Arkansas State press., 1941-05-09
Some ReViSi0nS In Draft Laws Believed To Be Near
Mothers Day Program At N |. R. To Be Held Sunday
The Plight OF Negro Workers

few days ago. we in Helena, Arkansas making
survey OF the Negos surroundings there Our attention
vas called to problem that the paramount issue
Fontmg approximately 400 Negroes employed at the Pekn
Wood PRODUCTS Company subsidiary plant to the Chrys-
'er Motor Corp. of Detroit. The facts were, as given
10 us by employees that thirty DAYS ago the company
voluntarily raised the salaries of the entire working force
by flat three cent increase per hour This satisfac
terry to The Negro employees Negroes constitute than
10 percent OF the company employees Because this was
voluntarily dore and without any demand everything was
smooth as lar as the Negro was concerned,
Now don't get the Negro wrong don't conclude that
he IS easily satisfied and will scratch his head and will
walk away contented with anything In this particular
case ne mad no complaints to register for this company
has always paid higher wages than any plant in Helena (f
not IN the stae), and the prevailing wages higher
than The standards set by the Government This plant
yenence to the employees and every regardless of
his color is treated human being. Last December
every man Ill the employ of the company for than
- months received $4,000 bonus We explained these
things to show you why the Negro workers were satisfied
The confusion came from the white workers who felt
they should have been given than the Negroes The
resentment was strong that through intimidation and
brutal treatment they pulled off their jobs and made
10 stay off for five days until they the white workers
could get something better The whites finally given
five cents per hour wage increase and returned to work in
sueng the Negroes that ut would be safe to go back to
work.
Now, this paramount issue before the Negroes is.
whether he should let those white people fool him into
Joining The United Brotherhood Of Carpenters and Joners
say Hell mol Stay OUT, Didn't those white peo
pie force you off your jobs thirty days ago and you
to lose weeks pay they could get &c hour III
crease you? Did they get you anyhing?. This is
the same ofganzat~ that right here in the states capitol
lis refusing orshps to Negro carpenters in order to
keep them off the skilled labor division of the Federal
Housing Project,
How can the Carpenters Union you much good
there and work against your here How in the world
can you trust group of people that recently trcEed
lyon out OF weeks wages to help him? We forced to
agree with Barnum who contends There's sucker born
every minute You triced just so days ago have
iyou forgotten quickly We told that of the
"orkers have already joined with them, doubt that
very much, for cannot believe that any Negro is fool
period Of thirty days If wrong and you have al
lowed yourself to be used sraghen yourself out before it's
too late eve under the impression that every black
man IN the South knew enough to know that when white
man started to calling you brother and talking about
bothery love and have got to stick together you had
Letter get as far from him you possibly for some
body is on the line to get rcked and its not the white
mani. Remember, you hold the majority in this plant
and 1t is way for the white to take his Carpenters
.Inlon and tie you sp unless you let him.
If vou feel that you should have organization to
3argan fer why not choose your That's exactly
what the white doing getting of his choice and
when nc can get perfected all that brotherly love will
turn to anmosty and as far he is concerned you can
go straight to Hell