The Share Croppers Voice Vol. 1, No. 11

The Sharecroppers* Voice “The Voice of the Disinherited” _ OFFICIAL ORGAN SOUTHERN TENANT FARMER’S UNION _ _ Vol. 1, No. 11 February 1, 1936 PRICE 5c COPY ISSUES CALL TO UNORGANIZED OKLAHOMA PROBLEMS UNDER DISCUSSION Muskogee, Okla.: Preparations are under¬ way here for the holding of the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union 'State Convention. Central Councils have been set up in Musko¬ gee County. Bryan County and others are slcheduled for the coming month. Though at this writing the date for the state con¬ vention has not been set, tentative arrange¬ ments for holding the convention in Mc- Alester have been announced by the com¬ mittee in charge. In spite of discouragements due to job- holding fly-by-night organizers whose only thought is to place in power some grafting politician, the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union in Oklahoma, as elsewhere, holds out the only hope of success to the class of workers it represents. The S. T. F. U. is independant. It owes no allegiance to any political party or group. It is not interested in advancing the inter¬ ests of any one set of men. It will take no action on the political field until such time as the workers and farmers set up a party of their own that they themselves control. The S. T. F. U. is dedicated to securing better conditions for those who toil in the fields. Membership is open to tenants, farm laborers and part time workers. Our pro¬ gram is designed for our people regardless of race, politics or religious beliefs. REBEL RAMBLERS IN MUSKOGEE, OKLA. The Rebel Ramblers . . Labor Entertainers Will Entertain Workers At Odd Fellows Hall February 10th, 8:00 p.m. Public Speaking by Informed Labor Leaders Auspices S. T. F. U. Muskogee Agricultural Workers Union FREE ADMISSION L. L. Gollehan, Rt. 3, Box 78 Post Texas, Member of the Central Defense Committee of the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union is now busy organizing the Union on the West Plains. Mr." Gollehan is a farm worker him¬ self and knows the problems of his people. He is an excellent speaker, one who has the ability to put his message across. Texas farm workers, tenants and sharecroppers who are ready to help organize the union should get in touch with our Texas or¬ ganizers at the above address. MINER’S UNION LEADER ADDRESSES CONVENTION David Fowler, District President of the United Mine Workers of America, brought to the 120 delegates of the S. T. F. U. con¬ vention, a message from the underground workers of the coal fields. Mr. Fowler stat¬ ed in his address that he represented of¬ ficially John L. Lewis, National President of the United Mine Workers of America and the half million coal diggers in his or¬ ganization. Mr. Fowler pledged the support of the U. M. W. A. in the efforts of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union to better conditions for the workers of the cotton fields. CENTRAL DEFENSE COMMITTEE ORGANIZED One of the most constructive pieces of work of the Second Annual Convention of the Southern Farmers’ Union was the set¬ ting up of a Central Defense Committee. Instructions for formation of Local De¬ fense Committees have been mailed each Union local. Howard. Kester is Secretary of the Central organization. - о - CONFERENCE HELD Conferences of organizers, secretaries, women’s department workers, etc. were held while the Convention was in session. Plans for carrying out the work of the Union were made. SEE PAGES 3 AND 4 Arkansas Terror News - о — : - STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT CHIEFS ADDRESS FARM WORKERS The evening session of January 4th was given over to addresses by the Labor Com¬ missioners of the State of Arkansas, H. C. Malcom and E. I. McKinley who spoke on the “Relations of the Department of Labor and the Tenant in Arkansas.” An ' open forum was held with Mr. Malcom generous¬ ly answering all questions and giving ad¬ vice to our people in regard to their rights under the Labor Laws, of Arkansas. Resolution Announces Campaign of S. T. F. U. to Build Mighty Union In Cotton Fields Little Rock, Ark., January 5 — Call¬ ing upon all farm workers of the Southern States to organize under its banners, the Southern Tenant Farm¬ ers’ Union in a resolution adopted at its closing session recited the growth of the Union from its humble beginning back in 1934 with 17 white and Negro workers who formed its first local, to its present membership of 25,000 with over two hund¬ red locals. With a mandate from the labor move¬ ment and the confidence of its own mem¬ bership a ringing call was issued to all non¬ union farm workers to organize under its banners. The resolution further stated that the Southern Tenant Farmers Union again pledged itself to co-operate with all genuine farm workers groups and to build solidar¬ ity with organized labor thru-out America. - о - STATE FEDERATION EXTENDS WELCOME C. L. Herrington of the Arkansas Federa¬ tion of Labor and W. E. Green, former State President of the Federation delivered addresses on behalf of the Arkansas Labor movement welcoming the delegates to the convention. - о - TEACHERS ENDORSE WORK OF S. T. F. U. Claude C. Williams, Vice-President of the American Federation of Teachers and Mr. Van Pelt of the Arkansas Teachers Federa¬ tion brought greetings from their organiza¬ tions. - — о - LABOR LEADERS ON CONVENTION FLOOR Representatives of the Sharecroppers Un¬ ion of Alabama, Workers Alliance of Amer¬ ica, The Workmens Union, Agricultural Workers Union, and numerous other lead¬ ers of the farm and labor movement were present and demonstrated their support of our cause. In the closing session the Secre¬ tary of the State Federation, Mr. H. M. Thackery, pledged support to the S. T. F. U. in all its endeavors to better conditions througout the State of Arkansas.