The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-02-14

a.. r.ss., ers that were very
~ important TO them
Few have realized that the COM
bination OF John l.. Lewis, as lead
or OF the Clio and the leftist mem
bers OF that organization, who CO.
operated with him were the most
militant friends OF the Negro In
the labor movement
These leftis,s officers and or
ganizers were sometimes called
Communists. but they were az
gressiye and efficient labor leaders
and set the pace for fairness and
squareness TO the Negro that no
other administration OF a national
labor has equaIed. As time passes
on and brings changes in the for
tunes to John l.. Lewis and the
men who formerly cooperated
with him. Il is fast becoming APP
parent what these changes por-
tend for the Negro. Now that John
l.. Lewis Is about to break the ties
that bound him to the CIO organi-
cation. II will be seen that such a
fortune is bad news for the Negro
in the labor movement.
When John l.. Lewis, after
long and bitter tight. succeeded In
setting up n strong miners union,
the Negro was a competitor In the
coal labor market. Lewis took him
In as n full iledged member Of his
union giving the Negro all rights
and protection just a. was given
10 the white members. As the union
became inlly Stabilized. there was
no change In the policy Of John l..
Lewis. He saw 10 II that the laws
operated In fairness 10 all without
regard 10 race. creed or color.
There have been few charges by
the Negro on discrimination or un-
fairness In the coal miners union.
The great reason for this situation
was the character and convictions
OF John l.. Lewis. Sincerity and
executive forceiulness are domlnat.
Ing traits Of his character. These
qualities are responsible for the
great success and satisfaction With
the way the miners union operat.
ed.
Thus II was early In the organl.
zatlon Of the miners union. the
Negro mine worker became a un.
Ion member. He became union Of.
ficers and July partook of the
duties and obligations Of the I'M
Ion. This Is the background Of
John l.. Lewis rise as n labor lead.
er In the United States and II Is
this experience that he had with
the Negro In the miners union that
lay at the foundation Of his nation.
nj policy when he became the presl-
dent oi the Congress Of Industrial
Unions. the national labor organl.
zatlon for which he did more than
any other single leader.
When John l.. Lewis. with other
, labor leaders set up the Go nation
al body, II was the strongly orga-
nized miners union thar put up
more money than all others togeth-
er To finance the expense OF the or
ganization. Now when this organi-
cation was set up with Lewis as its
International chairman, he an
pointed a large number OF organiz-
ers, who went out into the field and
carried forward organizational
drives that resulted In bringing into
the Clio organization many big un-
ions. II was said by many that
most OF these fellows picked by
Lewis were communists. They were
frequently referred to as "Leftists"
But this was tough Job and II took
tough leaders TO accomplish n
John l.. Lewis believed that the
men he picked were the hest ones 10
get the Job done and experienced
has proved that he was right In
that JUDGMENT because results
proved Il.
Now while these men we're call
cd leftisis and other names. they
were the most militant friends Of
The Negro in the labor movement
win John l.. Lewis a firm believ-
or In the fairness to the Negro and
all OF these leftists organizers be-
ing equally aggressive and sincere
IN the same policy to the Negro
tnls combination OF John l.. Lewis
ana these leftists leaders became
the best assurance for a souare
zeal 10 the Negro. These were the
forces that stood out In the early
w movement guaranteeing 10 the
Negro FAIR play and no discrim,na-
ton In the CIO labor orranlzation
SUI time brought changes into The
no set up and with these changes
mere came changes in the attitude
toward the Negro.
when John l.. Lewis resIgpss
rom the presidency Of the Cor.
gress Of Industrial Orranl,at,o.
IL m
ne did NOT want to give mn his lead
s sp OF this national labor bodv.
va "a ne did so to live mp 70 his
ne pledged himself 10 the defeat
" fDk on a third term Opposition
pvIcy and also believing thai hIs
foreign policy led directly "a NE.
Jon. sonn 1. Lewis was an ardent ,so,s'
ZIONIST and believed with All a. ~
n ne,, ana soul that Roosevelt;s
poney was one that wopld wrees
mocracy. ""' '' ae-
in. ms was a dominant psss,o,
" "ha MN and he subordlnateS every
othcr consideration A. n