TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I: THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR AND THE BLACK WORKER, 1881–1903

INTRODUCTION

THE A. F. OF L. AND THE RACIAL ISSUE

1. First Annual Meeting of the American Federation of Labor in Pittsburgh, 1881

2. Report of President Samuel Gompers to the A. F. of L. Convention of 1900

3. Committee on the President’s Report, A. F. of L. Convention of 1900

4. Amendment to the A. F. of L. Constitution, Article 12, Section 6, Adopted in 1900

5. Broke Up the Union

6. The Industrial Color-Line in the North

7. H. W. Sherman to Samuel Gompers, October 6, 1900

8. H. W. Sherman to Samuel Gompers, October 10, 1900

9. H. W. Sherman to Samuel Gompers, November 7, 1900

10. Trade Union Attitude Toward Colored Workers

11. The Alabama State Federation of Labor Convention, 1901

12. Status of the Negro in the Trades Union Movement

13. Alabama State Federation of Labor Convention at Selma, Alabama, 1902

14. The Negro Mechanics of Atlanta

15. Attitude of a Negro Bricklayer on Union Policies

NEW ORLEANS GENERAL STRIKE OF 1892

16. V. Schelin to Chris Evans, November 1, 1892

17. Deeds of Violence

18. Still General

19. “Senegambian Schemes”

