Evening star., 1941-06-16
Roosevelt Directs
Defense Plants 10 End
Negro Discrimination
U. 5. Must Make Full
Use of Man Power,
He Tells O. P. M.
b. the Associated Press.

President Roosevelt has ordered
the Office of Production Manage
ment to see to it that defense in
dustries fully utilize the Nations
productive man power without re-
gard to race, religion or national
origin.
In a memorandum addressed to
William S. Knudsen and Sidney
Hillman, o. P. M. directors, the
Chief Executive last night said many
complaints had reached him that
fully qualified" Negroes and others
were being turned away from the
gates of industry on grounds "en-
tirely unrelated to efficiency and
productivity.
This situation" he declared, sis
matter of grave national Importance
and immediate steps must be taken
to deal with it effectively"
The President said he had been
told that the discrimination"
against colored workers has been
Nationwide and other minority
racial, national and religious groups
have felt its effect in many locali-
ties.
Labor Stringencies" Cited.
! With labor stringencies" appear
ing in many areas, he asserted that
In the present emergency it was
/ imperative that we deal effectively
and speedily with this program" and
that he expected the o. P. M. to
take immediate steps to facilitate
the full utilization of our productive
man power"
The text of the Presidents state
ment follows:
Complaints have repeatedly been
brought to my attention that avail
able and much-needed workers are
being barred from defense produc-
| ton solely because of race, religion,
or national origin. 1t is said that at
time when labor stringencles are
appearing in many areas, fully
qualified workers are being turned
from the gates of industry on specl-
fications entirely unrelated to ef-
ficiency and productivity. Also that
discrimination against Negro work.
ers has been Nation wide, and other
minority racial, national and rellg-
ious groups have felt its effects in
many localities. This situation is
matter of grave national Importance,
and immediate steps must be taken
to deal with it effectively.
Il note with satisfaction that the
Office of Production Management
has recognized the seriousness OF
this situation, and that on April IL,
1941, it addressed a letter on the
subject to all holders of defense con-
tracts. AS Chief Executive Of the
Nation I place the full support OF
my Office behind your statement to
the effect that, all holders of de-
fense contracts are urged to exam
inc their employment and training
policies at once to determine wheth-
er or not these policies make ample
provision for the full utilization OF
available and competent Negro
workers. Every available source OF
labor capable of producing defense
materials must be tapped in the
present emergency"
Must Strengthen Unity.
mo nation combating the, in
creasing threat of totalitarianism
can afford arbitrarily to exclude
large segments of its population
from it's defense industries. Even
more important is it for us to
strengthen our unity and morale
by refuting at home the very the
ories which We are fighting abroad.
Our Government cannot coun-
tenance continued discrimination
against American citizens in defense
production. Industry must take the
initiative in opening the doors Of
employment to all loyal and quail
fled workers regardless of race, ma
tional origin, religion or color.
American workers, both organized
and unorganized, must be prepared
to welcome the general and much
needed employment of fellow work.
ers of all racial and nationality
origins in defense industries.
I'm the present emergency, it Is
imperative that we deal effectively
and speedily with this problem. I
shall expect the Office of Produc-
ton Management to take immedi-
ate steps to facilitate the full utili-
zation of our productive man
power"