The Omaha guide., 1937-03-13

i MI. ~tAbs II bhSiG AA1 al.
Negroes Of so little vision, and 0
SO great personal jealousy, as I
I oppose this nomination, even "un
| der cover we hope they will NEE
the fac deserved by all race trait
! ors.
! Here is an opportunity to maxi
every colored person in the UniteC
States feel proud, yet we find som'
of Us 50 small of soul as to actual.
ly protest such a move. 1t IS not ev'
en- practical, not TO mention posi-
bic, for they should all stick to.
gether, whether they agree or not
Il is a question, often, of how much
you have to lose as well as how
much you may gain. Under Roose-
welt, we stand TO gain a lot if We
will but take advantage of natural
ily favorable circumstance. We don't
know who will be the next Pre-
sident, so let's make hay while the
sun shines. If for no other reason,
let's remember how little we got
under Hoover.
Auto Employment
Roy Wilkins, in his report on
the automobile situation in Michi-
gan, says: "In Flint, center of the
recent strike, the huge Buick plant
employs Negroes only as janitors.
The great Fisher body plant has
only two Negro girls in its cafeter-
ia. The AC spark plug plant en-
ploys mostly women and girls
all white.
"In Lansing, where Oldsmobiles
are manufactured, there are said
To be only one or two in semi
skilled work. Detroit sentiment is
strong for Henry Ford and his open
shop because it is Ford who has
given Negroes most work in his
River Rouge plant. Ford has OPEN
ed up opportunities for Negroes
in skilled as we'll as unskilled jobs
and they will be found sprinkled
throughout the plant"
This report from the automobile
area does no look Sc good for Ne
gro employment except in the Ford
factory. Mr.. Wilkins says frankly
that Negroes are skeptical of John
L. Lewis C. l. o., but it would ap-
pear that they have not much to
lose by favoring the Lewis union,
according to what they have now
as non-union workers.
We believe that the trend is
not only toward unionization, but
the inclusion of colored workers,
and we would suggest that colored
workers ponder long before they
take a stand against any union.
They may have to accept the union
and then fight out their battles
within the organization. You can't
expect a perfect set-up at the start.
On the whole, the unionization .prin-
ciple is correct.
Help u. G. +.
We are glad to lend our sup
port to the United Government
Employees, Inc, of Washington,
who are fighting for the passage
of a bill sponsored by Senator Pat
McCsrran of Nevada and Congress-
man William p. Connery, jr., of
Massachusetts,, which calls for a
$1,000 minimum annual wage and
a general pay increase for all en-
ployees, both federal and district,
below $500 a year. The inter-
denominational Ministers Alliance
of Washington has endorsed the
measure.
1t is believed that the enactment
into law of the McCarron- Connery
measure will mean a very substan-
tial pay increase for most Negro
employees in the low bracket
groups, who average approximate
ly $1,000 per year.
The Government employees ar
que Tint with private industry
granting pay increases, it is only
fair that underpaid government
workers be given similar consider
alton.
The u. G. E. is also seeking t
get similar House action for Gus.
todial workers of the Department
of the Interior as was taken fol
Post Office and Treasury custod
ial appropriations. This specia
fund of 1915, 900 was set aside owe
and above the regular %appropria
lions. This special fund, it is point
ed out, would permit a substan
tial increase TO eharwomen, la
borers, elevators and similar work
ers in National Park Service. Mos
Of these workers have not had