The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1917-05-18
Negroes To Demand
Work At Charleston
Navy Yard.
Charleston American. }


The announcement from officials in
charge of the clothing factory at the
Charleston navy yard that only
white women would be employed as
operators, in spite of the insistent de-
mand of colored women in the last
two days that they be employed, was
published in the daily papers in this
| city, and has met with instant pro-
| test from the Negroes of the COM
munity. The statement, made last
night by representatives of the Ne
groes, was that demands had been
made on the recorder of the labor
board at the navy yard for applica-
ton blanks for employment, and at
the postOtfiCe and the office of the di-
rector of labor in the custom house,
but that the response has been that
no Negroes would be employed at
the clothing factory. The reasons
given, it was said, were those ad-
vanced already by officials at the
yard, that there could be no ming
ling of the races, and there was no
provision for segregation.
On the other hand, the Negroes
claim that an American citizen, in a
national emergency called upon to do
their patriotic duty in Offering them
selves for employment at govern
ment plant, they have the same right
to employment in the clothing fac,
! tory as the white people. The fur
Their claim is made that the new
building of the clothing factory, tt
4 be opened June /, will need CO..
/ operators, and they can fill the build
I ing with Negro women, thus avoid
t ing any mingling of the races
Nav Lose Factory.
D." The officials of the clothing fac
s. tory, in a statement last night, sa
e that if there is any dissention in re
r gard to employment the Navy De
y partment will move the clothing fat
lie tory and Charleston will lose tn
d benefit of finely equipped, eftlcier
is plant that means great deal
this community in many ways. The
indicate that there will be no bacl
,o ward step in their attitude to emplo
G9 only white women in the factory, {
- outlined in their statement publish
" ed yesterday, and that the confer
-, ~ tion of the Negroes for employmeI
10 will only lead to a disagreement tn;
~ will mean the loss of the factory
II, ~ Charleston. There the matter stand
ny Fight to Finish.
DIT The Negroes state that they hay
made preparations for a determine
III fight for what they consider the
rights. The matter is one, thu
. claim, that affects their rights
citizens of the United States, al
they will carry the fight to the hig
h est court in the land to effect a sc
u Element.
h The navy yard clothing facto
M officials say that the matter is {
y ready closed, as far as employing
of the Negroes is concerned, a.
they will stand back of the a
nouncement made that there shall
only white women employed in t
factory.
H. Yesterday an effort was made
ng the Negroes to obtain Applicant
blanks at the postoffice, at the off
of the director of labor in the CT
tom house and the office of the
corder of the labor board at the ma
yard. A black Negro woman "
sent to each place to ask for an {
plication blank. She was refus
Directly following her light color
Negress asked for an Applicant
blank, and was given one at q
~ place. The Negro leaders, who
ul- were identical, that in the case
As. the light colored Negress the impr
NOT sion was that she was white VIC
at an-otherwise she would not hi
IT, been given the blank. Thus,
Us stigated the requests, immedlat
aII asked why one was refused ana
ulo other granted blanks. The answ
owe Negroes claim, it is made plain
on' the Negroes will be refused blar
Call for 1000.
The Negroes are calling 70
trr tlUusai,d # their race 20 apply
dlV al lic1tiC
Do. ;lrN ncnt al. the clio Z factt
18, They say that one out of three