATED.
Labor Federation Men Take Ex.
cept'ons to Remarks by
Booker T. Washington.
APPEAL TO THE ORDERS RECORD.

To Prove That IL Has Drawn No Color Line,
and That Washington's Statements Are
Untrue-Southern Delegate Assails Com
pers, Who Finally shuts or the Talk Per-
emptorily-"Trus Uniformity Coal OPP
orators Meet-Report Poor Progress.
Nashville, Dec. 1.-THE negro ques-
ton occupied the major portion OF the
session OF the Federation OF Labor yes
terday and a heated discussion was
grought on bya resolution introduced by
Henry Lloyd. reaffirming the declara-
tons OF the federation that all labor
without regard to color. is welcome TO
it's ranks; denouncing as untrue in fact
the reported statement OF Booker T.
Washington that the trades unions were
placing obstacles in the way of the ma
terial 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. Dele
gate Jones, of Augusta, Ca. spoke
claiming that the white laborer could
not compete with the negro laborer,
though organization would improve con-
ditions materially. President Gompers
took part In the discussion, 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 con-
tribute most of their means to teach la
borers in the south the benefits of or
ganization.
Southerner Attacks Gompers.
Henry Lloyd said he did not ask white
laborers TO take negro laborers into
their own homes. but true trade union
ism 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 ii was against the words of
Booker #. Washington that the resolu-
ton was aimed. c. p. Frahey. Nash
vile delegate, insisted that the negro
was not the equal of the white mans o.
cially or industrially He grew warm in
speaking OF President Gompers' re-
marks regarding the negro in the labor
movement, and stated that the president
had not revoked the commission of a
national organizer who had patronized
a non-union white barber shop in prefer
cilCt W uIlIOI ItSTO DdTDtT SHOp. Tic
organizer had simply been allowed to
resign, and no publicity had been given
the matter. In answer TO a question de-
string the name of the party, Frahey
stated that 1t was Jesse Johnson. presi-
dent Of the pressmen.
Gompers Stops the Discussion.
w. d. Mahon charged that Jones was
not a representative of southern trades
unionism, having just joined the ranks.
Jones then, in his own behalf, declared
he did not oppose the negro, but did
contend that the negro laborer was low
er 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 efforts made I'm the east to organize
Chinese who came in conflict with un-
ion labor. President Gompers then
ruled that the discussion must cease.
The resolution which had caused the
heated debate was adopted and the DEL
egates went into executive session.
Report on Convict Laber.
One OF the most important reports Of
the. session was that of the special com
mittee on convict labor. 1t was the
sense OF the committee that the employ
ment OF convict labor should be primar-
lily for self-support and for making
dc K~lNt 3,