The Denver star., 1914-09-05
EQUALITY MEANS EQUALITY IN
LABOR.

Our attention has been called to the
fact that there might be in existence
now two Negro Miners Unions some
where in the southern part of this
state, organized by some Negro state
organizer of the United Mine Work
ers of America. We disclaim any
knowledge of the truthfulness of this
statement until we can see by convinc-
ing written evidence in the local or
7 National Constitution and by laws au-
thority to permit Negroes to, join the
Union. Secondly, if, for some real
good reason, the union has finally con-
sented to permit Negroes to join the
union, why does the union want to
begin with segregation, as its first
step, and not attempt to alleviate the
wrongs of the oppressed miner with
the advantage of full and free equal
ity? If this first step is the sample,
pray God where will this union JUS
tice end? You cannot decrease preju-
dice by increasing it's channels of op-
Grafton The Star thinks and therefore
says that the Negroes were better off,
if not permitted to join if they are
compelled to be thus humiliated. What
other race or races are subjected to
this disgrace? A separate and dis
tinct union means isolation, isolation
means continued weakness and con-
tinued weakness means finally death.
So segregation if permitted to thrive
means death in union to Negro mine
workers. Everybody knows in union
of agreeable progressive ideas, aims,
purposes, efforts, etc, there is
strength; but that strength comes on
ly through constant contact and as
sociation, otherwise disintergratlon
sets in. If a Negro is good enough to
work along the side of his white
brother underground all day, exposed
to the same danger to life and limb.
he is good enough at night to sit by
his white brothers side in the union
tan, when discussing a labor condi-
ton affecting white and black labor.
PRAY tell us, what kind of success
can develop to labor in general when
white labor in a white hall discusses
labor conditions affecting them and
black labor in a black hall discusses
labor conditions which affects them,
when both work side by side under
the ground? Why is the Miners On
ion compelled to make the discrimina-
ton in labor at the outset by having
two separate halls in which there are
two separate discussions on the same
subject, when one discussion in one
hall by one united body of all men
from the standpoint of labor and not
color or race, would suffice? How and
what would it avail the Negro to
change his taskmaSter from the nine
owner who does not discriminate to
the mine worker, whose conditions
are the samt as the Negroes, yet who
does discriminate or attempts to dis
TO Nn nth
YOU must join, not the big union, but
separate union (sde show; then a
committee from the big union (main
show fixes your status by placing you
and adjusting your dues, wages, etc,
constantly debating to the Negro
mine worker in the side show. No,
Mr.. Negro Miner, if you have to join
separate" union (side show, don I
Join any. If the United Mine Work
ers of America means to do the fair
thing by their brother Negro labor
ers, they must start out fair and con
stantly deal sGuarely
But you are and have been, despite
of their activity against you, success
u, competitor and their big officers
of the union, know as you know, and
hence fear that you will finally seek
in the union what they are demand
now from lue hiIlS oMhcIS, ~
ognition" yours being in finance, upon
committees on the different boards
etc Don't you see separate unions
means separate dues, boards, etc, and
that that discrimination will leap to
other things in public life? No, Miners
Union the Star will have none of these
under those circumstances. White
labor may as well make up Its mind
row as to finally be compelled to
come to the conclusion that Il. this
life, labor is labor. skilled labor IS
skilled labor, and under the same cir
cumstances, black labor is the same
as white labor and must be treated
the same, receiving the same rewards,
privileges and advantages. Why don't
the white mine workers want to help
tighten the burdens upon their Negro
brothers. bv breaking down prejudice
barriers instead of increasing them
,,y establishing a separate union,
since all are mine workers?
The Negro mine worker joins the
union to help himself and why should
he he nut to further disadvantage
than he is now. by being in the un-
ION. Every se~"rat'ons means advan-
ta1e to the white mine worker. Reg
i.ter 30 you can vote in good men Tor