organizer, because of his racial and social relations among his people, could accomplish much in organizing the forces into unions, the National Convention appointed a Negro railroad man as an organizer for the territory as above mentioned. Another set of resolutions, relating to the general condition of Negroes in the United States, making suggestions to secure the cooperation of the American people and the national government in an endeavor to have the nations participating in the coming world peace conference agree upon a plan to turn over the African continent or parts thereof to the African race and those descendants of said race who live in America and desire to return to Africa, and thus enable the black race to work out its destiny on an equality with other peoples of the earth, was referred to a committee. The report was, "Your committee cannot be responsible for and rejects the statements contained in the resolution, but, inasmuch as portions of it refer to the organization of Negro workers, the committee recommends that portion be referred to the Executive Council."

At the annual meeting of the National League on Urban Conditions among Negroes, held in New York City, January 29-31, 1918, resolutions relating to labor unions and the Negroes were adopted and a committee was appointed to place the resolutions before the executive committee of the American Federation of Labor. The resolutions adopted were as follows: 

For the first time in the history of America, the Negro working man is in large numbers getting a chance to offer his service at a fair wage for various kinds of work for which he is fitted. This opportunity, however, has come as a result of conditions over which neither he nor those offering him the chance have control. 

In the city of New York, on the 31st day of January, 1918, we in conference assembled under the auspices of the National League on Urban Conditions among Negroes, while in no way seeking to condone the existence of the worldwide war which has been forced upon our beloved country, wish to express our gratitude for the industrial changes wrought and to record our prayer that the benefits thus far derived by the Negro may continue and so enlarge as to embrace full and fair opportunity in all the walks of life. 

I. We wish especially to address ourselves to the American Federation of Labor which at its recent convention in Buffalo, New York, voiced sound democratic principles in its attitude toward Negro labor. 

We would ask the American Federation of Labor, in organizing 

 Prev. P 107/238 next