Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1953-09-04
Labor Day, A Good TimeTo Think

Monday September IL Labor Day In the United States
and Canada II the day Of the year which brings wildly
TO all Of America the tremendous advance this nation has made
since Organized Labor " launched It's banners In the
Of this nation of freemen
The first Labor Day celebrated In Europe and fonered
by trade unions Socialist parties and labor unions in general
May Of each year In many nations the May Labor Day
obaeance have for many years been the occasion Of
orders planned and executed by radicals In
years the May celebration, which official holiday in
Russia has been less the day when the radicals
cd the soap boxes and exhord the workers destroy capital
Ism.
In the United States and Canada since 1882 the labor
unions have been celebrating the first Monday in September
Labor Day The unions have celebrated the day prag what
labor has done both for s members and the nation
ton within the framework Of the free enterprise system
In America the day Is Of parades pcnicS speeches
athletic events and patriotic displays In which the workers
give voice TO their faith In the purposes Of their organizations
and at the time call the world what cooperation
between workers and capital do for nation people In
America all classes Of people participate In the days festivities
A Ia with every advance In human endeavour and Gus
TOM was no task to get the United States Congress
make Labor Day national holiday II until IL years
after the first Labor Day. sponsored by the Knights OF Labor
that The Congress In 1894 passed bill making Monday
Of every September national holiday called Labor Day.
Labor Day Is OF Significance to half million Amcr
can Negroes and their families who are union members
Movement of the American Negro from agricultural pur
suits to city and factory and the industrial North have in
creased the membership OF Negroes labor unions from bare
few thousands before World War II approximate 100000
In 1853
Since the beginning Of the Knights Of Labor the first sue
cesafnl national labor organization the forerunner Of the
American Federation of Labor Negroes have played their part
One OF the earlier leaders, along with Samuel Gompers was
Negro In the early history OF the trade union move
ment In the u g. aside from few unions like the United Mine
Workers. the International Ladies Workers and few
others there encouragement given Negroes TO Join
unions
Many ALL unions had rituals that barred all nOnwhites
Rmha hin a. nAl.
Jim Crow locals called auxaries whose members nail
dues into the local and national treasures but had no voice
locally nationally In the affairs and directions of the un,n
Unions appeared suspicious and afraid Of Negroes and the Ne
groes generally did not trust the unions some
poyers imported southern Negroes strike breakers and
caused feeling against the Negroes rather than the EMPLOYERS
among unions However In those AT Of unions whore
Negroes were admitted In the majority Of they made
good members and white fellow workers got along well with
them.
The rise Of the industrial unions like the United Steel
Workers and the advent of the clio the factor which
changed the labor union picture far Negroes were
eened The Co organized Negro and white workers on basis
Oh eqnay TN the mass production industries Many AZ Of
unions formerly ukcwa and on the question began
to take in Negro workers The half million Of Negroes
paying union dues today Labor Day
TO the peaceful revolution which has gone abos ranks
and changed American Negro workers from outsiders 10 in
siders In the organized labor union movement
This has had tremendous effect fight against race
discrimination in all levels of American life Most unions
except those IKE the Rig -Four butherhoods carry ON
constant educational and Legislative campaign for equality and
against racial and religious discrimination The r. r. unions
cannot do this because they still bar Negroes from membership
The rank and c of the members Of the railway in many
states are embarrassed by the unAmecan race bar in their
bylaws but the old line leaders strong enough beat
the opposition which the unions to open TO all qualified
Americans regardless Of color.
Even In the South you will find number Of the more
younger labor union leaders the ranks Of those
who fight prescription In the past IS years the American
Negro worker has benefited the organized labor and
the labor movement has benefited him
Even this date despite the progress the Negro worker
has made in the union he STILL many instances
only dues payer and does not contribute growth of
the union and his good by being active member In
hose instances where Negro workers active in affairs
The whole pattern Of Negrowhte relations in the
community Of greater understanding and
When Negroes active In union affairs they insure the
sction Of union officials who fair and honest all