«Z SEPTEMBER 1923 n> 15 CENTS f> T H E Messenger Vol ume V Number 9 I iSnlliant Editorials; A Platform ( artoons; Dramatic Black and Wh ind Literary Review* By William Picke A Message to Negro Workers By Samuel Qompers An Epic of Native African Labor By Clements, Kadalie The Nixed Union \ By William D. Jones Vhite Supremacy in Mississip] rganized Labor Home of Sun-Kissed Fol iy Chandler Owen By J. Egert All THE LABOR DAY NUMBER from the NEW YORK DISTRICT COUNCIL NO. 9 Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America WISHING YOU SUCCESS IN THE WORK CARRIED ON BY YOU FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF THE NEGRO WORKERS Dr. Siegert's ANGOSTURA BITTERS WORLD FAMOUS TONIC Greetings For sale at Groctrs, Delicatessens and Druggists from the J. W. Wuppermann Angostura Bitters Agency, Inc. 12 EAST 48th STREET, NEW YORK Button Workers Union Local 132 I. L. G. W. U. CO-OPERATION 7 EAST 15th STREET, NEW YORK For information on organizing co-operative societies apply to Harry Dubinsky, Manager CO-OPERATIVE LEAGUE OF AMERICA 167 West 12th Street, New York Regents' MNIVERSITY College Entrance X^XPreparatoiy SCHOOL Day and Evening Sessions The best in faculty and equip • STATE BANK B'LD'G FIFTH AVENUE AT 115 STREET ment at a moderate tuition fee. All classes in both day and iVctc York't Most Successful Preparatory School evening sessions meet five full periods a week. We Cordially Welcome the Negro Student Mention The Messenger THE MESSENGER 805 their white brothers. Albeit the message of Mr. The Messenger Gompers is timely, for the tide of Negro worker- Published Monthly by the immigrants to the north is rising. It will be a menace or a benefit to organized labor in proportion as it is CO., MESSENGER PUBLISHING INC. unorganized or organized. Let us hope that some 2305 Seventh Avenue, New York thing comprehensive will be done in the forthcoming Telephone, Bradhurit 0454 convention of the American Federation of Labor to join the black and white workers in the common Editors: struggle for a larger measure of economic justice. A. PHILIP RANDOLPH and CHANDLER OWEN Contributing Editors: ROBERT W. BACNALL. LOVETT FORT-WH1TEMAN. ERNEST RICE McKlNNEY. WILLIAM PICKENS. CEORGE S. SCHUYLER. No More War GEORGE FRAZIER MILLER. ABRAM L. HARRIS A good slogan this for all. In many of the liberal, CONTENTS radical and labor quarters, it is being rung down the changes. But mouthing slogans is not enough, though Editorials 805 its propaganda value is unquestioned. More must be Economics Politics 809 and done. The worker must be told why war for they Education and Literature... 815 alone can end war. Only those who are the chief Open Forum 823 sufferers from a social malady can be relied upon to F. N. F 825 abolish it. Crepe on the door, high living costs, wide spread unemployment and sowing the seeds for future wars — that last, Vol. V SEPTEMBER, 1923 No. 9 wars are far more devastating than the are the chief fruits of our wholesale, modern, civilized I 5c per Copy killings in the interest of backward peoples, smaller 20c Outside U. S. nationalities and world democracy. Contents copyright, 1923, by the Messenger Publishing Company, Inc. It is to be noted with great interest and satisfaction We do not object to quotations and reprints, on the following terms: the Editorials partially quoted or reprinted in full must be credited to this that British Labor Party led by J. Ramsey Mc journal; signed articles may be quoted or reprinted to the extent of Donald is giving enlightened attention to the question words, giving to both the author and this magazine; repro 500 credit of the "Next War." Either labor world duction of signed articles exceeding 500 -words forbidden without a fight for written permit from this office. Unsolicited manuscripts must be accom peace or another world war will destroy it. And only panied by return postage to insure the author's regaining them in the a world organized for service can be a world organized event they are found unavailable. for peace. Entered as Second Class Mail, July 27, 1919, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under Act March 3, 1879. of Coolidge Calvin Coolidge is now President. The Nation says he is "President by virtue of a myth." Labor says he Editorials is a hide-bound reactionary. Some say he is so reticent nobody knows what he believes. When all is said the truth is that Mr. Coolidge is a Mr. "X." Hardly any body knows specifically what he stands for on any Labor Day thing —not even on a policemen's strike, since his stroke came in Boston after the strike was over. The great mass of American workers celebrate