The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-26
Plan Would Keep R a c e
Workers In Mental
Employment

ny JohN NooD
!-0Ino- ilIIle interest 10 the
Citizens Committee on Jobs in War
Industry, and of equal importance
10 thousands OF Negro workers in
the Detroit area in particular and
throughout the country in general,
is the recently issued order freez-
ing all war workers on their pres
ent jobs. For if this order is car
ried out to the letter, thousands OF
colored workers will remain in the
low income brackets while the
committee will face stiff opposition
to its drive to integrate the Negro
fully in the war program.
Although the freezing order, as
explained by the Detroit chapter
OF the War Manpower Commission.
appears 10 have many loopholes
through which most workers may
escape being tied to present en-
ployment for the duration, there is
every possibility that those who
Will suffer most will be the low.
wage workers, particularly Negroes
and members OF other minority
groups in poorly paid domestic and
unskilled positions This is why
Negroes in general object to the
freezing order.
Background For Freezing
Reason for this freezing" order
which, some experts argue, has be-
come necessity instead OF a mere
theory. can be traced back TO Pearl
Harbor. A year ago. when war was
first declared, President Roosevelt
announced production goals for
planes, ships, ornaments and every
produce essential to the successful
prosecution OF the war. 1t is COM
mon knowledge that these goals
taxed the resources OF Americas
gigantic industrial system and in
many cases the goal was not reach
ed because of. an acute manpower
shortage.
With the beginning of the second
year Of war we are faced with an
-tveH greater shortage of manpoW-
er both in war industry and in the
armed forces. As a result OF this
dual shortage. the government Of
ficials studied plans for drafting
manpower for industry and agri-
culture in much the same way II
is drafted for the Army.
Where 10 get the men is the
problem these officials faced. There
were So millions employed in war
production in December Of 1871;
this figure, according to govern
ment officials, should have grown
to IT'S millions by December of
this year and by the same month
in 1913 the figure must reach a
total of 20 million.
At the same time this huge pro-
duction army is being built we
must also build our armed forces
10 the record size OF 9 million by
December, l943. as compared to the
FL million men under arms in De-
cember, 1913 While we are drain
ing Our manpower reservoir for in.
dustry and the armed forces. es-
sential civilian services must be
maintained such as public utilities
and transportation; we must hold
farm labor TO a round level
that is necessary 10 insure an ade-
quate food supply, which effort will
necessitate the recruiting Of wom-
en-. students and part time workers
10 supplement regular farm work
ers during peak seasons.
The Negroes Objection To
Freezing Labor
From the above background Il
can be seen why Negroes are OPP
posed 10 the order TO freeze man
power II Negroes, many OF whom
are poorly paid domestics and I'M
skilled workers find themselves
compelled to remain on their Jobs
for the duration, the program OF
the Citizens committee will bog
down for employers opposed TO up.
grading skilled Race workers. and
those attempting TO avoid hiring
Negro workers in any capacity will
have loophole through which they
can escape prosecution by the
Presidents Fair Employment Prac-
tees Committee.
- May Handle Situation
In order to cope with the situa-
t.on~os freezing poorly paid work
ers in present employment, and ad-
ministrative organization has been
set up and equipped through the
United States Employment Service.
This organization is designed 10
nave grass roots" contact with the
American people. which naturally
includes Negroes. through the War
Manpower Commission. The coun-
try is divided into IL VINO regions
and these in turn into areas in