Page:Chicago Race Riots (Sandburg, 1919).djvu/74

64 weeks many would realize more clearly what is needed in this hour.

"There has never been any organized effort on our part to bring the negro here. The packers' percentage of increase of negro employes is not greater than that of any other industry during the war. The steel plants, the railroads and others increased about the same percentage we did. High wages was the inducement that drew them north. We expect that the negro will continue to be the chief source of surplus labor. In all our experience there have been no race clashes, no strictly racial trouble, inside of the yards while the men are working. Their work requires skill in the handling of axes, cleavers and knives and if there were any real and lasting race hatred, it would show itself in violence inside the yards where they work.

"At the present time 21 per cent of the workers in one large plant are colored. During the war at the time of highest pressure they numbered from 24 to 25 per cent. Before the war they numbered 18 per cent.

"With the negroes away as at present we are able to operate the plants at only 60 per cent capacity. This lowered production and lessened amount of commodities for the market will have a measurable reflection in prices of food. It also affects the producers of our raw material. The farmer who had a bad experience marketing hogs last week when the shutdown was on because of the riots, may say to himself that hogs are not the best things to raise for market.

"Our plant superintendents say that the white men want the colored workers back on some kinds of work. Take the beef luggers. They carry on their shoulders