the readers first Monday in September, though there are a num Our want to know how he stands on the ber of unions affiliated with the American Federation Negro. Our guess is, "about like Harding." Why? Well, he made a of Labor that celebrate only May 1st as the interna Southern trip last year. Wined and dined the bourbon Southern tional Labor Day. For the first time in the history of by aristocracy he didn't fail to their the American Labor Movement, Samuel Gompers, accept point of view on the Smith's chief problem —the Negro. In C, president of the American Federation of Labor, sends Atlanta and Charlotte, N. before audiences, he shocked the Ne a message of hope, good-will and cooperation to the speaking Negro of and North Carolina Negro workers through the only Negro labor organ groes Georgia when he told them "the white man in America —The Messenger. It is also heartening Southern was their best friend." How does he show it? By lynching, Crow cars, to note the message of John L. Lewis, president of the Jim disfranchisement United Mine Workers of America, one of the most segregation, and peonage! There are implications to this statement. powerful internationals affiliated with the A. F. of L. many If Coolidge feels the South is the Negro's best friend, he will, in A change in attitude on the Negro workers is destined trying to befriend the Negro, act upon the opinion of to take place in the American Labor Movement. It is what he regards the best inevitable. Enlightened self-interest will dictate it. Negro's friend. The logic of this situation then is, that the in Meanwhile, the progressive elements of black and only way which can serve the Negro's best white workers should cooperate to work for a con Coolidge interests will be mutual To this end the mes by acting upon the principle of trying to injure him structive understanding. — from the venerable labor leader, Samuel Gompers, that is, by taking the opinion of his alleged enemies sage — and John L. Lewis to the black laborers, skilled and namely, people other than the Southern whites. unskilled, thousands of whom are in their ranks, will We should give him a chance to make good. Still have an incalculable influence in breaking down the our candid opinion reads : "Coolidge is pretty cool on prejudices in the minds of the Negro workers against the Negro question." 806 THE MESSENGER France and the Negro The Negro Workers' Hegira Hits South's Prosperity "Money talks," says an old adage. It talks even in According to President J. S. Peters of the Georgia France where the race question is involved. Recently Bankers' Association, Georgia's loss of wealth from Negroes journeying to the French battlefields in ve her farms as a result of the number of Negroes who hicles largely occupied by American white tourists have already gone North is estimated at $27,000,000 have been pitched out or beaten. The same experience a year, or $250,000,000 in a decade. Says he : "This has been reported in the American restaurants of will be a tremendous loss in wealth to the merchants, Paris. Americans hate for Negroes to enjoy social jobbers, railroads and other business interests of the equality in France. They are spending the money. State." Sound economics, this! Why? Let Mr. They will therefore introduce the American customs Peters explain : "The Negro is the South's best source as they have done in Bermuda where they are also the of labor supply because he will work for less, live on chief tourists. This arrogance and color prejudice are less and in cheaper quarters than any other people new to the French people. They have been accustomed save the oriental coolie," he observes. Of course, this to see Negroes in their private and public life. Sev is too true. Such is the reason for the Negroes' eral hundreds of thousands of African Negroes are wretched economic and social state in Dixie. But it enlisted in the French Army. Civilly all are equal in can and it must be remedied. How? Through France — so much so that President Poincare has or migration. As the supply of Negro labor is decreased dered an investigation into the conduct of white in the South, wages will rise, rent will fall, conces Americans. The French government has reiterated its sions such as more and better schools, more teachers position that all must obey the laws —even American and better pay ; better housing conditions ; a more foreigners. If they are above the laws in Texas and equitable administration of the laws (since it would Georgia, or Dixie in general, they will not be above be good business) ; the eventual abolition of mob law, them in the French Republic.