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
negroes in the various trades, to include: (1) skilled as
well as unskilled workmen, (2) northern as well as southern
workmen, (3) government as well as civilian employes, (4)
women as well as men workers.

We would have negro labor handled by the American Federation
of Labor in the same manner as white labor; (1) when workmen
are returning to work after a successful strike; (2) when
shops are declared "open" or "closed"; (3) when union workers
apply for jobs.

We would have these assurances pledged not with word only,
but by deeds--pledged by an increasing number of examples of
groups of negro workmen given a "square deal."

With these accomplished, we pledge ourselves to urge negro
working men to seek the advantages of sympathetic cooperation
and understanding between men who work.

II. We would also address ourselves to the Labor Bureau of the
United States Government.

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