Detroit tribune. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1933, 1933-12-02
Editorial
GUSHING NEGRO EMPLOYEES

The growing disposition the part of many local
business to exclude our people from the dement's
of the New Deal is making the NRA mean for the Ne
gro mo Recognition Available 1t is daily becoming
more in evidence.
Immediate steps must be taken to curb this undemo
cratic and discriminatory practice before it is too late
Negroes are not only failing to receive fair percen
tage Jobs the various public works projects financed
by the government increasingly large numbers of
employers discriminating against Negro workers and
hiring white help their places, rather than to
Negroes the increased demanded by the industrial
codes
The most discrimination of this kind occurred
here in Detroit few days ago when seventeen loyal and
efficient colored employees at Webster Hall Ho-
tel who had been in the firms service for time,
summary dismissed and their positions filled by white
workers.
For the past ten years, or ever since it first
tabshed in Detroit, Webster Hall has d
colored help, including walters beboys, m a s,
elevator operators, and similar workers. They kept
in the hotels service, because their work satisfactory
and the wages paid hem smaller than white
helpers would have demanded and received but now that
the NRN codes require that living wage be paid hotel
employees, well all other classes of industrial
wolA,Is, new manager Of Webster Hall iee eieeted
to pay those increased wages to white rather than to
coored workers.
This is a form of injustice and discrimination that
should 90 unchalenged and unprotected; otherwise,
the same vicious practice will be generally adopted by
hotels and restaurants in which coored men and women
employed in Detroit The practice may
spread to other major branches of industry where Ne
groes are largely employed
mas meeting IN protest of the dismissal Of the col
lar dsmissal will be held Sunday afternoon Dec at
o'clock in the auditorium of the Michigan Democratic
League 632 Livingstone St Addresses will be delivered
by j. a. Cragen and officials of the local NRA and an
organized effort will be launched for colored
workers the consideration and benefits to which
entitled under the NRA.
The Tribune urges all representative leaders of the
group in Detroit to attend this meeting especially
the ministers and leaders Of various clubs and organza
tons. 1t is also to the vital interest of all no.
tel and restaurant workers to be present.
The coored and women who are employed in
hotels and city should organize without
delay, to present solid front and have hand in
forming the code which will govern the great branch of
industry which they employed If action Of this kind
is not taken and taken wholesale dismissal
of colorcd employees such that which place at
Webster Hall last week may at other hoster
les restaurants, and club houses here
As self-respecting American citizens desire and
entitled to the chance to work and livelihood
Why should we be thrown out of Jobs because we are
Negroes and forced to go the welfare rolls for tax
payers to support? The white public may be willing to do
all the work and compel to G m n idle.
while they furnish the necessities of life but we perfer
to share in the work and support.