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

Labor Day, A Good TimeTo Think
Monday September is Labor Day ia the United States
and Canada 1t is the day Of the year which brings wildly
oil Of America the tremendous advance this nation has made
Organized Labor first launched It's banners in the breeze
Of this nation Of freemen.
The first LaborDay celebrated in Europe and fostered
by trade unions Socialist parties and labor unions in general
May Of each year In many nations the May Labor Day
observances have for been the occasion of dis
orders planned and executed by radicals In
the May celebration which Is official holiday in
Russia has been less the day when the radicals mount
cd the 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 September
Labor Day The unions celebrated day prasng
labor has DONE both for Its members and the coopera
ton within the framework Of the free enterprise system
In America the day parades picnics speeches.
athletic events and patriotic displays In which the free 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 nation people In
America all classes Of people participate in the day festivities
As il is with every advance in human endcavour and
TOM easy task the United States Congress
make Labor Day national holiday 1t until IL years
after the first Labor Day by the Knights of Labor
that the Congress in 1894 passed bill making the first Monday
Of every September national holiday called Labor Day
Labor Day is Of significance half million Amer
can Negroes who union members and their families
Movement OF the American Negro from agricultural pur
suits 70 city and factory and to the industrial NORTH have
creased the membership OF Negroes labor unions from
few thousands before World War III approximate GOO 600
in 1853
Since the beginning Of the Knights Of Labor the first sue
cessful national labor organization forerunncr Of the
American Federation of Labor Negroes have played their part
One OF the earlier leaders along with Gompers was
Negro In the early history Of the successful trade union
ment in the U s. aside from few unions like United Mine
Workers the International Ladies' Garment Workers few
Others there was no encouragement given Negroes join
, unions
Many AF unions had rituals that barred all non whites
from membership still do Others maintained
Jm Crow locals called auxaries whose members paid
dues into the local and national treasures but had no voice
locally nationally in the affairs and directions OF the union
Unions appeared suspicious and afraid Negroes and the Ne
generally did not the unions instances EN-
poye imported southern Negroes strike breakers and this
caused feeling against the Negroes rather than the employers
among unions However in those AT OF unions where
Negroes admitted in the majority eases they made
good members and white fellow got along well with
them
The rise of the industrial unions like the United Steel
Workers and tho advent Of the CI0 the factor which
changed the labor union picture far Negroes con
cerned The CIo organized Negro white workers ON
Of equality in the production industries Many Al of
unions formerly ukcwam and the question began
take in Negro workers The half million of Negroes
paying union dues today Labor Day 1853 approaches
the peaceful revolution which has gone on in abos ranks
and changed American Negro workers from outsiders TO in
iders in the organized labor union movement
This has had tremendous effect the fight against
ermnaon in all levels of American life labor unions
upt those like the Big Four r. brotherhoods carry on
constant educational and Legislative campaign for equality and
against racial and religious discrimination. The unions
this because they still bar Negroes from membership
Inc rank and file of the members of the railway in many
are embarrassed by the un.Amerean bar in Their
but the old line leaders strong enough beat down
opposen which wants the unions open all qualified
Anericans rgardless of color
Even IN Tie South you viii find number Of the NOR,
Younger labor union leaders in the ranks hos,
s race Prescription In the past 25 years the American
worker has benefited the organized labor and
the labor movement has benefited him.
Even az this date despite the progress the Negro worker
mas aoe m The union movement he STILL many instances
ohy uues payer and does contribute the growth Of
tne union ana ms own good by being active IL
those instances where Negro workers active in union affair
the whole pattern OF Nowhite relations ont in the
community one OF understanding cooperation
When Negroes are active in union affairs they can insure h
election of union officials who fair honest on all mat