Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

AFFILIATED WITH THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR

105 WEST 136th STREET
New York, N. Y.

Phone EDgecombe 4-1535

335

May 24, 1935

ASHLEY L. TOTTEN
NATIONAL SEC'y.-TREAS.

OFFICERS

A. PHILIP RANDOLPH
NATIONAL PRESIDENT

MILTON P. WEBSTER
1ST VICE-PRESIDENT

BENNIE SMITH
2ND VICE-PRESIDENT

E. J. BRADLEY
3RD VICE-PRESIDENT

C. L. DELLUMS
4TH VICE-PRESIDENT

O. W. BYNUM
B. F. MCLAURIN
FIELD ORGANIZERS
NEW YORK

C. C. GALES
ASSOCIATE REPRESENTATIVE
AND INSURANCE BROKER
NEW YORK

Mr. James Weldon Johnson
Fisk University
Nashville, Tenn.

My dear Mr. Johnson:

On the 27th of May or a few days after, the Pullman porters, by order of the National Mediation Board, will be given an opportunity to vote in a national election for the organization they want.

This is the first time that Negro workers have had the opportunity to vote as a national group in an election under federal supervision, for their economic rights. It is an extraordinary occasion. It is the result of 10 years of militant, determined and courageous fighting by a small band of black workers against one of the most powerful corporations in the world. It may be interesting for you to know that on the Pullman Board of Directors sit J. P. Morgan, R. K. Mellon, Alfred P. Sloan, George F. Baker, Harold S. Vanderbilt, George Whitney and others. These men rule Wall Street, America and practically the world of capitalist finance and industry. And yet the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters has, in the face of nameless opposition and terror, stood its ground through one of the worst depressions ever witnessed in America, and has come to the point where it has caused a national election to be called to determine the organization the porters really want.

Now the election will be secret and off Pullman property. On the ballot will be the names of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and the Pullman Porters and Maids Protective Association or the Company Union. The Pullman Company caused the Pullman Porters and Maids Protective Association to be formed when the amendment to the Railway Labor Act by the 73rd Congress killed the old company union known as the Plan of Employee Representation. The law does not allow railroad companies to finance employees' organizations and so this new company union was planned to come within the law from the point of view of appearance. The Company, however, is financing the Pullman Porters and Maids Protective Association secretly.

Because of the great significance of this election to Pullman porters in particular and the race in general, I am herewith requesting that should you make any addresses at any time during this election, which will extend from May 27th to June 22nd, will you say a word on behalf of the Pullman porters' union in its fight to break down the company union? The porters who have suffered, sacrificed and struggled to conquer the Pullman monopoly will be grateful for your cooperation. When the Brotherhood wins this fight, it will probably be the most significant economic victory and stride of substantial and constructive progress the Negro has made in history.

Mr. Johnson - 2

May 24, 1935

The story is yet to be written of the great
sacrifices that were made to bring this fighting organi-
zation to this point where we are quite certain of winning
the fight.

If the porters, who are the vanguard of the black
workers of America, feel that their press, church and educa-
tors are backing them, it will mean much to their morale when
they face the organized millions of the Pullman Company.

The election will be held in 66 districts and agen-
cies, from coast to coast, throughout the country.

APR/de