St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-11-23
People On NAACP'S Side

If AFL-CIO President George Meany has any
idea he divide the American Negro into two
camps by his announcement of the NAACP he has
another guess coming.
His attack the NAACP which has been ex-
pected for a number of years. both arrogant
and presumptious in that he not only wants the
NAACP to cease and desist in its campaign to rid
the nation of labor unions which practice racial
bias. but he also wants to dictate whom the NAACP
should have its staff
No one questions the fact that AFI-CIO es-
pecially the CLIO part of the movement has been of
great assistance to the NAACP and the program it
attempts to carry out. However since the AFL-CIO
has over half million dues paying members of
Negro ancestry the gains which the NAACP has
made in securing the civil rights of Negroes has
been of great benefit to the members of the organ
lied trade union movement.
American Negroes have never had too much
faith in George Meany because he came from the
Plumbers union of the most biased international
unions in the nation Despite the passage at each
international convention of the AFL-CIO of resolu-
tons against racial bias and discrimination in a
number of unions within the organization the prac-
tees have not halted. For years, even before the
merger of the AFL and CLIO A. Phillip Randolph
president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
tried each year to convince the AFL of need to
get its house in order" the discrimination
issue
RandOlph's complaints generally brushed
aside Two years ago when Meany irascibly in
suited and assailed Randolph on the floor Of the
AFL-CIO convention in Seattle by asking him
who appointed you representative Of all Of the
Negroes in the country" Meany's stock fell to
new low among the American Negro population.
1t Is still low, In view Of the fact that many
know Mr.. Meany has a testy temper.
Shortly after that episode the American Negro
Labor Council formed by Mr.. Randolph and
others without the blessing interest Of Mr. Meany
or his cohorts. He used the meeting Of that body in
its New York convention of several days ago to
announce his break with the NAACP Up to that
time he had almost ignored the existence of the
ANLC whose principal reason for being organized
was to combat existing race discrimination within
the labor movement.
1t is apparent that the Meany faction in labor's
hierarchy has felt all along that it has been doing the
American Negro a favor by giving support to such
mterracial organizations the NAACP without
considering that the accrued benefits to the organ
lied labor movement have been considerable econ
omically, politically, socially and morally.
Walter Reuther, United Auto Workers presi-
dent and a member of the AFI-CIO executive coun-
Gil realizes this factor He agrees with Randolph
and other American Negro leaders in the labor
movement that under Meany progress against race
age Reuther is member Of the NAACP board and
has declared he has intention of resignng at
this time which is sensible position to take in
view Of his prior record, and the large number of
loyal Negro members Of his union.
The present controversy between Meany and
Reuther over whether former Minneapolis man
Ralph HeIstein president Of the PacIxInghouse
Workers International should become a vice-presi-
dent Of the AFL-CIO, makes Meany further sus-
pect among Negro trade uniOnIsts who know
HeLstein and remember that under him a Negro
became the first international vice-president In
any trade union Of whte-Negro membership.
For long time in the Negroes pursuit for
justice and equality during the past 40 years, i'm
portant help has come from trade unionists par
dculary the industrial unions There have been in
dviduals here and there in industry management
and corporation heads who sensing that the race
problem was our biggest deficit who have also made
contributions to resolving the problem.
Even while receiving cooperation from the in
dVidual unions the Negro has not ignored the race
discrimination found In unions The good will gen.
Grated by cooperation of the friendly unions often
made the Negro ignore for the time being at least
the poor racial policies with which some unions
have been infected.
The same has been true in business and indus
try-the cooperation and help Of a few business
figures often labeled "do-gooders" by their assoc
iates helped create climate of friendliness for
American capitalism among millions Of Negroes
until these consumers began to take a good look and
what they were receiving in return in jobs advance
ment and services. As result along came sit-downs
sitns selective buying, all devices to show Amer
lean business that the Negro was not content to
spend his money in establishments which denied him
the same service and job opportunities extended
others.
Among business firm leaders as with some Of
the organized labor union leaders there were threats
crashing Of teeth and attempts to brighten the Ne
gro and the white friends who cooperated with him.
But today American business has gave up to a great
degree former discriminatory practices not only
because Of the pressure of the Negro consumers
ST. PAUL REC ORD