Constructive Measures 175 



farmers have marvelous possibilities as social units — units of 

 rural organization, which, with the aid and interest of the 

 thoughtful local white leaders and landowners could, like the 

 European cooperatives, develop their own credit system and 

 by the exercise of thrift rid themselves of the crop mort- 

 gage and high credit prices in a year or two. They could 

 increase individual efficiency wonderfully by mutual aid in 

 the purchase of the more expensive agricultural implements, 

 and by cooperative culture and marketing. They would 

 form the basis of a more healthy social life and could de- 

 velop the local institutions to such a point that they would 

 be really vital parts of the community life. In research along 

 these lines, observation of the methods of the most success- 

 ful communities and dissemination of knowledge of these 

 methods among all communities, the Department of Agricul- 

 ture has the opportunity to round out its program of farm 

 demonstration, so efficiently begun, and to develop a rural 

 organization which will allay much of the present discontent. 



(4) Industry. — Among the employers there is a need in 

 industry for the same spirit of even-handed justice which 

 is needed in agriculture. In addition, in the North there 

 should be fairness in hiring and firing, especially during 

 a period of unemployment. 



In the interests of industrial, as well as inter-racial peace, 

 Negro leaders should do all in their power to reduce the 

 numbers of the strikebreaker element in their race. 



If the American Federation of Labor is to live up to its 

 claims of non-discrimination and do its part towards the 

 problem of the Negro in industry, the policy of local unions 

 of refusing to admit Negroes or to allow colored locals to 

 be organized must be changed. Until this time it would 

 seem that the best course for the Negro is to develop his 

 own organization so as to approach the unions with a solid 

 front. Some good work along this line has been done by 

 the National Urban League. Movements of this type are 

 to be highly commended. 



