New-York tribune., 1918-02-19
Labor and the Color Line
By Ralph w. uler

w 7ASHlNGTON, Feb. 16.-There was
wv heid IN this city last Tuesday a
conference which may prove an
epoch making one both for organized labor
and the colored race. 1t was a conference to
winch the executive council Of the American n
Federation of Labor and four we'll known
and prominent coored men were parties.
me colorcd men present were Emmett J.
scott, specla! assistant to the Secretary of
War; Robert r. Notion principal of Tuskegee
lnsttute George w. Harris. editor of a
New York City colored weekly, and w. X.
Jones, representing the Urban League, a
colored organizations
inc object OF the conference, which was at
the suggestion of the officers of the Ameri
can Federation of Labor, was to discuss the
organizing and unionizng of and affiliation
with the American Federation Of Labor of
colored wage -earners in all branches of
trades and occupation. Mr. Scott because Of
the present position he holds and his LONG
association with the late DR.. Booker =
Washington, as secretary of Tuskegec. be-
came spokesman for the colored men pres
cnt. though each and all gave expression to
their views. Mr. Scott referred to the adon
tlon by the American Federation of Labor at
It's last annual meeting in Buffalo of its
resolution throwing down the bars which
had for years prevented colored labor from
learning the trades and from affliation with
organized labor in the event they had under
compulslon, surreptitiousy learned the
trades. He stated the action Of the Fedora
tion of Labor at its last meeting was, in his
opinion, "the wiscst. most just and generous
step ever taken by the American Federation
of Labor
1t may be possible. and even probable, that
eolored labor. knowing that it is gradually
gaining favor an economical factor-not
because OF the American Federation of
Labor, but in spite Of it-may at first regard
with suspicion this generous" move on the
part Of organized labor. Colored labor in
practically every line is aware that capital
has always stood ready to give employment
to it in practically all industries. but has
been prevented by the attitude of organized
labor with reference to employment Of col
ored labor. Colored labor and the race gen
orally recall, too, that Mr.. Gompcrs and bis
labor organization bitterly opposed the mi
grafton of coorcd labor from the South to
the North, even interesting the Department
of Labor here at Washington in the matter.
regarding the coming of so many thousands,
menace to organized labor
When the Negro Came North
This opposition, however, did not deter or
estop colored labor from coming North. and
they are still coming forming a regular
exodus to better their economical, social and
educational condition; and now all through
the North, and especially in the Middle
West, where heretofore colorcd skilled labor
had been successfully barred, they are find
ing employment at remunerative wages and
capital is welcoming the coming as relief
from labor shortage. And, because of the
war making labor most nccessitous COM
modify, organized labor has been rendered
impotent in estoppng employment Of colorcd
labor.
Had the American Federation of Labo,
prior to the war thrown down its effectual
bars and admitted colored labor to indis-
criminate afiiliation, and made it possible
for young colored men and women to learn
the trades. colcrcd labor would have hailed il
as most WISE most generous and as showing
the broad, American spirit of fair play. and
skilled labor would not now, when in urerc nj
demand, be so jeopardizngly scarce But this
invitation, coming at time when colored
labor is finding ready market for it's service