The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-03-28
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The Atlanta University is making
study or the negro artisan question.
Ihe seventh conference under the d.
rection Of the University, has been
held. and in the published report, is
historical and statistical study of the
negro as a skilled workman
TWenty-three> pages of the report
dwell on the relations of the negro
workman to trade unions. The record
of the American Federation of Labor
towards the black mechanic, it charg-
the in11I1nded leaders
like Samuel Gompers. Because the
Federation recognized the rights of
| unions and central labor bodies in the
south to deny negroes admittance so
long as they admitted them to separ-
ate unions or central bodies COMPOSED
| exclusively of negroes, the Federation
| is accused of inconsistency for the rea-
son that it had openly declared that
| it welcomed all wage earners regard
less of color. The report fails to give
| the Federation credit for what it has
| done to abolish race prejudices among
the Workingmen. If the A. F. of L.
had rushed pell NELL into the south
declaring that no union would be rec
ognlzed that drew the color line, moth
ing would have ever been accomplished
! IN trade unionism in the south. If
the Federation was purely a fraternal
| organization alone, it possibly could
have been more forcible in it's instances
on drawing the color line But the in
emies Of labor organization, who are
exploiting both the black and the white
alike. and who delight in keeping alive
| all prejudices against color for mer-
cenary purposes must be contended
with. So the Federation very wisely
has taken up the question in a prac-
t1cal manner. Gradually. but surely.
| the walls against color are being torn
down. and the ultinate policy of
union labor will be in the end. COL
or shall be no bar to membership" >"
Work of this kind cannot be accom-
! plished in a day, a month, or a year.
It requires time to remove a sentiment,
and no one knows this better than the
faculty Of the Atlanta University.
| Union labor's mission is to better the
condition of humanity. 1t is world
! wide in it's scope.
| When lot of foolish prejudices are
removed from the minds of working
men, which by the way are kept there
by tactful agents$of the exploiters of
labor-the trade zunion will be found
to be the most humane of ali the or
carnations M sM am q noIla:szmen.
lss;H e
8 consid-
eTabIe negrOt III az III aIilber rshin 11nn nor,
cent of the membership ip@of the BARRIERS
union are*negroes. This is true of the
United Miners, Tile Layers and Coop
ers The following is the percentage of
negro members in other trade unions:
Carpenters, per cent; Carriage and
Wagon Workers, 20 per cent: Station
cry Firemen, IS per cent; Longshore-
men, 80 per cent; Tobacco Workers,
| 16 per cent. In the Hod Carriers
| Union the negro is the dominating fac
tor. Most of these unions admit neg
roes in nearly all cases. Some of them
say that they will admit negroes but
that they prefer whites. While at this
point it must be admitted that the rail-
road brothrehoods have constitutional
barriers against negroes.
The report of the Strike Commission
is the topic of the hour in labor circles
and widely do the leaders vary on the
scope of the decision President Mitch
! ell is reported to have said that he is
very much elated over the decision
Other leaders among the miners are
more reserved. and will not offer an