Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1941-10-24

able interference In the pursuit OF
that job. If the employer when
distributing jobs says to the Negro
cannot hire you because of color,
he violates a right of the Negro.
He treats the Negro unjustly,
wrongfully. The employer has a
moral obligation to try to give the
Negro q fair opportunity to work.
He is obliged to make an effort.
His only excuse is that such a prac-
tice would destroy the efficiency
of his plant and that should be
proved.
In some cases the employer is
willing to open the gate to the Ne
gro, but the white workers object
so bitterly that the profitable oper-
alton of the business is leopard
lied. In that instance the white
workers act mjustly, wrongfully.
They violate the Negroes right to
be free from unreasonable inter
ference in the pursuit of employ
ment. In these days when work.
ers are organized and more easily
controlled the union officials have
a grave obligation to open the
ranks of the union to Negroes and
then through negotiation and con-
ference to open the gate to actual
employment.
The governmental agencies must
be classed amongst the great en-
ployers these days. They carry
many names on their employment
lists. Some of the federal and
state agencies have acted very fair
ly in this regard, such as for ex-
ample the postal department. I'm
fortunately many governmental Of
ficials have practiced as much dis
elimination as any private en-
ployer. And their sin is greater,
since by position and office they
assume special obligation to pro-
tect the interest of each citizen.
Too many of us today speak of
these economic determinations
against the Negro as merely con-
shutting a problem, as being a
matter for social study and re-
search. We talk merely about alb
stract tendencies. Yet that is not
the way we speak of other matters.
We do not just talk of the regret
table dishonesty in government.
Rather we say that officeholder is
honest and this one dishonest. We
do not just talk about the injus-
tice of commerce. We say that
merchant charges fair prices and
this one unjust prices. In the field
of economic determinations we
should follow the same practices,
use words which touch the con-
sciences of men and apply them to
ourselves and other persons.
When sober days descend upon
a man he thinks more honestly. In
hours of serious sickness a sick
man resolves to correct his way of
life. In times of bereavement in a
family the surviving members are
chastened and grievances are for
gotten. These are sober days for
the United States. Probably some
young Americans who now have
put on the uniform of sailors or
the helmet of an army aviator will
never return. We are girding for
defense and we are speaking high
language that this is not struggle
for economic position but a crusade
for the preservatin of spiritual
values. We invoke the blessing of
the Infinite Spirit. Yet we shall
not merit that blessing unless we
keep his moral law, unless we cast
out the mote which is in our own
eye, unless as individual employers,
employees and governmental Of
ficers, we bear some of the respon-
sibility for economic discrimina-
tons. Hypocrisy is hateful to the
God of hosts.