The Baltimore Daily Herald

Baltimore, M.D. July 12, 1919.

Governor Thomas W. Bickett,
Raleigh, N.C.

Dear Sir;-

I am taking the liberty, which you will kindly pardon, of writing to personally thank you for the just, humane, and courageous stand you took in denouncing the activities of the Ku Klux Klan and the harmful propaganda which they sought to spread in North Carolina to the injury of the peaceful and friendly relations which should be cultivated between the races. I have caused mailed to you a copy of the The Daily Herald published in this city in the interest of the Negro race in which there is an editorial commenting upon your utterances, and your record, as well, in endeavoring to uphold the supremacy of the law, and dispense equal justice to all regardless of race.

Before ending this letter of thanks I feel it my duty to refer to the recent action of the American Federation of Labor in opening its doors to Negroes and its program of unionizing him throughout the country. It is needless for me to say that this is not done for the benefit of the workers of my race, but solely for the purpose of controlling Negro labor, now that it is independent of white organized labor, in order to enable white organized labor to achieve its designs, when it wills, to tie up the industries of the country and bring the employers of labor to their feet. I am thoroughly of the opinion that the Negro cannot afford to enter upon a course that will lead to strikes and disorder whether in conjunction with white organizations or not. The unionization of Negro labor with the strike bludgeon which is held over the employer by white organized labor will widen the breach between the white man of the South and the Negro instead of closing it in and will be productive of friction and bad feeling and bitterness.

I earnestly hope that the white leaders of the South will forestall the Federation and help to organize the Negro independently for his own protection and benefit and in a way that he will feel that he has the friendship and support of those who are interested in his labor. There should be established between the white employer and his Negro labor relations of mutual friendship and sympathetic co-operation and through such independent organizations it can be realized.

If the states would take hold of the organizations created by the Labor Department, extend them widely, and give them adequate support I believe it would be a happy solution of the difficulty which has arisen because of a failure of the appropriation to continue the splendid work begun, and would bring about organization of Negro labor under influences that would in no way menace the peace and order of the state and would be most helpful to the laborer and the employer.

Very truly, yours,

W. T. Andrews
Editor The Daily Herald.