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

e~'N ~ w uuu DINERS cau
Into power and thus began
change that has vitality affected \
Negro In the labor movement n
John L. Lewis was now down
he was not out by any means r
friends and organizers that hs \
appointed we're stlll In Office y
still a powerful factor IN The ~
He might yet work himself bseI
power.
Things were not so that Ia,
could be placed at the head ~
clio movement. The change n
foreign policy OF Russia would
accountable for that. While o.
many and Russia were at peace 4
foreign policy OF Russia =
against war and against the l,re
States being involved in the ~
on the side OF England All !,
Communists In the United Sta,
worked for keep America on,
the war" policy. This policy h,
them (these leftists elements IN N
CIO) in harmony and cooperate
with John l.. Lewis for tina, ",
his policy in the arena OF Amer
can politics. Then came the MI
out OF the clear blue sky, Germsnl
attacked Russia. All was poj
changed.
The Communits In America SonI
ped 10 a war policy and becsm
hostile to the leadership OF Jobl
L. Lewis because he was ON nm
other side All these men that n
had brought into the CIO labol
movement and remained faithm}
and loyal to listened TO bigre(
voice, the voice OF Joseph Stsld
and joined the war party In Ameril
ca. Thus they came to the parting
OF the ways, two great forces had
were largely responsible for lid
building up OF the Go and Wild
were mainly responsible for Id
militant stand taken by this orl
ganization for a square deal to ths
Negro in the labor movement. Now
there would no longer be any hope
OF John l.. Lewis getting back in
TO the harness OF the Industrial un-
ions. These great forces that meant
so much to the Negro were now
dissolved. The Negro suffered a
great loss when these events
changed the fortune of John L.
Lewis. What Joe Stain did in Rus
STA had big effect on the Negro
in the United States. We shall look
into some OF these results caused
by these changes. We now face the
fact that John l.. Lewis will likely
pull out OF the CLIO all together
and take his six hundred thousand
Miners Union membership with
him. Thus 1t will be that the great
loss OF this big voice fer fairness
and squareness 10 the Negro. now
members in this CLIO union in large
numbers. will be severely felt
To-day forces hostile 10 the We.
gro are finding tolerance In the
ranks OF the Go. There Is no such
vigorous purglng body as there was
during the days when John L.
Lewis and the leftlsts elements
we're throwing such elements out
On their heads. Some OF these Tel.
lows are now actually getting en-.
enlargement from certain elements
In the union.
When Senator Digs ran for
councilman last fall. Il become up.
parent 10 those In touch With Clio
activities that though Digs had
union endorsement, the union mem'
bers would not rally TO the union
slate. There was no longer that IN
terest and aggressiyencss. In
punching the unions political pro.
gram. In many instances bands Of
locals were backing programs Of
their own and DIggs and Novak
were not considered. The Catholic
union members, for instances had
their own slate. Things like these
did not take place when John L.
Lewis was president of the CIO.
When Lewis was head no such
incident as occurred nj the Packard
Plant could have taken place. In
this case the white workers Of .
particular division refused 10 work
with two skilled col0red workers
and blocked their employment ny
the company. This was directly
contrary 10 the fundamental law
protecting race workers.
Under Lewis. the national .ClO
subsidized organIzational work BY
Negro leaders who backed me
policy OF organizing the Negro into
unions. and all such flatters OF dls-
elimination we're ruthlessly purs-
ed.
Today the Negro worker must be
good union member and he must
rely on his own activity 10 force q
better attitude on the part OF tnh
organization. There Is no suen
combination OF militant leader as
10, l.. Lewis and the leftists 10
the clio TO keep him. They nave
gone and will not return to the or
ganization.
The Negro must now stand on MS
own feet and make the best OF .
changed situation. The labor IN.
ions today contain vast economlC
and political power and the Negro
worker needs the cooperation OF
this great force TO maintain him
sell and coin better justice un-
der this American democracy