20. A General Strike

21. John M. Callaghan to Samuel Gompers, November 7, 1892

22. V. Schelin to Chris Evans, November 8, 1892

23. A Plucky Baker

24. The Committee of Five

25. John M. Callaghan to Samuel Gompers, November 13, 1892

26. John M. Callaghan to Samuel Gompers, November 13, 1892

27. R. P. Fleming to Sir [Samuel Gompers], November 16, 1892

28. Samuel Gompers to John M. Callaghan, November 21, 1892

29. Hall of Workingmen’s Amalgamated Council of New Orleans

30. Gompers’ Testimony

SAMUEL GOMPERS, A. F. OF L. ORGANIZERS AND OFFICIALS, AND BLACK WORKERS: CORRESPONDENCE, 1889–1895

31. Samuel Gompers to James H. White, September 14, 1889

32. N. E. St. Cloud to Samuel Gompers, November 1, 1890

33. Josiah B. Dyer to Samuel Gompers, November 17, 1890

34. J. B. Horner to Samuel Gompers, May 30, 1891

35. J. C. Roberts to Samuel Gompers, November 8, 1891

36. J. C. Roberts to Samuel Gompers, November 20, 1891

37. James L. Barrie to Chris Evans, December 10, 1891

38. Western Central Labor Union Seattle, Washington, December 10, 1891

39. Jerome Jones to Samuel Gompers, December 15, 1891

40. Samuel Gompers to R. T. Coles, April 28, 1891

41. Charles P. Overgard to Samuel Gompers, March 23, 1892

42. Charles Overgard to Samuel Gompers, April 7, 1892

43. C. C. Taber to Samuel Gompers, April 24, 1892

44. Charles Overgard to Samuel Gompers, May 4, 1892

45. C. C. Taber to Samuel Gompers, May 31, 1892

46. P. J. McGuire to Samuel Gompers, October 24, 1892

47. Samuel Gompers to J. Geggie, October 27, 1892

48. E. M. McGruder to Samuel Gompers, March 20, 1893

49. Samuel Gompers to E. M. McGruder, April 3, 1893

50. John F. O’Sullivan to Augustine McCraith, June 18, 1895

51. John F. O’Sullivan to Augustine McCraith, July 6, 1895

SAMUEL GOMPERS AND GEORGE L. NORTON, FIRST BLACK ORGANIZER FOR THE A. F. OF L.: CORRESPONDENCE, 1891–1894

52. A. S. Leitch to Samuel Gompers, June 8, 1891

53. A. S. Leitch to Samuel Gompers, June 30, 1891

54. George Norton to Samuel Gompers, July 10, 1891

55. A. S. Leitch to Samuel Gompers, July 15, 1891

56. George L. Norton to Chris Evans, October 23, 1891

57. G. L. Norton to Samuel Gompers, January 28, 1892

58. Living Wages

59. Strike of St. Louis Negro Longshoremen, 1892

60. Samuel Gompers to George L. Norton, April 13, 1892

61. George L. Norton to Samuel Gompers, April 28, 1892

62. George L. Norton to Samuel Gompers, April 28, 1892

63. Samuel Gompers to George L. Norton, May 3, 1892

64. Albert E. King to Samuel Gompers, May 7, 1892

65. John M. Callaghan to Samuel Gompers, May 10, 1892

66. John M. Callaghan to Samuel Gompers, May 15, 1892

67. Samuel Gompers to George L. Norton, May 16, 1892

68. Samuel Gompers to George L. Norton, May 17, 1892

69. Samuel Gompers to John M. Callaghan, May 17, 1892

70. Samuel Gompers to John M. Callaghan, May 24, 1892

71. George L. Norton to Samuel Gompers, May 25, 1892

72. John M. Callaghan to Samuel Gompers, May 29, 1892

73. Samuel Gompers to George L. Norton, June 3, 1892

74. John M. Callaghan to Samuel Gompers, June 5, 1892

75. John M. Callaghan to Samuel Gompers, June 12, 1892

76. George L. Norton to Samuel Gompers, June 19, 1892

77. John M. Callaghan to Samuel Gompers, June 28, 1892

78. John M. Callaghan to Samuel Gompers, August 3, 1892

79. William Brannick to A. F. of L. Executive Committee, August 5, 1892

80. John M. Callaghan to Samuel Gompers, October 26, 1892

81. Samuel Gompers to George L. Norton, February 7, 1893

82. George L. Norton to Samuel Gompers, July 13, 1893

83. George L. Norton to Samuel Gompers, February 7, 1894

THE A. F. OF L., THE MACHINISTS’ UNION, AND THE BLACK WORKER

84. Call For a National Convention of Machinists, Blacksmiths and Helpers

85. Harry E. Aston to Samuel Gompers, April 20, 1891

86. L. C. Fry to Samuel Gompers, April 7, 1892

87. Douglas Wilson to Samuel Gompers, April 14, 1893

88. Nothing But Prejudice

89. James O’Connell to Samuel Gompers, November 1, 1893

90. Daniel J. Sullivan to John McBride, March 26, 1895

91. This Word White

92. James Duncan to W. S. Davis, April 1, 1895

93. Edward O’Donnell to Augustine McCraith, April 15, 1895

94. Thomas J. Morgan to John McBride, May 18, 1895

95. Thomas J. Morgan to John McBride, July 2, 1895

96. Daniel J. Sullivan to John McBride, July 24, 1895

97. Edward O’Donnell to John McBride, July 26, 1895

98. I. A. M. Is Chartered

DISCRIMINATION IN THE BRICKLAYERS’ AND MASONS’ INTERNATIONAL UNION: CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN UNION OFFICIALS AND ROBERT RHODES, A BLACK BRICKLAYER

99. Robert Rhodes to William Dobson, January 14, 1903

100. William Dobson to George Frey, March 17, 1903

101. George Frey to William Dobson, March 22, 1903

102. Robert Rhodes to William Dobson, March 24, 1903

103. William J. Bowen to George Frey, April 6, 1903

104. Robert Rhodes to Mr. Dobson, April 10, 1903

105. William J. Bowen to Robert Rhodes, April 20, 1903

106. William Bowen to George Frey, April 20, 1903

107. George Frey to William Bowen, April 26, 1903

108. Robert Rhodes to William Bowen, April 27, 1903

THE GALVESTON LONGSHOREMEN STRIKE OF 1898

109. The Mallory Troubles

110. A Mass Meeting Held

111. White or Black Labor

112. A Black Point of View

113. Affiliation

114. Political Pulling

PART II: THE PULLMAN PORTERS, THE RAILROAD BROTHERHOODS, AND THE BLACK WORKER, 1886–1902

INTRODUCTION

THE PULLMAN PORTERS, THE RAILROAD UNIONS, AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

1. Spies on Pullman Cars

2. Sleeper Service

3. The Railway Porters

4. Proposed Porters’ Strike

5. A Strike That Should Not Succeed

6. The Reliable Laborer

7. The Strike

8. A Lesson That is Being Learned

9. The Right to Strike and the Right to Work

10. Effects of the Strike

11. The Race Question

12. Could Not Draw the Color Line

13. The Color Line in Texas

14. Appeal to Negro Workers

15. William D. Mahon to Samuel Gompers, November 22, 1900

16. John T. Wilson to Frank Morrison, August 22, 1903

THE BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE FIREMEN AND THE “NEGRO QUESTION”

