The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-01-27
Pullman UNION
PRESENTS CASE

,,.binoton-(FP)-HOw the Pull
war Gar Company refused to arbi-
nla to its wage dispute with the Broth
tIa aood ~ Of Sleeping Car Porters, and
ernoO tbo union is now seeking relief
now .,, C, the Interstate Commerce
tnIous s;lsion before coming finally to
Golli White House for the appointment
llie ~ ~ emergency board of mediation
Of on with law, was told to
BB. @i Coolidge in a special con-
iI nc on January 10th by dele
Is atinr representing the brotherhood.
g8i''P Philip Randolph, general Orga-
or - was accompanied to the White
4 IIavse by Mrs. Mary Church Terrell,
L NJ Of the Natl. Federation of Negro
H I4;o,,en,s' Clubs, and by Whitfield Nc
T TVii w. H. DeVerney, Roy Lam
h riteI and Peter Anthony, officers of
e @a Brotherhood. Addressing Cool
az: ;Ico Randolph told of the effort to
i Drog.rize these Negro workers on the
G pIliman cars of the United States,
and said they seek "a living wage ac-
oording to American standards of
foqifb and decency, better working
norditions. decent hours of work and
the abolition of the tipping system
which REQUIRES Pullman pOrters to re-
w upon charity from the public in or
der to support their families"
Coolidge told them that the public
and himself wished that the porters
Should be well paid and he hoped the
management would grant them fair
consideration. He made no pledge of
aid in their campaign to force the
COMPANY to arbitration.
This visit to Coolidge as tn efinai
authority under the railroad media
tion law followed a two day confer
erpnce conducted by Randolph in the
national capital, at which representa-
tiyes of virtually every progressive
GROUP among the 10000 negroes in
fine city took part. Where few
months ago hostility or skepticism
marked the attitude of the negro quo
lie toward the campaign to unionize
the Pullman pOrteTs and maids, now
there was cordial endorsement and
generalization.
DR.. John A. Ryan Of the National
Catholic Welfare Conference, among
the invited white speakers, urged the
Christian character of the trade union
idea.
Edward McGrady, organize for the
American Federation of Labor. while
admitting that his oganization could
not help the Brotherhood because the
hotel and Restaurant EMPLOYEES
uninOn claimed jurisdiction over din
ing car service, declared that the Fed
Grafton was Cheering you on" and
that it needs you, just as YOU need
US" in one great labor movement
throughout the country. He warned
them against company unions and de-
plored the shortsightedness of MANY
groups Of whit trade unionists in
seeking to exclude negroes from their
membership
DR.. Abram L. Harris Of Howad Uni
yersity and DR.. Neville H. Thomas
sounded a militant note, emphasizing
white discrimination against the ne
gro in many fields. Thomas remark
ed that while millions of people thank
Henry Ford for giving employment
to 10000 workers, Henry Ford can
thank these wOkers for making him a
MImalre. Thomas also alluded to
THE greatest social experiment in
history Russian social revolu-
lIon-and the exclusion of books on
this experiment. from the library at
Howard University at the direction of
Republican senator's.
Inc audience applauded every blow
u9alt the negro politicians and editors
VINO trade on the submissiveness and
political blindness of their race