St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1942-04-10

Q4OJSN Wy NIL uy4OA NAOCAAOCAS1 -
formed her that there were no re-
strictions on hiring Negro workers
and was glad to employ them.
When Miss Brown began work as
a sorter, the head sorter, who has
a son in the Army, refused to work
with her. When Mr.. Greenberg
talked with the head sorter, she
could give no reason for refusing to
work with Negro. The operator
explained that the country was
fighting for democracy, and that
her attitude was completely out of
line. She persisted in refusing to
work if Miss Brown was employed
and Influenced the other employees
to walk off their jobs.
Mr.. Greenberg was dumbfounded
at the action of his employees and
apologized to Miss Brown saying
that he had never been so humili-
ated in his life. He asked her to re-
turn home until an adjustment
could be made.
Miss Brown, who was discour-
aged and disillusioned, told he1
mother, Mrs. Young, who imme-
diately reported the situation to the
st. Paul Urban League.
S. Vincent Owens, executive Sec
rotary of the Urban League, talked
with Mr.. Greenberg, who was up
set over the action Of his employees
and wanted to do something about
it. A meeting was arranged with
the employees on Wednesday, April
8, and committee headed by Rev,
Wallace W. Robbins, president OF
the Urban League Board; C. W,
Wigington, Chief Designer, City
Architects Office; Fred Moore,
Business Agent, A. F. Of l., Laun-
dry Workers Union and S. Vincent
Owens.
Mr.. Moore told employees of the
laundry that the union disapproved
of the action taken by them and
that their attitude was wrong and
that they were acting contrary to
the policies of their International
Union, and asked that they recon
slider. He pointed out that Negro
and white workers were employed
in laundries North and South
without any conflict. The Star
Laundry is an open shop, and over
half of the employees are union
members. Mr.. Moore stated that
the Union would not tolerate the
position taken by their members.
All Employees Church Members
Rev. Robbins, who is well known
for his interest in labor and inter
racial affairs, asked the group how
many were members of churches,
and practically all indicated such
membership. He then asked how
many were American citizens, and
they all spoke loudly, saying that
they were American citizens. When
he asked if they would reconsider
their stand to give a fellow-Amer-
lean a chance to work, they refused
to change their stand.
Says Negroes Have Offensive
OdOr
Rev. Robbins then asked what
was their objection to working with
Negroes. One woman employee said
that it was a well known fact that
Negroes had an offensive odor,
because of the color of their skin, I"
and she felt that working in a laun-
dry would make it difficult for
other workers. Rev. Robbins point
ed out how ridiculous this state
ment happened to be, as well as
their attitude.
Owens Scouts Odor Bunk
s. Vincent Owens talked to the
group and pointed out that white
workers had offensive odors if they
did not wash themselves or follow
the rules Of personal hygiene. He
further said that they were OBJ
jecting to work with a Negro when
they were handling the soiled
clothing of Negroes as the laundry
has very heavy Negro patronage.
He cited the duties of all Amer
lean citizens at this particular time,
and pointed out that President
Roosevelt had set forth Executive
Order No. 1902, which definitely
was against the discrimination of
any American citizen in defense in
dustries on the basis of race or
color. Mr.. Owens said that the at
titude that they were assuming