17. W. S. Carter to Samuel Gompers, October 3, 1896

18. W. S. Carter to Samuel Gompers, October 26, 1896

19. The Negro Question

20. Hostility

21. From Local 289

22. The Race Question

23. Mixed Labor

24. The Southern Negro

25. A Call for the Admission of Blacks Into the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen

26. Firemen Respond to the Call for Admission of Blacks

THE BROTHERHOOD OF RAILROAD TRAINMEN AND THE DEMAND FOR BLACK EXCLUSION

27. Negro Domination

28. The Negro in Train and Yard Service

29. The Negro in Train and Yard Service

30. Herculean Lodge, No. 574

31. The Negro No Good

32. Louisville, Ky.

33. Grand Fork

34. Columbia, S.C.

35. Memphis, Tenn.

36. Memphis, Tenn.

37. Negro Labor: Benefit or Detriment?

38. Chattanooga, Tenn.

39. “Nig”

40. Atlanta, Georgia

PART III: THE UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA AND THE BLACK WORKER

INTRODUCTION

RICHARD L. DAVIS, UNITED MINE WORKERS’ LEADER, 1891–1900

1. A Frank Letter

2. Davis Hot

3. Davis Declines

4. Davis Appreciates

5. Edmonds Himself

6. The Wanderers

7. Encouraging

8. Brazil, Indiana

9. Land of Bondage

10. Still Unsettled

11. Number Three

12. Very Plain Talk

13. A Contract

14. Congo

15. Rendville

16. Wants to Know

17. May Want a Job

18. R. L. Davis

19. Glasgow

20. To Glasgow’s of Last Week—“No Fair Shake”

21. The Colored Race and Labor Organizations

22. Glasgow Again

23. R. L. to Glasgow

24. Another Chapter

25. All Right Now

26. A Mistake

27. Wrong Impression

28. Mineral Point, Ohio

29. From Rendville, Ohio

30. Just a Word

31. No Race Bias

32. The Rendville Man

33. R. L. Davis

34. R. L. Davis

35. R. L. Davis

36. The Right Step

37. Davis

38. Honest and Manly

39. A Strong Protest

40. Wallace’s Reply to Davis

41. Wallace’s Reply to Davis (cont’d.)

42. What Has He Done?

43. Couldn’t Tell

44. Case of R. L. Davis

45. Thanks

46. R. L. Davis, Member of Executive Board

47. Original

48. Betrayed

49. Working Steadily

50. Glad

51. R. L. Davis

52. R. L. Davis

53. R. L. Davis

54. R. L. Davis

55. R. L. Davis

56. R. L. Davis

57. The Sage

58. Old Dog Reports

59. R. L. Davis

60. R. L. Davis

61. R. L. Davis

LETTERS OF WILLIAM R. RILEY

62. Serious Mistake

63. A Few Words From Riley

64. Riley Indignant

65. Negro vs. Nigger

66. Riley’s Report

67. Riley Again

68. Rev. William Riley

OTHER BLACK COAL MINERS

69. Colored Mine

70. Our Colored Sister

71. Color Question

72. Coal Miners’ Band—Excursion

73. Free Debate

74. Pratt City, Alabama

75. A Miner

76. Alabama News

77. Clark of Rendville

78. A Little History

79. Monthly Mass Meeting

80. Colored Odd Fellows

81. A Colored Brother From Grape Creek

82. Chasm of Prejudice

83. F. A. Bannister

84. Two Black Miners Present Contrasting Views at the Illinois State U.M.W. Convention, 1900

85. The Joint Convention in Alabama

PART IV: BLACK COAL MINERS AND THE ISSUE OF STRIKEBREAKING

INTRODUCTION

IMPORTATION AND BLACK STRIKEBREAKING

1. Two Advertisements

2. Colored Men Reflect

3. White and Colored Laborers Detrimental

4. Negro Miners in Demand

5. The Negro and Strikes

6. The Mining Riots

7. Labor Outlook For Colored Men

8. The Spring Valley Riot

9. The Spring Valley Affair

10. Some Day

11. Work For Negro Miners

12. Interview With a White U.M.W. Member

IMPORTED BLACK MINERS AND THE PANA-VIRDEN STRIKE, 1898–1899

13. Wanted

14. Misrepresentation

15. Negroes in Strikers’ Places

