Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-05-07

Economics has been abolished by the
Secretary of Labor largely because
there Is no such thing as scgregatins
the economies of Negro wagc,earn-
ers from those OF any other race. II
is fundamentally un-American to ere
ate classes or W recognize classes.
Our laws do not distinguish between
white men and Negroes or any other
class or classes.
This is high ground and we are
wondering If this statesman will live
up to the principles, which he has
enunciated. This is why DR.. George L.
Haynes and his bureau flourished
uhder Democratic Administration
and went out of office under Repub-
lican one. Col. Giles Is. Jackson of
this city was primarily responsible
for the establishment of this Bureau
and then he had the time Of his
life" in attempting to keep the sad
die" SO to speak. The logic OF the sit
untion Is that II al administration In
/. tends to create or TO recognize class
and racial distinctions then 1t should
establish bureaus to maintain and
make more emphatic It's position I'm
this matter. Tho position taken by the
honorable Secretary is oil right. We
Cn.np IA ri a.,
ut Is Fundamentally unAmerican to
create classes or to recognize classes
Our laws DO not distinguish bctwccn
white men and Negroes or any other
class or classes"
win Secretary Davis live up 20
these principles? We believe that he
Will. Under this flag, objectional race
signs will disappear and racial dis
elimination from above will disap
pear, resting only upon the voluntary
action OF the white and colorcd en-
ployees OF the Department. In giving
expression to these declarations OF
principles, the distinguished states.
man Is III line with the position OF
Editor William Monroe Trotter OF
Boston, Rev. W. II. Jernigan OF Wash.
ington, DR.. w. r. b. Du Bois Of New
York and the host or leaders associat
ed with them.
On the other hand. this position
antagonizes IN a measure that occu.
pied by Dr. II. Il. Motion. Hon. Emmett
; J. Scott and the army" of leaders as
ISOLATED with them. Not that they
would tako direct Issue with tho dis.
ttnguished. Secretary. but they take
the position of Grover Cleveland, that
1t is n condition and not theory
that confronts us. Personally, We, are
with 'aecretary Davis If he will
faithfully$Sand religiously live up to
the principles enunciated.
1t begins to look as though We arc
, about to enjoy the sunlight of n new
day, where eternal right principles
, will be recognized and where the
temporary. expedients Of today Will
, lie cast aside. This creating of "jim
crow" bureaus and departments has
deRa some good, but TO our mind has
done more harm.
The sign, Bureau OF Negro Eco.
r'mics" prejudiced our case In Wash.
ington whenever 1t was noted that
this discriminating lettering was
recognized and established by nat
ional Administration. We AFRO Ameri.
can citizens OF African descent. We
are Americans first and Africans. Afro
Americans Golored people or Negroes
afterwards.
We simply bow to the expedient.
for the time being for the reason that
we cannot get anything better: but
We do not like tho4n. We believe that
President Harding is the directing
force III this Government at the pres
ent time and that the position of this
Department is in keeping with the
wishes of the Chief Executive. But
secretary Davis TOO recognizes that
at is condition and not a theory
that confronts u.s." when he says:
1T Is recognized that there is a
race distinction and sometimes it is
very convenient to have the assistance
OF Il representative Of race in deal.
ing with the members of that race. So
TAR az labor matters are concerned
the race distinction becomes more
pronounced In the field of cohesive
bargaining when troubles between
employers and employees threaten.
For that reason a member of the Ne.
gro race has been appointed a COM
missioner OF Cancellation. who has
been detailed to serve wherever the
Secretary may feel the need Of race
representation and to advise the Sec
re'ary.
We do not exactly see how tnis
last statement squares entirely with