Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-09-07
A RIOT OPPRESSION IN
DEPARTMENTS At
WASHING


segregation of colorcd men ana women
in the Government offices here at
Washington which shortly after
March 4, 1913 became an insidious
nightmare to dampcn the ardor OF us
piration and kindlc fires Of resent
ment within the heads and hearts OIL
colorcd people hats now become a
riot oppression.
The Department. of Labor whose
function in these times when bloody
Mars stands upon the bridge OF lior
.ror and beCkona his battalion OF
death on, had been unable to rival
in the public press the three other
departments which have most to do
with the war is tho latest ohendcr.
When the Department Of Labor gave
appointment to Professor Haynes a
,colorcd man and bestowed upon him
tho high sounding and at the same
time mystic title OF "Dircctor of Nc
gro Economics," faint hope allan
cd in the hearts Of our race so far
as that department was concerned
that the race was nearing the graz
ing fields Of Justice.
When Professor Haynes was start
cd on u tour to hold labor conference
es in various States for the purpose
as ncadcmically declared to "mobi-
lie colorcd labor" TO help win the
war and secure for 1t a place in the
sun when industrial reconstruction
should follow a "victorious peace"
encouragement was given the race.
Just as our hopes had begun to
soar aloft towards the clysian fields
OF xEunol Opportunity, like q bolt of
%lightning issuing from clear sky
comes whitening decree from the
Department Of Labor that that de
partmcnt will employ "only white
mon" as watchmcn.
The Washington Evening Star. IS
sue OF August 18th n usually reliable
and accurate white daily which pnr
sues no open policy Of repression
against the race. even though it
may not emphasize robust policy OF
defense, carried the following news
item, under attractive headlines:
"Two hundred and fifty watchmen
Or guards who are, physically active,
Intelligent and exempt from the draft
and whose ages range from 81 to 60
years are wanted al once by the De
partmcnt of Labor. The salaries will
be between $40 and $75 month and
ONLY WHITE MEN WILL BE EN-
PLOYED. Applicants must apply at
the office of the United States EN-
ployment Service
If the department Of labor's "mobi
lzation of colorcd labor" as explain
cd at various conferences by PROBES
sor Haynes IS to he tainted with such
q marked drawing of the color line
as above indicated what will be Prof
fessor Haynes function. What will
his influence with his race amount
to?
If the Department Of Labor's "mobi
lization Of colored labor" is to be pro
scribcd and circumscribed by such hate
full and hurtful restriction Professor
Haynes influence and efforts must
necessarily be nil, and he might as
well renouncc his high sounding title
resign his position and emulating the
the traditional Arab: fold his tent
and quietly steal away"-back to the
schoolroom to teach the untuorcd
Of his race the real meaning Of ode
m0cracy."
When the Department Of Labor ap
pointed Prof. Haynes to repre-
sent the race around it's council table
as an adviser" as has been announc
ed, was it camoufaging the race?
When 1t sent him forth from State
to State to hold conferences to "mobi
lie colOred labor" was It merely
handing the race a stone when it was
crying for bread?
When it conferred upon him the
title Of "Director" was it meant to
more effectively Direct race discrimi
nation and segregation to the highest
point Of restriction?
Until we are convinced that the
Presidents prOnounccment in favor
Of maintaining "thc laws inviolate"
was hut a coinage OF the intellect
which we arc 1oath to believe, we
cannot help but assume that the Dc
partment Of Labor's entering the
ranks Of discriminators is but to con
tribute to the riot Of oppression.
Professor Haynes, the race looks
to you as the "adviser" around your
departments council table to correct
this evil. II you Will Not or Can
Not your usefulness is ended.
The colored race with its fighting
men--loyal fighting mcn-and it's
open purse for the Government
Wants To. and Has Been Trying to
help win tho war for democracy.
Why should the Department of Lab
or and other departments and bureaus
practicing discrimination and enforc
ing segregation attempt to misinter
pref the Presidents ito make the
world safe for democracy"
Inc knr