The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1941-10-17

of the A. #. of L. of this stigma
of discrimination / don't be-
lieve any labor union is strong
enough to defy public opinion on
strong moral ISSUE"
Brown Scored
Harvey Brown, president of the
International Association of Ma
chinists, definitely is keeping Ne
groes out of the Boeing plant and
he owes it to the public to make
a statement on the practice of his
union. The I. A. M. persistently
defies the President orders and
should comply or be put out of the
A. F. of L."
Randolph's remarks received ap-
plause and cheers from the dele
gates.
Randolph's remarks led to
series of denials, one after the
other, by international union pres
idents, and high officers of the
A. F. of L., including President
William Green.
First to take the floor was L. P.
Lindelof, president of the Broth
erhood of Painters, Decorators and
Paperhangers of America.
'This is a most serious accusa-
ti0n," Lindelof said, "and I take
the floor because I want to deny
1T. First of all, wish to point out
that the delegate did not state all
the facts. He didn't tell you that
the Painters and Decorators have
sixteen Negro locals; that recent
ly at our Columbus, Ohio, conven-
ton there were four Negro dele
gates with the rights and voting
privileges of aasy other delegates,
and that in New York City we've
been trying for years to organize
the Negro painters in Manhattan"
Following Lindelof, Frey took
the floor to answer Randolph.
''This address," Frey said, "has
disturbed me more than any state
ment ever made in any American
Federation of Labor convention. 1t
is evident that the delegate came
here with on object in mind-to
present an Indictment.
"NOw we have this Indictment
as part of the record and I'd not
be surprised if this indictment i'm
a pamphlet form were to find its
way to the districts where there is
the most intolerance and prejudice
to make our task of organizing
the Negro ten thousand times
more difficult than it already Is"
Frey told delegates that no
group in the entire nation has de-
rived more benefits from the A.
F. of L. than the Negro and added
"And yet Randolph's organization
is composed completely of Negroes
and no white person is permitted
to become a member"
Delegate Criticized
Frey said he would not answer
any of Randolp his personal
charges, preferring to stand on his
record, but criticized Randolph for
giving no single word of appre-
citation for what we've DONE"
In answer to Frey, Milton P.
Webster, another delegate from
the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car
Porters, denied that the union bars
whites.
"Our constitution doesn't bar
anybody" Webster said. 1--WE have
FilipinOs, Mexicans, who are con-
sidered white here, Chinese and,
probably much to your surprise,
two whites"
Taking the floor to reply to
Randolph, William L. Hutchinson,
president of the Carpenters and
Joiners' Union, said the carpenters
have many Negro local unions.
"Pd advise Randolph to tell of
some of the good things done by
organized labor for the Negro
race" said Hutchinson. "But If he
tries to tell the internationals
what to do, we should say, go
plumb to-"
Harry c. Bates, president of the
Bricklayers' Union, also denied
charges of discrimination and said
Randolph's remarks were unwar-
ranted.
The heated debate continued
when Randolph arose to say he is
able to sustain every charge he
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