The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1938-02-26
FIREMEN


Continued from page ~
ing them placed in the fire de-
partmcnt would be telling
them In a silent language that
You we're only interested IN
their welfare long enough 10
get what y,u wnnted.
hoping thai you will see thai
Negroes are appointed 10 the
fire department and II neoes-
sary remove the Fire Commas
sion. who Is the barrier In this
particular case ut present
We do not believe that any
commission In the city OF lie.
troit should hold office that
discrIminates against any OF
III citizens.
Trusting that you will show
the Negroes that you nave
their interest ut heart and give
tangible evidence by having
them placed IN the Fire De-
partment.
Respectfully yours.
DETROIT civic RIGHTS
COMMITTEE
(Slgned) snow +. 6rigsDy'
Chairman
February ~, 1898
Mr.. snow +. Grigsby
Chairman. Detroit Civic Rights
Committee
1892 Scybnrn Avenue
Detroit. Michigan
bear Mr.. Grigsby:
l have your letter regarding
the fire department, and yon
may b. sure that II Il my de-
sire 10 conduct the affairs Of
the city government fairly and
without discrimination as far
a. racial groups are concern
ed.
At my early convenience
shall 20 into all phases OF the
matter about which you wrote.
With kind regards. am
Sincerely yours.
(Signed) Richard W. Heading
Mayor
In an interview with Tribune
reporter this week. Mr.. Grigsby
had the following to say about the
letter from Mayor Reading
"On the surface. one might as
sumo that Mayor Reading was
dealing with this matter in a very
efficient and fair method, such is
not the case as can be brought
out by the following facts:
"A few weeks ago committee
OF Negroes from the West Side
called upon Mayor Reading re-
garding the Fire Department sit
uaiion. II is reported that they
were informed that Negroes would
be given square deal, even II II
were necessary to hold up all flu
ture appointments by the Fire
Commission until July. Now
wasn't that nice OF the Mayor You
don't by any chance imagine that
The Mayor knew that the present
Civil Service Eligible Register for
placement in the Fire Department
which contains the names OF sew
eral Negroes expires In July? Thus
| If all placements are held up until
July, the Negroes whose names
are high on the list will not be
placed and their chances OF place
ment will expire with the list.
I'VE wonder If Mayor Reading
forgot the promise he made In an
open meeting last spring at the
Booker T. Washington MONDAY
Luncheon Club. AT this time he
promised. that II elected Mayor of
Detroit, he would see 10 II that
Negroes were employed in the
Fire Department. He now has an
opportunity to fulfill his promise
legally Why the delay. your Hon
or?
we note in Mayor Reading s
letter, he states that. 1T Is my
desire to conduct the Afafirs OF
he City Government fairly and
without discrimination. We hav,
lpoinied out. aud proven rani
case of discrimination by the Fire
Commission Now If the Mayor
runs our city government "fairl,
and without discrimination h,
will Immediately take steps to cor.
rect the abuses OF the Fire ON
mission In regard 10 Negroes or re
move the Commission from office
IL didn't take the Mayor Ion,
time to remove the Housing Com
mission for their failures. VIII,
must he wait for a convenient tim.
In order TO correct the faults OF tn,
Fire Commission? The convenient
time should be now.
: The Mayors delay Is direc
slap at the Negroes OF Detroit ant
especially the Negro Ministers Il
whom he made certain promises
which have not been kept. He ha.
what he wanted. now we mus
walt Tor what is rightfully ours.
This whole situation must b,
very embarrassing for Messrs
Kermit Meade, Ulysses Boykin an,
Walter Pettiford. Prior to election
they were making all the Negr,
meetings as proxies for Mr.. Read
ing, telling them all the thing,
, Mr. Reading was going TO do fol
Negroes. Nothing has been done
This raises question In tn,
/, minds OF all OF us. Were thes,