The Omaha guide., 1941-08-23
Southern Congressman
Cruelty Employment Ser
vice Chief Who Advocates
Plan To Ban Race ana
Discrimination r
(by Alvin E. White)

white supremacy and social equal
ity were being challenged, Martin.
Carpenter, Massachusetts reared
and educated chief, United States
Employment Service division, re-
Gently heard his plan for the eff
ficlent management of the debat
ed District of Columbia Employ
ment center repudiated by his
chief, Arthur j. Altmeyer, and
himself condemned for his liberal
views.
Appearing before the subcom-
mlttee on appropriations for the
house of representatives to discuss
appropriations for the Federal
Security agency of which the social
security employment department
is a branch, Mr. Carpenter sought
to defend the plan which he pro
jected last March to do away with
the segregation and discriminatory
practises rampant in the district
offices.
Members of the committee were
Malcolm S. Tarver, Georgia, chair
man. Butler Hare, South Carolina;
Albert Thomas, Texas; Vincent
Harrington, Iowa, all Democrats;
Albert J. Engel, Michigan; Frank
B Keefe, Wisconsin, Republicans.
Growing out of the celebrated
MacAlpin case which resulted in
the colored chiefs dismissal from
the center, a general investigat-
ion into conditions followed. A
survey was made n which several
liberal and progressive recommen-
dations were made. Mr.. Carpen-
ter as chief assumed the respon-
sibility for the changes and asked
permission to put them into cf-
feet.
About this time, a vicious, an
cnymous circular letter was sent
out, reaching congressman and Of
ficials Of the Social Security
board. Southerners, rampant in
the capital, began to cry about the
sacredness of white women and
the horror Of having Negro SUI
pervisors over white women" be-
gan to have its effect.
In the hearings, which were
conducted shortly afterward, this
again became apparent and was
used as a sword Of Damocles over
the head of the liberal and just
Martin Carpenter, who merely
sought to eliminate the ineffic-
iency which was rampant in the
office.
Taking part in the castigation
Of Carpenter, who has had years
of service as an employment Of
fetal, were Oscar M. Powell, Tex
as born executive Of the Social Sc
curity board and Arthur j. Alt
meyer, a Michigan man, who de-
serted Carpenter before the com
mittee and to all intents and pur-
poses took sides with the Georgia
judge who was chairman.
Bitter, vituperative and vindic-
tive in his line of questioning,
Traver at one point in the hear
ings said:
II regret very much that a man
Of your type is in "a position of
authority in the government, Mr..
Carpenter. There is a very great
distinction between the two races
notwithstanding there are those,
apparently like you, who want to
try to abolish that distinction.
But | might say, as I have said be-
fore, that in my judgement, it i'll
becomes a man to undertake to
abolish something that God Al
mighty in his making Of the diff
ferent types of people has estab-
lished as a difference between
them. The center has been gett-
ing along very nicely and it re-
grets very much, / am sure, at
least | regret it very much as one
member of this committee, to see
you inject a question Of this kind
into its operations, purely, appar-
emily, for the purpose Of trying to
bring about a reduction Of aboli-
ton of racial barriers now exist
ing in the district and, I believe,
with the idea that the nation may
see proper to follow your example
which God forbid"
Much was made of the inter
viewing of white women by Ne
groes and vice versa and the Sc
gregated policy which obtains in
this government maintained in
stitution.
Steering and snide remarks
/
ions not represented at the meet !
ing have also expressed their de-
sire to- cooperate in selling De-
canSo Sari0rc ctoro