Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-05-22
ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE NE
GRO.

iu their insane desire 90 injure one
OF the kindliest races Of people on
the face of the globe. The fact is
heralded an over the country that
between fifty and seventy-fve white
fremen on the Georgia railroad
struck on the 18th inst because the
Company refused to dismiss its Negro
fremen
This ifs rather a peculiar position
for organized labor 90 assume in a
section OF the country where more
than sixty percent of the labor is
made mp OF men. who are OF the col
ored race. Mr. r. A. Bugess. assis-
tant grand chief Of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers and Mr.. A.
.P. Kelly of Chicago. vice-president OF
the brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Eneinemen are there con
suitng with the local brotherhood
men regarding the strike Of the fire
men on the Georgia Railroad.
To viii Dee an interesting question
as 90 whether these leaders will en-
dorse the action OF the local orgaui-
zation. Second Vice-P President Ball
of the Locomotive Firemen and En-
ginemen gave out the statement that
the places of the white dremen. who
have struck are being filled boy col.
ored fromen. We are at a loss Co
understand what else he could expect.
This attack is not upon the lazy. loaf
ing Negroes but upon the honest in
dustrious ones.
In this connection. Mt Thomas X.
Scott. general manager OF the Georgia
Railroad is quoted as follows:
There BIS an organized movement
Co eliminate Negroes as industrial
factors in railroad work I'm the South
and DO is now under way. This strike
is the FIRST step OF movement. which
lis planned 10 eventuate iu the aboli-
ton OF the Negro as an Industrial
factor. 10 is the skirmish OF the
brotherhood OF Locomotive Firemeu
and Enginemen In IFS plan TO drive
the Negro out OF employment on the
railroads altogether
The plan has been smouldering
for five years. This strike on the
Georgia Railroad Is just the FIRST step
l have reason TO believe that the same
demand viii I'm time Doe IL soon or
late. Dee made by officials Of this FIRE
men union upon every other rail-
road Boa the South"
This is plain. clear-cut language
and the effect OF the whole matter
viii Doe to bind the colored Iaborine
elements OF the South 70 the white
business elements as with hooKs of
steel. White men viii stand by col
ored ones and there is no doubt about
these colored men returning the same
favor. Even now. there are thous-
ands OF colored men. who will risk
injury and face death in order to
render substantial service to white
men of the Thomas X. Scott type.
The better class OF white men of
the old slave-holding type we're raised
with many of these same Negroes
that this union Is hghting. The bond
OF union between them is so strong
that one VIII risk all for the other
They will man those engines as long
Jas they receive orders from the rec.
.ognized authority so to do and will
regretfully quit when they are so
commanded from the same source.
While we are discussing this ont
break OF racial and Industrial preiu-
dice In the state Of Georgia. rather
amusing report comes from the state
Of Illinois. White men charged and
convicted of crime. and who are in
generated in a common prison raised
the cry of the color line. The follow
ing report explains itself:
chicago. ILL.,, May 1S.-Four davsI
OF solitary confinement broke q
strike among a score or more Of
prisoners on the first tier of the
county Jail. The "walkout" occurr-
"a "hen the men refused to exercise
III the same corridors with Negroes
although Jailer Davies told Them tbev
would be placed in solitary cells and
ieu only bread and water if they did
not obey the rules.
The men defied the TALLER. ami ten
OF the most obdurate were placed in
the darkened cells and kent tbare
until they sent word that they wopId
obey. Then they were released. !"
This treatment of these white nris-
oners was drastic but il was neces-
sary. Men. who are SO low and de-
PRAYED as to be sent to prison should
be dealt with in this manner in order
10 enforce discipline. Il shows
though that a reaction is setting in
both North and South and that Tho
rantings of Senator Tillman ana
the rawlings of Thomas Dixon are No
longer controlling the sober SECOND
thought of the country.
colored men. who have been das
pairing should look upward for the