The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-01-23
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
SOLVING PROBLEMS, SAYS
SECRETARY WILSON

Washington, d. C.-The report
of the Secretary of Labor to Con-
gress is of great interest to Ne
groes. 1t shows that the L. s.
Government. through the Depart
ment of Labor, is really solving
some of the great problems Seri-
ously affecting the economic con
dition of the Negro wage-eamer.
In referring to the establish
ment of the Division of Negro
Economics, the Secretary of La
Dor says:
In the previous fiscal year the
attention of the Department of
Labor had been repeatedly called
to specific problems involving
race relations. During 1916 and
1918 perpleXing questions had
arisen and Investigations had been
made with regard to Negroes.
With the greater industrial eff
cieny demanded by the war, it be-
came apparent that a more har-
mOniOus adjustment of the labor
relations between whites and Ne
groes was imperative, especially
in view of the fact that the latter
race makes up over one-tenth of
our total population and includes
about One-siXth Of the working
population. 1t has long been the
policy of the Department to avail
itself of the best expert knowl-
edge obtainable in the administra-
ton Of such problems as have
arisen. =
THE function of the Director
of Negro Economics, " says the
Secretary, lis to advice IT, Secre-
tary on matters affecting the Ne
gro wage-earnerS and to outline
and direct plans toward greater
productions in agriculture and
other industries. The work Of this
Division since its establishment
has amply justified its creation
and my policy has been to refer
to it for advice concerning admin
iStration of all problems peculiar
to Negroes as wage-earners.
Congress is also informed that
a very extensive report on the mi
grafton of the Negro has been
made by the Department of Labor
under the supervision Of DR.. Jas.
II. billiard, President of the JeaneS
and Slater Funds for Negro edu-
cation in the South. The inves-
tigatiOn was begun prior to the
appointment of a Director of Ne
gro Economics. However, the re-
port was submitted to theDirector
of Negro ECONOMIES for final prep
aration and revision. This report
is now in press and will be avail
able for distribution in the near
future.
Among the circumstances dis
closed by DIR. billiard S investiga-
ton" says the Secretary, was
the fact that the exodus of Negro
workers had been the largest
where lynchings and other forms
of race friction had been the
greatest . Later reports from
the field indicate that such evils
are retarding the efforts of the
Of Labor to allay la
Dor unrest and to distribute prop
erly the labor supply throughout
the South.
While the functions Of the De
partment do not extend to recon-
Of specific means for
dealing with this menace, and
while its correction lies wholly
with the several states, it seems
proper to point out that it is a
cause Of unrest and that
it is making harder the work OF
the Department of Labor to IN
crease the efficiency Of Negro
by improving thelf
It is a duty to point
out the effects of such evils and
to state that only its total aboli-
ton will serve to replace unrest
with contentment. In the fU =
ment of this duty the DEPARTING Mt
urges universal assistance in pro
noting cooperation between the
races for the harmonizing Of their
and for the vigorous and
enforcement Of the
law"
TO CUT SOUTHERN REP
DECENTATT0N