Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-20
Declaration Made by the American
Federation of Labor.
RELATIONS OF WHITES and BLACKS
No Distinction in Organization on
Account of Race.
REFERENCE TO CHEAP MEN

The officers of the American Federation
or Labor have been in receipt recently OF
numerous inquiries relative to the attitude
OF the organization toward the negro, and
the subject has been widely discussed by
philanthropists, some negro workers them
selves and particularly by some colored
men of prominence in the realm of thought.
The executive council of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor has reached the conclu-
sion that the time has arrived to make Of
fetal utterance on the subject and has is
sued statement thereon of which salient
features are the following:
For years, it is claimed, the American
Federation of Labor has declared in favor
of and the necessity for the organization
of all workers, without regard to creed,
color sex. nationality or politics. In max
ing the declaration for the complete organ
ization of all workers, however, it does not
necessarily proclaim that the social bar
r1ers which exist between the whites and
blacks could or should be obliterated; but
1t realizes that when white and black
workers are compelled to work side by side,
under the same equally unfair and adverse
conditions, 1t would be anomaly to re-
fuse to accord the right of organization to
workers because of difference in color.
The American Federation of Labor it is
stated In the address. has more than 700
volunteer organizers and a number of or
oeiiiiHCio salary, among Wulcn are
several who are devoting their time exclu-
SlVely to the organization of the cOlOred
voters. This certainly it is claimed should
not only indicate the desire and interest of
the American Federation of Labor in the
matter, but also the work that is being &C
compished.
1T need not be imagined, however the
aooress goes on to say. because the neces-
Slty Is realized for the organization of the
colored workers that for that reason the
American Federation of Labor can grant
TO them PRIVILEGES which are denied to
white workers The American Federa:ion
of Labor. it is declared. wants them to
organize IN the unions of their trades and
caliings and take their chance with the
White Workmen. They, are, it Is declared,
entitled to no less and they should ask no
more.
Demand Special Protection.
IL Is explained that these words are used
because there are some colored men who
imagine that the organization Of the COL
ored workers comes under their especial
superior wing Of protection: who manifest
suspicion that the colored workers, when
organized. will require the solicitous and
fostering care of these colored 'superiors'
from what they indirectly intimate to be
the design of the unions Of white workers
we are frequently in receipt of com
munications from these self constituted
super1ors. the address states who
make inquiries as to privileges to which
the colored workman would be entitled in
the event of these 'superiors' giving their
colored workmen"
The American Federation of Labor, the
aodress further. states. grants to national
and international unions of a trade the
right, autonomy and Independence to make
and enforce rules governing their trade 50
long as they do not Infringe upon the iuris
dict1on Of other national or international
UNIONS. and observe the laws. policy and
Labor. #i VI
The American Federation of Labor. IT ia
claimed seeks to place the organizations
OF labor upon the highest possible plane
of ethical. progressive, civilized and
humane considerations and among these
recognizes potentially the identity of the
interests Of the workers. irrespective of
creed, sex, politics, color or nationality
Time and again have the organizations
affiliated with the A. F. Of L., in conven-
lions, emphatically declared and insisted
upon the practice of these PRINCIPLES. and
often have white union men deprived them
selves of opportunities and advantages in
order to protect the rights of colored work
men,
The address continues
1T may not be generally known that the
great strike of the New Orleans white
union workers some years ago was in de-
tense and for the promotion of the inter-
estS of colored laborerS. For their nrotec-
ton, as we'll as for the promotion of their
interests, it is claimed. the colored work.
ers should organize and in all cases be-
come affiliated with the organizations Of
white wage-earners or form coIored work.
ers unions in full sympathy and co-opera-
ton of the white workers unions.
Authority Granted.
At the Louisville convention of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor authority was
granted to organize and grant charters to
separate local and central bodies Of COL
ored workmen. wherever such bodies would
promote the interests of all the workers.
The A. F. of l. has large number of
unions affiliated composed exclusively of
colored workers, who feel that their inter-
ests are safeguarded by the officers of the
movement as justly and wisely as the or
CARNATIONS of any other toilers. Again
the A. F. Of L has unions composed of
whites and blacks and generally these
work together without any friction at ALL
when q white man desires to become a
member Of an organization he is proposed
for membership and Is required to submit
to rules which experience has demonstrat-
ed to be necessary, and, it Is argued, no
negro simply because Of the color Of his
skin"
The address frankly states that perfec-
ton is not claimed for the movement. and
of such immense numbers as ours a mis-
take may be made. and this, too, toward a
white man. When this Is done a correc-
tive effort is made, and when. however, it
and exaggerated by the 'superiors.' to
whom we have already referred, and an
effort is made to convey the notion that it
is the rule not the exception, and that
the labor movement does not grant the
right of the negro to organize.
1.-The real difficulty in the matter is that
the colored workers have allowed them
selves to be used with too frequent telling
effect by their employers as to injure the
cause and interests OF themselves, as well
as of the white workers. They have too
often allowed themselves to be regarded
as cheap men, and all 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.
"fhe antipathy that we know some union
workers have against the colored man is
not because of his color, but because Of the
fact that generally he is a cheap man
It is the constant aim of our movement
to relieve all workers. white and black,
from such an unenviable and Improbable
condition.
Feature of the Problem.
''The cheap man is really the feature of