The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-05-11

I to submit TO rules which experience has
tainly, no greater privilege can be con-
ferred upon a negro simply because Of
the color of his skin. We repeat that
he ought to ask and be accorded equal
rights and privileges; certainly, no
more. t% En-
We do not claim perfection for our
movement In movement composed
of such immense numbers as ours, a
mistake may be made, and this, too,
toward a white man. When this is
done, corrective effort is made; when
however, it occurs with colored man
| it is magnified and exaggerated by the
I'superiors" to whom we have already
demonstrated to be necessary. Ger
referred; and an effort is made to con-
vey the notion that it is the rule, not.
the exception, and that the labor move
ment does not grant the right of the
negro to organize.
The real difficulty in the matter is
that the colored workers have allowed
themselves to be used with too frequent
telling effect by their employers as to,
injure the cause and interests of them
| serves as well as VI Tie Willie WOikeTS.
They have too often allowed themselves
to be regarded as ''cheap men," and
realize that "cheap men" are not only
an impeachment to the attainment of the
workers. just rights, and the progress
of civilization, but will tie themselves
to the slough Of despond and despair.
| The antipathy that we know some
union workers have against the colored
man is because of his color, not be-
cause of the fact that generally he is
''cheap man." 1t is the constant aim
of our movement to relieve all workers
white and black, from such an unen-
viable and Improbable condition.
In recent article by distinguish
ed colored writer. he falls into the COM
mon error which others of his race
make Booker II. Washington, to whom
we refer, intimated that it would be to
the advantage of the cOlOred workers
if they would be SO situated in their
home lives that their employers could
Icontrol them as we'll as the lives of their
families. Certainly, if this policy is
lpursued, it implies that the economic,
social, and moral progress and ad-
Vancement of the negro is dependent
upon the phlanthropic and humane
consideration of their employers. How
much can be expected from this source
is we'll known to any observer of eco
}nomic and industrial developments Be-
sides this. if workers are to rely upon
the good will and controp' of the en-
ployers, it presupposes that there is
either no need or no inclination for or
ganization. In other words and in
truth, it places the position of the col
ored worker exactly as a cheap man;
and it is this feature of the problem
which arouses much of the antagOnlsm
and feeling among the organized, and
more intensely by the unorganized
workmen. whose very bitterest anti
pathies are aroused against the colored
Workmen because they couple them
with an instrument Of their employers
to force down and keep down wages tc
the deterioration of the Caucasian race
If the cOlored Workmen desire to &C
cept the honest invitation of our move
ment to organize; if those who have in
fluence over the minds of the colorec
Workmen will encourage the earnest
honest effort put forth by our fellow:
unionists, we will find larger success at
tending their efforts, economic bitter
ness and antagonism between the race:
reduced, minimized, and ob1iterated
but, if the colored workers are laugh
to depend entirely upon the good viii
l and control of their employers; tina
they can be brought from place to plac'
: at any time to thwart the struggle D
the white workers for material, mora
and social Improvement; that hostilit!
l will increase, and thus counterfeit tn
livery best efforts Of those who are earn
( estly engaged in the endeavor for tn
5 unification of labor, the attainment 0
- social improvement of all the people
and their entire >disenthrallment from
Y every vestige of tyranny, wrong, an
injustice.-American Federationist.