.

To the question, "What are the principal merits of your negro
workmen?" these answers were given:

They are superior to foreign labor because they readily
understand what you try to tell them.

Loyalty, willingness, cheerfulness.

The skilled men stick and are good workmen.

Generally speaking they are agreeable workmen.

Quicker, huskier, and can stand more heat than other workmen.

The attitude of white and black workmen toward one another in none of
the plants visited presented anything like a serious situation. The
following are answers to questions relating to this sentiment as
returned by the important industries:[124]

No feeling--no complaints--no comments.

White and black get along well. There was a little trouble
some time ago between a Jewish foreman and his negro workmen.
All the negroes quit. The matter was investigated and the
foreman discharged.

Good.

The relations are favorable, although negroes appear a bit
clannish.

Good fellowship prevails.

Negroes do not stay long enough to get acquainted.

Good in most cases. Very little opposition. They are working
as helpers with whites. Few objections.

As a final effort to get the opinion of employers themselves
concerning the best means of improving their labor, a suggestion from
them on this matter was solicited. Their views are subjoined:[125]

A rather broad question and one that could only be answered
after considerable study. Believe the great trouble with negro
labor has been the fact that a poor class of negroes has been
employed by many. We have a good lot of workers now.

Some means should be devised to get them away from their
general shiftless ways.

Education.

As a negro can be very contented and happy on very little, if
their living conditions were improved and the desire created
in them to improve their condition, this would be a help
towards encouragement in bettering their social condition.
In fact, we feel that anything that would help to better the
social attention of the negro would make him a better workman.

Better housing and supervision through some responsible
organization. Some way to keep sympathetic watch over them.

Without doubt there is an element of truth in each of these comments.
It is unquestionably true that a large number of these men register
by their acti