The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-07-14
SAYS CLAIM OF BOSTON
MEN ENTIRELY FALSE
Labor Leader Attacks "Nesro Equal
Rights League"

Washington, July 5.-Charges that
labor unions were responsible for the
East st. Louis race riots drew an
emphatic denial today from Frank
Morrison, secretary of the American
Federation of Labor, who, in the alb
sence of President Gompers, issued
a formal statement on the subject.
Mr.. Morrison made public tele-
gram received today from Victor
Olander, secretary-treasurer of the H.
linois Federation. of Labor, which has
been forwarded as the American Fed
Grafton of Labor's reply to message
from the Boston branch of the Equal
Rights League.
The telegram follows:
VieiousIy Untrue.
press dispatches allege Negro
Equal Rights League of Boston has
telegraphed to you charging trade un-
ionists with responsibility for East St.
Louis riots. Any such charge is vi
ciously untrue. 1t was the East St.
Louis Central Labor Council, having
negroes in membership, that request
ed the Investigations by the State
Council of Defense following the dis
orders in May. That investigation
showed that Southern negroes had
been misled by false advertisements
and INSCRIPTIONS employment agents
to come to East st. Louis in such num-
bers that they could not secure either
work or decent living quarters.
"The effect was to make acute the
explorations of labor, both negro and
white, and to seriously disarrange So
cial as well as economic conditions and
to arouse bitterness on all sides.
"The Chamber of Commerce was
urged by one of It's own officers weeks
ago to use it's influence against the
campaign Of Misrepresentation and
false promises responsible for the in.
flux, but the chamber took no &C.
ton.
Silent on Fraud
1T is shocking to me that such Or
CARNATIONS as the alleged Negro Equal
Rights League have little or nothing
to say about the fraud practiced
against Negroes by INSCRIPTIONS en-
ploying interests; that such associa-
tons remain discreetly silent while
Southern negroes are cheated into
leaving their homes for Northern cities
and towns already overcrowded, exhi-
bit no concern regarding miserable liv-
ing and working conditions which
many Negroes are forced to endure
under such circumstances, and offer
no protest against vicious exploita-
tons of labor through which blacks
and whites suffer alike.
"The Illinois Trade Union movement
Is striving to organize the workers of
both traces. Many of our local un.
ions have Negro members, some ex.
clusively, and Negro delegates attend
our conventions and central bodies,
but have not learned Of a single in
stance here where such associations
as the Negro Equal Rights League
have aided or encouraged Negro work
ers to join together for the purpose
of self-help In trade unions, to pre-.
vent explorations, to secure recogni-
ton of economic rights. to obtain i'm
provements in working conditions,
shorter hours or better wages.
On behalf Of the Illinois State Fed
Grafton of Labor and its entire men,
bership of both races, protest against
the rank injustice of the charge al
legged to have been made by the league
and l characterize that charge as un.
qualifiedly false and untrue"