The northwestern bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. ;) 1922-1924, 1923-06-23
migrants Prove
They Make Good
Under New Plans
Negro Employment Bureau Has
Secured Most of Labor
Imported.
(By the Associated Negro Press)

Chicago, ILL.,, June 22.-"Industri-
al needs in the North are holding
forth to the Negro an opportunity
second in Importance only to that of
emancipation. The chance is here for
the colored mechanic and Iaborer to
obtain a firm foothold in the indus
trial life of the North and If they
prove their ability to take advantage
of the possibilities, they are certain
to become a permanent part of the
economic structure Of this section.
The Negro faces the prospect of dou-
bling his potential earning power
when his advent into Northern man
ufacturing fields with its more favor
able compensation Is considered, to-
gether with the stimulated demand
and consequently higher wages which
will be created in the South by the
scarcity of labor" The foregoing
opinions were gathered from men
identified with some of the largest
corporations in the district by re-
porter for A. N. p. who has been max
ing a survey of the Industrial situa-
ton in Chicago and vicinity with a
view to observing how the migrants
were fitting into their new environ
ment from the standpoint of the en-
ployer, upon whose opinion 1t is ap-
parent the final success of the new
conner in the North depends.
Race Agents Used.
Superintendents of various plants
expressed a willingness to be inter-
viewed and talked freely of produc-
tion wanted, type of labor needed,
the percentage of turnover" and
their experiences in handling Negro
labor. Some were pleased with re-
suits. others were dubious. while a
few were discouraged and disguised.
All were agreed. however, that the
greatest need was careful selection
and classification of the laborers who
were presented. One of the surprises
uncovered was the discovery that
colored firm, Parker and Parker, 309
e. 39th street. whose activities have
been little known. have handled the
bulk of labor from the South which
has filtered into the steel, brick and
related industries. These men have
evolved a system of classification of
applicants even to physical and med
icai examination which have won for
them wide appreciation and support
from the large firms which they serve
here and throughout Indiana, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and the Northwest. So
firmly have they established them
selves that railroads have been issu-
ing tickets in the South on their or
der, billing them for the cost which
the workers paid on receiving the
transportation or after arriving here.
Calls Labor Diversified.
Several superintendent referred to
the service this organization was per-
forming, saying If they could get con-
stantly men of the type which had
been selected because of their par
ticular fitness and qualifications for
the work to be done, the problem
would be solved. One large employ
err called attention to a group of 100
selected men whom he had obtained
through this source and turning to
timekeeper's report on his desk said
that out of this group $40 had made
full time for the past Is days and
that investigation showed some OF the
delinquents actually on the sick list.
"Some men make good steel workers,
others make good moulders, while
others are fit for neither" he said.
ut is the hiring. training and defec-
ton of the worker who won't come
to work on time. who lays off every
few days, who is physically unfit. who
never returns the day after pay day
that has driven some of the employ
ment managers frantic" said this in
formant. Our doors are wide open
for thrifty, steady. dependable men
with promotion and pay in proportion
as they prove themselves fit. Some
idea of the continuance Of migration
may be gathered from the fact that
26 carloads of colored people came
into Chicago last Sunday over one
J road, the Illinois Central. A mass Of
valuable information has been uncov-
cred which will be given In series
OF articles on various phases Of en-
ployment in specific Industries.