16. Affairs at Pana

17. Misunderstood “Dodger”

18. Ex-Convicts Poor Miners

19. Affairs at Pana

20. Carry Their Point

21. Live Wires Placed Around the Stockade Keep Men in Prison

22. Slow to Go Away Again

23. Timely Address

24. Deserted By Their Employers

25. On the Banks of the Railroad

26. Affairs At Virden and Pana

27. The Situation

28. Strikers Shot Down By Guards at Virden, Militia Ordered Out

29. Pana and Virden

30. The Virden Riot

31. Under the Thumb of Unionism

32. Tanner of Illinois

33. The Illinois Strike

34. Governor Tanner Responsible

35. The Illinois Riot

36. Tannerism

37. Gov. Tanner Revolutionary

38. No Difference

39. Fighting For a Job

40. Colored Men

41. Gov. Tanner’s “Niggers”

42. Illinois in Rebellion

43. Women Among the Killed and Wounded

44. Another Stab

45. Pana Strike to End

46. 600 Negro Miners Turned Out

47. Employ Negroes in Time of Peace Too

48. The Negroes Must “Git”

49. The Murder of the Miners

50. Not Settled

51. A Warning Voice

52. Colored Miners in a Frenzy

53. The Mine Riot at Carterville, Ill.

54. Brutal Murder

55. A Colored Mother

PART V: ALONG THE COLOR LINE: TRADE UNIONS AND THE BLACK WORKER AT THE TURN OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

INTRODUCTION

THE COLOR LINE IN THE SOUTH

1. Opposition to Negro Compositors

2. Negro Compositors in the South

3. Skilled Labor

4. The Negro As a Worker

5. Trade Exiles

6. Colored Women Not Wanted

7. Spontaneous Protest

8. The Negro: His Relation to Southern Industry, by Will H. Winn

9. The Laborers’ War

10. How Our Educated Young Men and Women Can Find Employment, by Booker T. Washington

11. Colored Labor in Cotton Mills

12. Strike of Mill Workers at Fulton Cotton Mills

13. Colored People’s Plea

14. To Reduce Negro Labor

15. Labor Unions Assailed

16. The Color Line in Organization

17. Negroes in Atlanta

18. Training Negro Labor

19. Industrial Education is the Solution, by Booker T. Washington

20. Industrial Education Not the Only Solution

21. Trusts Smile

22. Critical Position of the Negro

THE COLOR LINE IN THE NORTH

23. Douglass on Work

24. Encouraging

25. Color Line

26. Color Line in Baseball

27. Black Tradesmen North and South

28. Accepted As Co-Workers

29. What Our Working Men Want, by John Durham

30. John Durham on Unions and Black Workers

31. Illiterate Negro-Haters

32. Color Line in Trades Unions

33. Labor Unions and the Negro

34. Indianapolis Street Railroad vs. Colored Men

35. The Race Needs an Example—Shall Indianapolis Set It?

36. Speaking For Their Race

37. The New Gospel of Organized Labor

38. An Open Letter to John Burns, Esq.

39. Exclusion Is Wicked

40. The Industrial Color Line in the North and the Remedy

41. A New Industrial Apostle

42. Became a White Man in Order to Succeed

43. The Race Problem Again

44. Labor Day

45. Bring Trades Unions to Terms

46. Item

47. Item

48. Item

49. Item

50. The Industrial Situation

51. Unionists Refuse to Parade Because Negroes are Barred

PART VI: CONTEMPORARY ASSESSMENTS

INTRODUCTION

STATUS OF THE BLACK WORKER AT THE TURN OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

1. Letters to Albion W. Tourgee

2. Excerpt from, Doctor Huguet: A Novel, by Ignatius Donnelly

3. Hearings Before the Industrial Commission, 1898–1900

4. Excerpt from The Negro Artisan, W. E. B. DuBois

5. Excerpt from The Philadelphia Negro, W. E. B. DuBois

NOTES

INDEX