The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-02-15
BIG ISSUES TO
TEST SANHEDRIN
AT TODAY'S MEET
Lynching, Segregation,
Disfranchisement, Up
Continued from page ID
pretext that that Sanhedrin il
merely a get-together affair.

pI6leAJ LtldJ Lndb Sdnneurln is
merely a get-together affair.
Equality in Labor Unions.
Fortunately it seems likely that a
declaration will be made against the
color line in labor unions, but there
are fears that conservative forces
will prevents the adoption of a def
mite program for eliminating this
color line. Such a program has been
presented by Workers Party dele
gates; it calls for the Sanhedrin to
circularize all labor unions still dis
eliminating against the black work
ers with the appeal and demand for
the elimination of the color line
which prevents the worker who is
good enough for the employer to
hire from getting into the union.
This program also calls for an in
tensive propaganda by the Negro
press urging all Negro workers to join
unions wherever they can do so on a
basis of equality.
The value Of equality in the labor
unions is seen by the workers repre-
sentatives because they realize the
necessity for the uniting of all work
ers in a common brotherhood but it
is not seen clearly by men who are
associated with the real estate game
and chambers of commerce, to say
nothing Of other interests.
The BLACK Belt" Evil.
Segregation into "Black Belt" dis
tricts is one of tie most vital issues
before the race at the Sanhedrin.
Negroes are crowded into the worst
parts of cities and they are COM
PEELED to pay exhorbitant rents
above the rates charged whites. The
poor people who are gouged by the
rent hogs are crying out against the
policy of segregation. But there
are real estate men among the Ne
groes and other business men who
gain by this policy. Their voice is
not raised against this iniquity in
compelling tones.
Two effective methods of remedy
ing the housing evil are proposed by
resolutions presented by the Work
ers Party delegates:
Colored tenant unions, to refuse
to pay exorbitant rents or to live in
inferior buildings or segregated dis
tricts, is one remedy. The other is
a demand for legislation making
housing a public utility and compell-
ing landlords to let their places to the
first conner, regardless of race or
color.
Unless the Sanhedrin urges def
mite action Of some kind against the
housing evil, say the workers, it will
have aGeon,rlished nothing in this
direction..s Tvs opportunity for lead
ership is before it.
Rights of Citizenship.
Disfranchisement is as vital an Is
sue as inequality in the labor unions
and there is little doubt that the San
hedrin will condemn the system that
denies the black citizen the right TO
exercise his citizenship and allows
the 14th and 18th amendments to be
ignored.
But mere appeals for the fran
chise TO the republican and demo-
cratic parties which have ignored the
rights of the Negro voters thru the
years are Of no value, say the work
ers' representatives. The republican
party is equally guilty for republic
can presidents refuse to spend one
cent for the enforcement of the l4th
and 18th amendments for which
10000 soldiers died in 1876, tho
they are willing to spend millions for
the 18th amendment.
For Farmer-Labor Party.
Both the Workers Party, and the
African Blood Brotherhood, and diff
ferent organizations, demand that
the Sanhedrin send delegates to the
farmer-labor convention that may be
called. Seeing no more in the two
capitalistic parties they demand that
the Negroes, who are nearly all
workers or farmers unite with white
workers and farmers in common
movement.
Yet some Negro republicans, po-
Etical leaders, throw cold water or
the farmer-labor movement. It en-
dangerr the party that helps them
tho it does nothing for the Race. The
same interests throw cold water on
tenant farmers unions.