The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1941-10-31

and on Wednesday afternoon, a
closed session of the committee
was held at which time represen-
tatives of the Training Program
of the Board of Education, and
other interested agencies in and
around Los Angeles were called
before the Committee for a hear
ing concerning the development of
opportunities for Negroes in train
ing programs Incorporated in the
National Defense Program.
Present at the hearings was Mr..
Laurence A. Oxley, of the Bureau
of Social Security, under whose
supervision the State Employment
Service is conducted, therefore, it
was possible during the closed ses-
sion of the hearing to ascertain
many pertinent facts concerning
training opportunities opened to
Negroes for the development of
skill to be utilized in the defense
program. This phase of the ac-
tivity in Los Angeles, was greatly
enhanced because of or by the
hearing.
While in Los Angeles, Mr..
Squires, spent considerable time
with Mr.. Oxley, Mr.. Johnson, and
Mr.. Guy T. Mum, the latter two
being from the office of Produc-
ton Management in Washington
in the Department of Labor Sup
ply, talking with them about the
problems existing in the City of
Seattle, and invited them to come
and look in on the matter here
which they agreed to do. While in
the city of Seattle, Lieutenant Ok
ley talked to the Managers of all
Employment Service offices
throughout the State of Washing
ton, and assured them that the
Bureau of Social Security would
not countenance on their part,
any act by any member of the
Staff of any State office in the
State of Washington which indi-
Gated discrimination in the slight
est degree.
Also while in the City of Sc
attic, this group met in a Confer
ence with the President of the
Boeing Aircraft Company, Inter-
national Representatives of the
Union holding bargaining con-
tract at the Boeing Plant and var
ious members of the staff of the
local o. P. M. Office. 1t was dur
ing this conference that the true
state of affairs at the Boeing Air
craft Company Plant was estab-
lished, wherein the International
Representative of the Information
al Association of Machinists made
the statement that his Interna-
tional Organization did not admit
Negroes and he could do nothing
about it until referendum by the
general membership of that or
ganization changed its ritual. Mr..
Gary Cotton, Business Agent of
Local $50 also stated that he felt
the Presidents Executive Order
was very undemocratic in that it
attempted to force a minority
group in on a majority group,
and his parting statement from
the Conference was lust try
to get Negroes in the plant at
Boeings and see what will hap
pen."
At the conclusion of the con-
ference, Mr.. Eugene Davidson as
sured Mr.. Squires that this was
one matter which would have to
be turned over to the President
in Washington after the Interna-
tional President of the Interna-
tional Association of Machinists
had been subpoened in Washing
ton, but he felt certain that the
President would take definite
steps to solve the problem as it
is presented here.
This we feel is a very definite
accomplishment concerning the ac-
tivities of Negroes in Seattle in
their efforts to gain their right
of employment at the Boeing Air
craft Corporation, and we feel
that it has been made possible
through the general action on the
part of the general community in
the City of Seattle who made it
possible for Mr.. Squires to attend
the hearing in Los Angeles.
In closing, may we express one
degree of admonition, which is as
follows: I'VE are hopeful of still
being able to place Negroes in
employment in the Boeing Air
craft Corporation. This will be
impossiblue regardless as to the
desires of the Company to employ
Negroes if there are no Negroes
trained.
We bo1a haar oce,,,o1l 41.o+ n.y.