Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-06
UNIONS NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR EAST ST. LOUIS RIOTS
Labor Makes Formal State
ment on Subject.
SOUTHERN NEGROES nsLEp
Lured by False Advertisements and
Inscriptions Employment Agents
in Such Numbers They Cannot Sc
cure Either Work or Quarters.
Lnv Associated Press. l

WASHINGTON. July 5.--Charges that
labor unions were responsible for the
East st. Louis race riots drew m an
phatic denial from Frank Morrison.
secretary OF the American Federation
| of Labor. who. in the absence of Presi-
dent Gompcrs. ISSUED u formal state
mcnt on the subject:
Mr.. Morrison made public telegram
received to-day from Victor o!andcr.
northumberland of the illinois Fed
Grafton OF Labor. which has been for
warded as the American Federation OF
l-abor's reply TO message from the
Boston branch OF the Equal Rights
League. The telegram follows:
Press dispatches alleEe Negro Equal
Rights League. Of Boston. has .ele-
with responsibility for East St Louis
riots. Any such charge is viciouSly un-
true. 1t was the East st. Louis Cen
trail Labor Council, including locals
having negroes in membership. that
requested the Investigation by the
State Council of National Defense as to
disorders in May That investigation
showed that Southern negroes had been
misled by false advertisements and un-
scrurulous employment agents to come
TO East st. Louis in such numbers that
they could not secure either work or
decent living quarters.
EXPLOITATION OF LABOR
MADE ACUTE BI ACTION
The effect was to make acute the
cNploitations OF labor. both negro and
white and to seriously disarranGe So
cial as we'll as economic conditions, and
to arouse bitterness on all sides.
The Chamber OF Commerce was
urged by one of its own officers weeks
ago" to use its influence against the
campaign of Misrepresentation and
false promises responsible for the in
fuN. but tho chamber took no action.
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
ploying interests; tina, such sssocia-
tons remain indiscreet!y silent while
southern negroes are cheated into
leaving their homes for Northern cities
and towns already overcrowded, ex-
hioit no concern regarding miserable
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.
STRIVING TO ORGANIZE
WORKERS OF ROTH RACES
The Illinois tradc-union movement
IS striving TO organize the workers of
eoth races Many of our local unions
have negro members. some exclusively.
ana negro delegates attend our con-
Nert!ons and central bodies but have
not learned of a single instance where
such associations as Negro Equal
Rights League have aided or encour-
aged negro workers to join together
foE purpose of seif-help in trade
unions 70 prevent explorations. to Sc
cure recognition Of economic rights. 10
obtain improvements in working CON
dltions, shorter hours or better work
ms hours.
On behalf of the Illinois State Fed
Grafton OF Labor and its entire mem
oerShip OF both races. ! protest agains,
the rank injustice OF the charge al
legged to have been made by the league
and characterize that charge as un.
qualifed!y false and untrue"