Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-02-02

the ways OF this country, he Is often
much better than the foreign laborer
who understands neither.
ParadoXjcal as 1t may seem, the
| labor movement in America--which
| 1T is claimed was begun and organic
| cd primarily to improve the condi-
' lions Of all workers and protect
their interests from the designs Of
heartless and cruel industrial cap
; tains-has not only made no effort to
; relieve AID help the oppressed black
workers who have suffered even more
than the whites from exploitation and
serfdom but In many instances have
rcmained indifferent to the econom-
&c interest and even served as an
obstacle to the free development of
the colorod people.
This Is -aCial weakness among
the lower classes of colored ks,
this migratory movement, this fitting
from place to place. this working
little while and then resting little
while. This popularity Of the South
ern coiorcd man Is n popularity of
many Of the Southern white men
Thousands of our people like to join
I'm singing that good old religious
''hymn." with its refrain. every
Day1l BE Sunday Bye and Bye"
They regard heaven as being heaven
he, a realm or no work, where the
ga nts drink milk and cat honey for
evermore. rnev do not know that
tho real ROAD TO happiness runs right
through the wilderness Of hard work
and constant effort At the end Of
the rainbow Of honest. laborious en-
deavor lies the bag of gold for the
weary traveller. He says:
Since the East ST. Louis race riots
in July of this year and later on the
Chester and other race clashes, the
press has been full Of controversy
concerning the colored labor problem
in tho North. Employers as we'll as
many prominent persons openly laid
the blame for the splitting Of the
blood of women and little children
at the door Of the labor unions. On
tho other hand, the labor men almost
as a unit have charged the RESPONSE
bility for these riots to the Northern
industrial leaders who are bringing
these laborers to be used as a tool 20
break UP the labor movement IN the
North.
! Or. Epstein is trcading upon danger
GUS ground, but sec how he handles
1t:
The motives Of the emp. overs who
are bringing the colOrcd migrants are
obviously not altruistic. They are not
concerned primarily with freeing the
Negro from the economic and politi-
cal restrictions to which he Is still
subjected in the South. It Is not to
he assumed that their interests eX-
tend further than the employment
OF these ignorant people as Ghskill-
cd labOrers. Indeed the sheer econom
ic interest OF the Northern industrial
concerns which are bringing the Ne
gro migrants, may be illustrated by
the following contract which IS typi--
cal OF many agreements signed by
migrants when accepting transporta-
ton North.
at is hereby understood that I am
to work for the above named Com
pany as ........ the rate of pay to
be ...... The ....... Railroad agrees
to furnish transportation and food to
destination. l agree to work on any
part OF the. ....... Railroad where I
may he assigned. I further agree to
reimburse the ........ Railroad for
the cost of my railroad Transporter
ton. in addition to which I agree to
pay to, cover the cost Of meals and
other expenses incidental to my en-
ployment.
authorize the Company to deduct
from my wages money to pay for the
above expenses.
In consideration Of tho ..Rail
road paying my carfare board, and
other expenses, I agree to remain in
the service Of the aforesaid Company
until such time as I reimburse them
Tor the expenses OF my transporta-
ton, food, etc.
1t Is agreed upon the part Of the
, Railroad Company that If shall re
main in the service for one year, the
...... Railroad Company agrees to
!, return to me the amount Of carfare
from point Of shipment to .......
By continuous service for one year Is
meant that / shall not absent myself
ifrom duty any time during the period
without the consent Of my superior
officer
1t is understood by me that the ).
49,. .Railroad will not grant me free
transportation to the point where /
was employed.
l am not less than twenty-one or
more than forty-five years of age and
have no venereal disease IF my state
ment In this respect Is found to be
incorrect this contract becomes void"
Laborer's Name.
! 1t is apparent that since the war has
put stop to the importation Of for
cign Immigrants. the Negroes are so
far the only cheap and unorganized
labor supply obtainable. Indeed Next
4 cana ,uera hranpht Ia uorlr ho.o In,