The northwestern bulletin., 1923-08-04

! Unions simply use the Negro as a
tool. They get him to join them,
then call a strike, everybody walks
out and then when its adjusted the
Negro is left out. That to degree
has been true in the past, but there
is vast difference now. The Amer
ican Federation of Labor at its last
convention had over two hundred
Negro delegates in attendance and
don't let anybody tell you that those
men were not fighting for their
rights. George w. Miner of Norfolk,
Va, was one of the most conspicuous
men in that body and succeeded In
getting legislation passed covering
the long shoremen's union (of which
he is President) making it one of the
best paid and protected labor organ
izations in the country. So the more
we ally ourselves with organized la
Dor and the more intelligent and ag-
gressive men we send to represent
us at both the local meetings and
National conventions to present our
grievances and advocate our rights,
just that much sooner will all the diff
ferences be adjusted. But we can't
accomplish anything on the outside
we must get in there and then tight
for our rights. Anytime bunch of
men organize for anything that is
beneficial or uplifting, some good will
result from 1t, even If the main OBJ
pect may not be reached. We had
a little walters union here in st. Paul
few years ago. Ask any of the men
who worked at the st. Paul Hotel at
that time how wretched were the
conditions under which they labored.
The Union set about to have those
, conditions changed. Eventually when
the cooks and walters strike came,
the union men walked out. What
was the result? More pay, shorter
hours, better food and wonderful
change in the working conditions. oh,
yes know the men who struck were
not taken back, not all of them, not
right away, but these who did go to
work benefited by the sacrifice made
by that bunch of all union men who
had the courage to ask for what they
thought was right and just. There
never was a victory without price
and somebody has to pay it. Most Of
us are just little bit afraid of los
ing our jobs when it comes to asking
for what's coming to us, but the skies
are clearing now and men of all races
and colors are growing closer to-
gether on things that concern their
common welfare and the Negro as a
worker must take his place in the
ranks of organized labor or find him.
self sadly out in the cold.
In presenting Timely Topics to the
readers of the Bulletin, it has been
and will continue to be the effort of
the writer to present such things for
your consideration which in his hum
BILE judgement are of value in the de-
velopement of the racial interests of
this community and at the same time
to contribute something towards max
ing the Bulletin the best race paper
in the Northwest. In appearance,
makeup and news matter it is the
candid opinion of this writer that the
Bulletin is now the best Negro pa
per the Twin Cities has ever had and
compares favorably with any other
leading Race papers, but 1t is the
ambition of the publishers pf the
Bulletin to make 1t still better
paper, but in order to do so they must
have your cooperation. We want your
subscription, we want your advertis-
ing and we want your moral support.