The Phoenix index., 1941-09-27
FEP Will Seek
Remedy; Clean
House Urged
Scott at FDR's Y
Executive Order
To Industry e
By ALVIN E. WHITE

WASI1lNG1ON-tANP)--
Negro employment in defense
industies is being blocked and
halted by reactionary unions
affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor, which
control the work vital in many
defense plants, and no amount
of "paper records" will offset
the actual records of these
unions concerning Negro Ia
Dor.
The Fair Employment Practices
committee recognizes this fact, 1t is
believed, and will set about seeking
some remedy if the unions them
selves do not clean house.
The chief offender along this
line is the American Federation
of Labor, which with its numerous
unions national in scope, refusing by
one device or another admission OF
Negroes into the organization,
scott at the Presidents executive
order to industry and literally
thumb their noses at the FEP.
Although the AFL has from time
to time gone on record in open con-
vention as being opposed" to the
discrimination practiced against
Negroes, nothing has been done to
remedy situation which is known
to exist in the national unions.
FOUGHT BLACK MARK
AS far back as 1884, 1t is report
ed A. Philip Randolph fought on
the floor of the convention to have
this black mark eradicated. The
convention as whole voted to
"look into the matter" and autho-
rized the president, William L.
Green, to appoint a committee to
see what could be done.
The chief sought out members of
top-ranking unions, the mine work.
erS, which was his own union, the
BARRIERS, the hodcarriers and two
other groups and asked them to
name a member to the committee
of five to conduct the inveStiga-
ton.
John Brophy, now representing
Phillip Murray of the CIO on the
FEP, was one of those appointed and
also named secretary to the group
Hearings, public, were ordered
held in Washington in the eXecu-
tive chambers of the AFL. These
ran two days with a number of To-
cal persons appearing to testify be-
fore the group. Each told a story
condemning the attitude of the A
F.. L. And as each story was told,
the picture was clearer and clearer
that the AFL was even then on the
spot.
UP TO GREEN
The committee then. at the end
of the two days, sought to continue
its work by having hearings in
other key cities, New York, Chica-
go, st. Louis, and other spots
throughout the country.
Instead of moving ON to do this,
the group decided to put the mat
ter up to Mr.. Green, who was fully
cognizant of what was being shown
in the hearings.
Green vetoed the suggestion de.
claring it would cost too much and
recommended that the committee
make its report to a special exec
utive committee instead of the
convention which had authorized
the group
During the hearings, the COM
mittee asked the witnesses for spe-
cific acts and suggested remedies.
Each person felt that an educa-
tlonal program carried on by the
AF'L would do much to eradicate
the feeling against Negroes.
All national unions in the AFL
have autonomy, which in common
words is the same thing as states
rights so often heard discussed in
connection with legislation concern
ing Negroes.
And on this is based the right of
the unions to bar Negroes. But
when the convention met the year
following the hearings, A. Philip
again insisted that the
of the special
be adopted A bitter bat
lie enSued, but the recommended
lions were Shelved.
Brophy, in discussing the poll
;ieS of the CIO. pointed out the
constitution of his organization
blasts racial discrimination i'll the
second article, first paragraph,
which states:
ITO bring about the effective or
gani2ation of the working men
md women of America, regardless
If race, creed, color, or nationally.
md to unite them for common ac-
ion into labor unions for their mu-
,ual aid and protection" ..-
There are prejudiceS existing
lmong individuals in the CIO but
We do not let them run the organi-
iation nor prohibit the membership
Mnnpnnc