The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-12-04
UNITED STATES LABOR
DEPARTMENT AIDS NEGROES
DIR. George L. Haynes, Director of Me-
gro Economics, Tells How Color
ed Men are Helping In SOlv-
ing the Race Problem.

What the Negro has done on the
battle fields of France to win the war /
for America has been told in many |
heroic stories from the front. What
he is doing in the mines, shipyards, |
and cotton fields at home for the same
purpose is less spectacular, but none
the less effective.
DR.. George E. Haynes, Director of
Negro Economics, Department of
Labor, thus describes some of the
efforts that are being made to promote
better relatins between the races in
the Southern States, thereby promot-
ing the morale of the Negro
There are three facts which have
been kept in mind in the efforts to
increase the morale and efficiency of
Negro labor for winning the war:
First, that the Negro wage earners are
ready to shoulder some of the respon-
sibility for the arduous work on the
farm and in the factory, and when
given q fair chance and sympathetic
guidance in making the labor program
they will respond enthusiastically;
second practically all employers 81
Negro labor are white employers, and
many fellow workmen are white
workmen. Out of the second fact de-
: velops racial MISUNDERSTANDING,
prejudice, antagonisms, fears, and
suspicious. This is the third fact of
' the situation.
!. ITO meet these conditions the De-
partment of Labor has held a number
: of State conferences with representa-
q tives of Negro wage earners, of white
employers, and, wherever possible, of
white workmen. At these conferences
the problems of better adjustment
have been discussed and plans of CO.
, operative effort of white and colored
citizens for 100 per cent. labor effic-
iency in war production have been
made. AS a result, during the past
five months Negro Workers Advisory
Committees, both State wide, by coun-
= ties and in towns and cities, have been
: formed or are being formed in six
Southern States and five Northern
I States.
= For instance, in Ohio, besides a
| State advisory committee, there are
$ local advisory committees in II of the
principal towns that have a consider
n able Negro population. In Virgins
q committees have been formed in Al
{ counties. Cooperative white persons
: serve on these committees or joint!
= with them, representing the councils
= of defense, the chambers of commerce
II and the representatives of organized
e labor. These afficlations vary, o
IS course, with local conditions.
d Competent Negro men who hav
g had experience dealing with Negr
.e wage earners have been appointed a
supervisors of Negro economics il
Is nine States to direct the work of thes
h cooperative Negro worwers' advisor
l. committees and to increase the moral
and efficiency of Negro wage earneri
50 These committees have already don
some very constructive work in man
localities. In Jacksonville, Fla, the
have helped to train colored women t
take the place of men in job declare
onnessential. In several places /
Ohio they have helped the Unite
States employment service recruit We
men for war industries. In count
in Georgia they advised farmers abol
adjusting the price of cotton picking
so as to entice pickers. In number
of localities they have hid mass NEE
ings to inform the colored people @
war-labor needs. Some State-wit
campaigns are now being undertake
along these lines. Large numbers
letters of approval of this work hay
been received from negroes and fro
employers"