Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1941-09-05

ense Aircraft
gent Tells Man
LOCAL FIRMS PRACTICE
DEFENSE PLANTS
ration Violates Presidential
st Race Ban
paper, Melvin S. Stone, mechanical
.ather of five children, reveals the
cal and national firms holding de-
n of their personnel
ich is reprinted here that the en-
ted Aircraft Corp, of San Diego,
Calf, told him that he had orders
not to employ any Negroes, Ameri-
can Indians or foreign born Ger
mans or Italians.
Stones affidavit was sent to
President Roosevelt, to various o.
P NJ. officials and the new six-man
Committee on Fair Employment
Practice set up by President Roose-
welt to hear and correct complaints
of race discrimination in defense
industry.
The affidavit follows:
STONES STATEMENT
Sept. 8, 1871.
l, Melvin S. Stone, reside at 858
Bryant avenue north, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, am an American citi-
zen, age 35, married and father of
five children; by occupation me-
chanical craftsman, educated in the
high schools and University of
Minnesota, have spent many months
since the beginning of the defense
program attempting to obtain en-
ployment in my occupation.
Despite the shortages of skilled
men, l have consistently been re-
fused employment solely on ac-
count of my Negro ancestry.
Among the firms which l have
applied to, listing my qualifications
and with recommendations from
my various instructors were: Min
neapolis Moline, General Mills, Inc,
Diamond Iron Works, Northern
Pump Il made three attempts and
on the last attempt at Northern
Pump, was practically evicted),
Minneapolis Honeywell, Crown Iron
Works and others.
My latest experience which
wish to relate at this time was
brought about largely by the APP
pearance in the daily classified sec
ton of the Minneapolis Star-Jour-
nal of an ad inserted by the Con-
solidated Aircraft Corporation Of
San Diego, Calf, through the CO.
operation of the Minnesota State
Employment Service. The ad was
as follows and appeared on Aug.
81:
NJ. S. Stone,
Re: Consolidated Air. Corp.
Through the Minnesota State
Employment Service, on whose
rolls am registered as an unem-
ployed worker, l, with Winston
Richardson of 1915 Chicago avenue,
another unemployed American of
Negro ancestry, were examined on
the afternoon of August 81, 1941,
for a position with Consolidated
Aircraft Corporation by Mr.. L. P.
Zimmerman, the firms field repre-
sentative.
After setting forth my qualifca-
tions, experience and educational
background, he said that he had
been given strict orders from the
main office located in San Diego,
Calf, that he was not to consider
any Negroes for technical work
under any circumstances and repre-
sentative also brought forth let
ter showing that he had been given
orders to exclude from skilled posi-
tions all Negroes, American In
dians, Japanese, and foreign born
Italians and Germans. Mr.. Zim-
norman in proof of his statement,
showed me the letter in which were
included such instructions.
l wish to appeal to President
Roosevelt and his defense authori-
ties against this discrimination
practised against me, a taxpayer,
citizen of this country. l also wish
to call to the attention of the
President and constituted authori-
ties that this is in direct violation
of the Presidents Executive Order
No. 1902.
l would like to receive from the
President and his Defense Board
relief from this situation which has
forced me to be turned down by
various defense industries who
hold government contracts and sub
contracts and are expanding public
moneys for defense work.
This statement is offered as evil
dence by me voluntarily in the
hope that it will give me relief
and countless other Americans in
my same position.
MELVIN S. STONE.
Subscribed and sworn to before
me, a Notary Public, this 3rd day
of September, 1941.
Cecil E. Newman,
Notary Public, Hennepin Co., MINI.