Montana labor news., 1932-12-08
A. F. L. ON
WOMEN, COLOR BAR

damentals. 1t was hlnted that they
might be subject to Communist or
other unorthodox influence and might
make trouble. Defenders asked how
a single fraternal delegate could
make trouble and added that refusal
would cause bad feeling among the
women's auxiliaries just when every
bit of help was needed by the Fed
Grafton. But it was decided not to
incur any risks and so the matter
was referred to the executive coun-
ell.
The resolution had been intro
duced by the textile workers and
cited membership by auxiliaries Of
the machinists and printers, whose
leaders were in the forefront of the
opposition to the proposal.
The convention was similarly eau
tious in dealing with the Jim Grow
question in the international unions.
The committee reviewed the A. F. Of
L. position showing that the Fedora
ton has been consistently against
drawing the color line and welcomes
all workers regardless of creed, sex,
nationality, color or politics Except
probably politics of the Communist
persuasion). 1t also showed that
the door is wide open for Negro
workers through the organization Of
local unions directly federated to the
A. F. Of L., known as federal unions
in cases where Negroes are shut out
by the international unions like the
machinists and railway clerks, either
directly or indirectly. This stand was
reaffirmed unanimously.
Before the vote, Pres. William
Green called on Delegate A. Phillip
Randolph, Negro representative Of
the Pullman Porters, who are in fed
eral unions. Randolph praised the
A. F. of LIS own declaration but
pointed out that federal unions are
very ineffective, that in effect they
divide workers along race lines and
that the best way would be to have
all international unions admit Negro
workers who are otherwise qualified.
He further asked that the council
study the federal unions and make
them more effective if the Federation
is unable to have the "white only
policy of the refractory information
ais changed.
The two delegates from the British
Trades Union Congress were Charles
Dukes of the General and Municipal
Workers Union, and William Holmes
of the Agricultural Workers and
member of the general council of
the congress. Dukes outlined the
inevitable conflict in a land of mill
lions permanently unemployed. Mr..
Holmes told of the farm workers
fight and paid his respects to the
renegade Ramsay Macdonald"
eve make no p%retence about the
economic conflict; we are in it"
bluntly stated Dukes. "All the free
dom the worker has won has been
forced from the ruling class. Tears
and pretty sentiments have not done
it. Greed, hope for profit, desire
for big dividends are the root cause
of this world catastrophe. When la
Dor gets its way in England, as it
soon will, it will control, but not in
a class sense because then there will
be no classes any more"
He told how the rich attempted
to cut down old-age pensions, sick
benefits, widows pensions, unemploy-
ment insurance, health service and
education-all to save themselves
taxes. He showed that all the wages
paid in a year, plus all the cost
of all these social services, is still
less than the money now going to
private pockets as rent, interest and
profits in the same year. Sand if
England can't maintain its people
after draining every penny of surplus
wealth from the rich, there are still
the army and navy budgets to cut
down on, he added, with a warning
Of another world war under present