Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-06-25
WOMEN DENIED
EQUAL RIGHTS
WITH MALES IN
LABOR UNIONS
Organizations Urged. How
ever Not to Discriminate
Against Them and Admit
Them to Membership
EFFORTS TO WIPE OUT
THE COLOR LINE FAIL
Both Questions Are tho
Subjects Of Long and
Stormy Debates at the A.
F, of [, Convention,

Denver. Colo, June 24.--The
convention of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor today voted down a
constitutional amendment designed
to give women equal rights aud
privileges OF membership in the
union of their trade or industry"
All affiliated unions, however, were
urged not to discriminate against
the woman wage Garner and aulnlt
her to membership.
Efforts to wipe out the color
linep in organized labor organiza~
tions also failed. The convention
took the stand that national and in
ternational unions could not be
compelled to recognize negro work.
ers, and that this was a matter to
be adjusted by conference between
the negro wage earners and the
various organizations.
Discrimination Is Charged.
Both question were the subjects
of long and stormy debates in
which discrimination by certain
unions against the negro and wom-
an wage earners was bitterly de-
nounced,
The committees report rejecting
the constitutional amendment 10
give women industrial equality"
defended tre federations' staud on
women in industry and cited efforts
to get better wages and working
conditions for THEM. 1t dec!ared
that only few unions' wers dis
terminating against women and for
that reason disapproved the amend-
ment and urged hat those inter-
national and national organizations
which do not admit women to menu
bership give early consideration for
such admission"
Equal Rights for Women.
Equal rights for women IT iTl-
dustry was voiced by delegates
II ON the clgarmakers and tho
laundry workers unions, who de-
clareo "lf woman does man $
work she should receive mans
pay" All declared that organized
labor should lrotect the woman
wage earners.
w. ID. M4hon, president Of 'he
IAmalgamatad Association ~ S'roet
and Electric Railway Employees
of America, declared that n 8
organization would not allow
the federation TO dictate to 1t in
the matter Of womln's labor He
said he was N favof of protection
fer woman workers, but he did not
believe that the back platform of
a street car was the place for a
wcman."
The Negro Question.
The defeated constitutional
amendment would have provided
for the issuance of separate char
ter by the federation to a woman's
local without the consent OF the
union having jurisdiction over the
particular trade.
The NEGRO question arose on
the report Of the committee on
laws, which disapproyed a resolu-
ton calling for the suspension of
unions that Disseminated against
negro workers. The committee.
however, was upheld by over
whelming vote.
Replying to question from the
floor as to whether it was possible
to force any affiliated union to
wipe out the color line" President
Samuel Gompers said;
"The American Federation of
Labor has previously declared that
1t is the duty of all workers to Or
ganize, regardless of sex, nationals
ity, race, political belief or color.
'The federation. however, cam
not force this view upon individ-
ual or affiliated unions without
their consent"
No Conferences Held.
Jordan w. Chambers, negro
delegate to the Railway Coach
Cleaners of st. Louis declared that
conferences between members of
his race and the unions had been
ordered at previous conventions,
but never had been held, and urged
CONTINUED on Page Two.)