Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-02-09
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY ., 1918.
THE NEGRO MIGRANT IN
PITTSBURGH"

DR.. Abraham Epstcin's interesting
account Of his invest legations in Pitts
burgh, Pennsylvania, is attracting at
tcntion all over this country as indi-
cativc Of conditions i'll other sections
Of the North, where colorcd people
rushed pcll-mcll to fl the places of
the foreigners VIII had gone to the
other side. That this migration was
i'll way, "heavcn ordained" no one
acquainted with economies and his
tory will question. That it will re-
suit in benefit TO colorcd people in
the North and to the total cnfran-
chisement Of colored folks in the
South is Il selfcvidcnt proposition.
That it is wise for those OF us who
are here to remain here and for many
who are in the North to remain there
Ia too true TO awaken apprehension
or to cause discussion.
We only hope that those who are
unable to live happily under the rig
orous conditions; will return to the
land Of their birth, rather than re-
main III the home Of their adoption
Southern white men are already
modifying existing conditions and
making more agreeable for residence,
this former Kingdom of the slave
owner. Mr.. Epstein says:
The generalization cannot also be
made that the colorcd people are diff
ficult to organize for from our survey
we have found only one Union, the Wait
cr'S Local, that has made any at
tempt to organize the colored people,
and was unsuccessful. The official Of
this Union explains 1t because the col
orcd walters "arc more timid, listen
To thcir bosses, and also have IL kind
TT d .strust Of The white Unions" The
same official also admitted that while
he himself would have no objection to
working with colorcd people the rank
and file Of his Union would not work
on the same floor with a co cred wait
er. None OF the either Unions made
any effort to organize the colored
workers in their respective trades,
ana they cannot therefore complain
of the difficulty Of organizing the
Negroes.
In the two trade organizations
which admit Negroes to membership
the colorcd man has proved to be as
good a unlonist as his white fellows.
single local of the Hold Carriers
Union, strong labor organization,
mas over four hundred Negroes among
Its SIX hundred members, and has
proved how easy 1t is to organize
even the new migrants by enlisting
over one hundred and fifty southern
hod carriers within the past year.
And again:
me other Union which admits Ne.
groes-The Hosting Engineers I'm.
ION. has number of colorcd people IN
us ranks. Several Of these are char
ter~members and number have
Deen connected with the organization
ior considerable time. Judging
from the strength. Of these Unions
inc only ones in the city which have
considerable number OF blacks
ahlohgSt them-the Negroes have
proved as good Union men as the
whites. Ii the Pittsburgh trade organ
nations are typical Of the present nat
lohal trade union movement II would
appear that there is little hone for
the Negroes. If the present policy of
the american labor movement contin-
ues the Negroes can depend but little
upon this great liberating force for
tne1r advancement. A few facts dis
closed in our canvas Of the trade I'M
IONS III Pittsburgh viii; bear out our
statements.
This has always been SO. Co,or>d
men can find no sympathy or support
in tho white labor unions. They
recognize them only as a means of
making less the liability Of black
'scab labor" filling their PAGES They
ca1ole him in the front and curse him
when his back Is turned, although
they should know that tho black mil
lions In this country hold the key TO
the labor situation. No better union
members in this world today exist
than the colored men who have
espoused tho cause Of union labor
He continues:
An official Of a very powerful I'm.
ION which has membership OF nearly
rye thousand said that 1t had about
xEFn