The Enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 192?-1930, 1927-12-16
Pull Man PORTERS May STRIkI
COMPANY MAY
FORCE PULLMAN
!. PORTERS' STRIKE

NEW YORK. Dec t2.-(Special)
Problems OF Negro workers IN
American industry and the rapid
approach to a crisis of the fight for
better wages Ind working condi-
tions for Pullman portersl and maids
through the brotherhood OF Sleeping
Car Porters were the subjects OF
vital and spirited discussion at the
Negro Labor Conference held Friday
afternoon in the Urban League
building, 2l0 West 136th street. II
was the first conference of It's kind
ever held in the United States and
occurred on the sixty-sixth anniver-
sary OF the death of John Brown.
the avowed enemy OF slavery. who
on that day sixty-six years ago was
put to death by hanging at Harpers
Ferry. Md. Industrial emancipa-
tion for the Negro was the strldent
keynote of the conference.
Mr. Randolph said In part: "The
present wage OF $3.50 Is not suffi-
Client to maintain family and
Pullman maids and porters ought
net to be compelled to resort to
professional begging in the solicit
ing of tips to secure their living.
"On January IL, the Interstate
Commerce Committee will give n
hearing on the petition OF the por-
ters for an investigation of condi-
tions in the Pullman service and the
relation of wages to rates.
Strike Is Intimated
1--WE hope that the commission
will find II has Jurisdiction. II.
however. II does not so find, we will
be that much nearer an emergency
that will call for substantial flnanc-
ing" Mr.. Randolph intimated that
the strike weapon would be used IL
all other methods failed.
"The American Federation OF La
Dor is solidly behind the Brother
hood in any eventually" said Alex
ander Marks, national organizer and
representing the American Fedora.
tion OF Labor.
In opening the labor conference
Mr.. Randolph stated that the Negro
industrial creed of Booker T. WASH
ington. founder of Tuskegee Insti-
tute. is inadequate for the present
era of organized labor, and that the
Negro can secure more wages and
more security in his jobs only by
getting industrial power through or
ganization. "At the present time
the Negro is caught in a vicious cir
Gle. He cannot get job without
union card: he cannot join the un-
ion unless he has job" said Mr..
Randolph.
At the close of the meeting six
resolutions were read and unani-
mously adopted in which the Broth
erhood declared itself against the
present wage and working condi-
tions for porters and maids and the
tipping system, and II was resolved
that the conference endorse the
Brotherhood's fight and unqualified
" condemn the Pullman Company's
policy of intimidating and coercing
| the members of the Brotherhood;
and II was further resolved that the
conference, representing all the sem
timent of all sections OF the coun-
try, pledge its moral and financial
support TO the Brotherhood, pledg-
ing further to back them should
they be compelled to strike.
A committee of ten to aid and
abet the Labor cause named con-
sists of the following: Rev. Mr..
lines, chairman; DR.. Julia p. II.
Coleman, Ira De A. Reid, G. T.
French, Mrs. Caroline Saunders, Miss
Layle Lane, DR.. Fred Fairclough,
Mrs. p. A. watkins, Rev. George
Frazier Miller, and CHARLES M. Han
son.