Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-06-11
ORGANIZED LABOR WIPES OUT COLOR
 LINE IN LOCALS Action Nearly Causes Race Riots From the South
 ern Delegates WHITES CHARGE THAT
 BLACKS BETRAYAL Issue Forced on Union of Railway Clerks, Freight Handlers and Expressmen Despite Com
 mittee Victory

1 Montreal, June 10.-The American Federation of Labor in it's annual convention today wiped out the "color line" and warned affiliated interna- tional unions that negro workers must be given full and equal membership with white men
 1 The federation's action at the end of a stormy session, nearly resulted in race war between delegates from southern states and the negroes and their sympathizers.
 i Rejecting the recommendations of 1 its organization committee, the fed eration, for the first time in history threatened the autonomy of an affl- lated union by requesting the broth erhood 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"
 The committees report of non con- currence on the ground that the fed eration had no power to interfere with the constitution of an affiliated union immediately drew the fire of negro delegates and those of several north ern states.
 There was a voluminous exchange of oratory in which the negroes charg- ed "taXation without representation and discrimination to which their opponents replied with accusations and betrayal by negro workers of the white in past labor disputes.
 Indignation of the negro delegates was aroused several times when speak. CTS referred to them as "nigger freight handlers and their objection to such remarks was sustained by the acting chairman, James Duncan. They charged that the use of the wore "nigger" was slander to the race. Frank Morrison, secretary of tht American Federation of Labor, un- successfully attempted to halt debate by explaining arrangements were un- der way to get all unions to take II negro members.
 Representative of the Brotherhood of Railway Clerks declared they were taking care of the negro question ant giving just attention to negro griev ances. They asked the convention tt leave them the matter for definite disposition.
 Organize Office Men. 1 Savara1 motions made on the floO demanded that the railway clerks union abolish the color line in it. constitution or forfeit it's charter il the federation. One was modified tt request the Brotherhood to give thu negro full membership It was ac cepted by an overwhelming major ity.
 "This. I believe, will settle the ne gro problem in our organization" sal' Chairman Duncan. "Our affiliated unions must now understand that tn color line is abolished"
 Other resolutions adopted provld ed for formation of an internatlona nolicemen's union when membershl of local union reach 5000; an organl zation campaign among office worker and the granting of charter to tn International Union of Office Work CTS when membership totals 10,oo and urged all affiliated internationa unions to send organizers out to uni onize the laundry workers of the couf try.
 An appeal to the workers to desel the federation and align with the on big union. spread broadcast today asserted that craft unionism wa doomed. The circular addressed Gall fellow worker" "'and warning the1 that the "satellites of craft unionlsts were in their midst was the first ope attack on the American Federation ? the one big union organization Canada. T.,
 The steel and coal strikes and tf recent railroad strike, the circuis said. showed the federation deiegat' have Specialized in cooperation WI the bosses and government altogeth' have railroaded and jailed the repr sentative of our class"