Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-06-19

other. 1t was and Is to tho mteres,
tf tho capitalists to keep them sep
mate and, to keep out of the race war
between them. In bringing under It's
influence every organization under
The supervision and control Of the
American Federation Of Labor all
Branches, vocations, and trades of
this great organization, Il master
stroke has been planned and dissent
Ing colorcd men will no longer havo
any excuse for declining this grea.
organization if tho leaders mean all
that they say and will enforce all
OF the resolutions that they have
enacted.
We presume that colorcd men will
continue to maintain their own or.
Plantations separate under their
tvn local officers, hut will not DO
barred irom membership in any of
Tie local branches where the white
members choose to receive them and
H>'cyor"a. If this plan is followed
il will he happy solution OF most
N'Natiuus problem. But to show tho
far reaching extent Of this innova.
Uoa. II may he well TO cite some por
tons of the report as sent through
on! the country from Montreal. l.
says;
Montreal, Quebec, June 10. The
American Federation of Labor today
wiped out the color line and warned
its affiliated international unions that
Negro workers must receive full and
cuual membership with white men
The fcdcration's action camo at tho
end of stormy session, which nearly
resulted in Il race war between dele
gates from the Southern States and
tAc Negroes and their sympathiZcrs.
'Rcjccting the recommendation Of
its organization committee, the fcd-
Grafton for the first time in history
threatened the autonomy of al aiiil-
lated union by requesting the Broth
crhood of Railway Clerks to give the
Negro freight handlers, express and
station employees full membership
and eliminate from it's constitution
the words white only. ,"
We knew that ii was coming, but
we did not believe that it would
come so soon. They had to go to
Canada to bring about this result.
And again:
"Thc committees report of non
concurrence on the ground that the
federation had no power to interfere
with the constitution OF an affiliated
union Immediately drew the fire Of
the Negro delegates and these Of sew
cral Northern States, chiefly Illinois
and New York. There was n yolum-
inous exchange Of oratory in which
the Negroes charged taxation With
out representation and 'discrimina-
tom to which their opponents re-
piled with accusations and betrayal
by Negro workers OF the whites in
past labor disputes.
Representatives of the Brother
hood Of Railway Clerks declared they
were taking care OF the Negro Qucs-
ton and giving just attcntio to Negro
grievances They asked the conven-
tion to leave the mattcr in their hands
for definite disposition Several mo-
tons were made on the floor to de-
mand that the railway clerks abolish
the color line in it's constitution or
forfeit their charter in the federation.
One of these was later modified to
request TIL, brotherhood to give the
Negro full membership. 1t was ac-
copied by an overwhelming majority.
"This, l believe, will settle the
Negro problem in our organization
for all time," Said Chairman Duncan
following the adoption Of the motion :.
"Our affiliated unions must now un-
derstand that tho color line is
abolished.
It will DO noted that the commit
tee was over-rulcd in its report and
the body itself took the matter III
hand and accorded to tho ''brothe,
in black" equal and exact justice.
Will the leaders, the officers Of this
lrcat ORGANIZATION enforce the de-
cieion of the majority OF the mem.
bcrs Of this Federation: We shall
sec. Certain it is, that the colored
1nan is coming unto his own and the
waves of race prejudice are rcced.
ing. The American citizen has been
waiting long time for justice and
1t seems to us that we see the dawn
, Of a brighter and better day,