The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1915-09-25

animation Of the figures for colored
males engaged in activities connected
with transportation and the manufac-
turing and mechanical industries show
an additional need for vocational train
ing for them. OF the 1854 total males
engaged in transportation activities
there are 5.676 colored males so en-
gagged. This number Is 20 per cent Of
all colored males reported occupied.
but quarter Of that number are en-.
gagged as longshoremen and stevedores
and third as draymen and team
sters and expressmen, thus constituting
the colored males as one-twelfth Of all
the teamsters and expressmen and one
third of all the longshoremen and
stevedores In Philadelphia.
ITO what extent is the traditional
school system preparing the children
and relatives Of these men to meet the
newer conditions Of motor transporta-
ton, which must replace the teamster
and expressman. and the endless belts
and almost human cranes and convey.
ers which increase with the progress
of industry As now conducted, such
occupations are but slightly differen-
tiated forms Of labor. Consolidating
all laborers as reported. there are 8, lib
out Of 5.676. or S8 per cent Of all col.
cred males engaged in transportation
activities occupied as laborers Of vari-
GUS kinds.
I'm the manufacturing and mechani-
cal Industries 5,115 colored males are
reported as laborers, in agriculture 247.
In quarry operations 80, thus making a
total of ILLS colored males reported
az laborers out Of 29,581 reported as
occupied. Add to that condition the
fact that but 20 apprentices are report
ed with such differentiation Of indus
try as 81 colored bakers, 43 colored
blacksmiths, 14S brick and stone ma
sons, "a builders and contractors. .
cabinet makers, 1T carpenters, 81
compositors and typesetters. II coop
ers, 80 electricians, IL dyers, 2 engrav-
ers, 187 stationary engineers, Ill ma
chinists, "a painters and glaciers, 1S pa
perhangers, 90 plasterers, "a plumbers.
II roofers and skaters, 80 shoemakers,
81 stonecutters, II tailors. 50 upholster.
ers. and It becomes evident that were
the colored youth not being trained
away from trade activities by the ira
ditional system Of schooling there
would be 800 apprentices among their
journeymen rather than 20
1T is at this very point in industrial
supply and demand that the vocational
school Is Of prime Importance, for 1t is
well known that the older apprentice
system is not favored by employer or
youth in this day Of sharply differen-
tiated labor divisions and high speed.
The vocational system helps the youth
to select the activity for which he has
both interest and capacity, and It not
only trains him to point Of relatively
high efficiency, but It gives him such
survey Of collateral activities as to
make him a more valuable assistant
than is possible in a modern shop with
its standardized output.
LET It be understood that the direc.
ton Of colored youth into trade activ'
tiles demands the enthusiastic support
and the hearty cooperation Of all class
es through the respect to be granted
the credit to be given and the employ
ment to be possible to those who leave
such schools as fit to serve the commu
nifty, the race and themselves. It does
not take an economist to see that under
present conditions In this country the
men who handle the symbols Of things
rather than those who produce them
and actually transport them, are the
men who take the larger share Of the
profits, but It does take an economist
to point out to the youth who would
make q short cut to wealth the fact
that the men who take the profit must
invest capital, foresight and coura
geously intelligent knowledge Of mar
ket conditions in order to handle thu
symbols 50 as to make the profit. Il
is for the state to provide for the teach
ing Of those facts.
"An men may not be created equal
but they are created to struggle fol
equality, and a great Industrial centel
like Philadelphia can increase its out
put and income while materilly reduc
ing its expense account from charities
and corrections by investing In sucl
modern educational machinery as con
tinuation schools, part time schools ant
vocational centers for colored children
and for all children."