Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-07-19

Interstate Association Of Trainmcn
Special to The Richmond Planet,

Special to The Richmond Planet,
Washington, ID. c., June 26.-"The
Interstate Association of Negro Trai1
men of America, looking to the per
fectng Of a union Of all unorganized
colored employees Of the railway lines
of America, for their full protection
in working conditions and wages has
been incorporated i'll the District OF
Columbia following the completion of
preliminary plans iaugurated about
Il year ago.
Attorney e. II. Barbour Of IIl Reno,
Oklahoma is named as General Coun-
seor and organizer. Richard A. Blu
ford, Of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is
general secretary under q bond Of
s. 900 with the United States Fidelity
and Guarantee Company. Both are
substantial and reliable men Of affairs
OF Oklahoma and are vouchcd for by
the strongest financial forces of that
State. l.. Melcndez King, of Washing
ton, ID. c., and William II. Francis of
ST. Paul Mimi, leaders of tn bar in
their respective communities are as
sociatcd with the General Counsel
lor's staff assuring strong legal com
binaton. J. II. Maxwell supervisor
of the Pennsylvania Railway Dormi
Il capable business man by the Penn
Sylvania Company, which employs
over eight hundred Negroes, is one
of the incorporates of the Associat-
ion and will have an important part
i'll the direction of its affairs. Wallace
Barksdale, of this city also railway
;attacho is a charter member and an
active worker in the organization.
The objects Of the Interstate Asso
citation Of Negro Trainmcn are: To
maintain and insure standard work
ing conditions and Il uniforl.- wage
scale; to destroy caste and color pre-
judicc that initiate against justice as
to these essentials; and TO establish
reciprocity between such other bodies
of organized labor as shall be ncces
sary for the promotion of the welfare
OF the Negro employees of the nat
ions railway lines. 1t has the cXclus
i've right under its terms of incorpor
alton to form a Natoanl Union Of Me-
gro railway employees, subordinate
associations rs auXiliaries to the par
cnt stem. The Association at this
time has upwards OF 1000 members,
md its branches extend into the
STATES OF Pennsylvania, Maryland,
New York, Ohio, Florida, Mississippi
Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma. MIS-
souri,, Kansas, New MeNito' IeNas
.and the District Of Columbia. the
present plans contemplate tie forma
lion of Drothcrhoods to include all
classes of labor now hcinG performed
Inv members of the race upon the rail
way sytcms OF Tie land. The promot
crs declare that the Interstate Asso-.
ciation is destmod/ to become one or
tho rrcntcst labor unions in tho
United States not less effective from
4 racial standpoint than the Amcrl-
can Federation of Labor in conserV
ing the common rights Of Our Train
men.
Recently, the General Counsellor
T.. II. barbour, was invited into con
florence nj Atlantic City by Samuel
Gomncrs. President Of the American
Federation OF Labor, for a complete
survey Of the wishes ana policies OF
the Association in the maintenance
of union reciprocity between the a.
T.. OF l.. and the Negro Tralnmeh'S
Association. Subsequent to this inter
view, he has decided that on furth-
or NEGOTIATIONS will he entered into
until the matter can be thoroughly
considered at the forthcoming special
meeting Of the Trainmen, as 1t is
felt that the formation OF any klnd
OF an alliance just low might not he
TO the best interests Of the Negro m
ployceS i'll question.
The primary aim Of the organic
crs is to place the Association upon
n firm, business basis and its success
in attracting to its ranks a group of
our most Intelligent, influential and
public-spirited men is regarded as a
tribute to its worth as Il factor for
racial uplift. Tie phenomenal pro-
grcss made during the past few
months is persRading its sponsors to
believe that the Association } to fill
a large place in American history far
SURPRISING any precious effort tc
mobilize the thous,I dis o. Negro
Trammcn who have needed only pro
gressive leadership to obtain the
rights and mmunitics due them