The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-06-13
CLIO Head Explains Effects OF Dodge Plant Action
NEGRO GROUP
MOVES OFFICES
TO new YORK

NEW YORK, N. Y,-Removal Of
the National office OF the National
Negro Congress from Washington
TO New York. effective July /. was
announced by the executive board
Of the organization in a statement
released through the office Of the
president. Max Yergan. and made
public here today.
This action was taken BY the
board at a meeting held here a.
the Harlem Y.MCA.. Sunday, May
"a The Washington office OF the
Congress will continue to operate
as a national bureau Of the organi-
cation, under the direct supervision
Of the executive secretary, John P.
Davis, the, announcement said.
George B Murphy Jr., administra-
tive secretary, will operate out of
the national office.
Other changes, announced by the
board, growing out OF a national
program adopted at the meeting in
cluded the election of Ferdinand
Smith, secretary OF the National
Maritime Union, CLIO, as treasurer
Of the Congress; issuance Of a pol
icy statement on the Negro and the
war effort, and the removal OF Hen
ry johnson, as an officer and mem
Der Of the organization.
Smith. nationally known trade
union leader, is chairman Of the
Congress War Production commit
tee. He succeeds U. Simpson Tate,
accountant for the United Federal
Workers. CLIO. Tate has been ma
tional treasurer Of the Congress
since 1886 Lauding his work. the
board expressed the warmest praise
COR the precise and faithful manner
in which he carried out his official
duties.
The policy statement appeared IN
the form Of a paid advertisement
in the Metropolitan Edition OF the
Chicago Defender the week OF May
3d. and in the Washington Post,
leading white daily paper, Tuesday,
June 3 In addition to the Defender,
the statement also appeared in the
following leading Negro weekly
papers during the week Of June 6:
Washington and Baltimore Afro
American, Pittsburgh Courier Ok,
lahoma Black Dispatch, Michigan
Chronicle, Boston Chronicle, New
York Amsterdam Star News. New
York Peoples Voice. Philadelphi;
Tribune and the California Eagle.
The statement characterized the
war as q peoples war, recognized
the struggle Of Negro people FOL
full and equal participation in al
phases of the war as a demand &
win the war;" urged the govern.
ment 70 take further action &c
strengthen the FEPC and to break
down the discriminatory barriers
against Negroes in the war effort;
and called for immediate opening
Of western front in Europe against
Hitler.
The statement exposed John l.
Lewis, Westbrook Pegler. Martin
Dies and Norman Thomas as defeat
lists. enemies Of the Negro people,
who are "disrupting national uni
ty.' It called upon all citizens to:
DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO
WIN THE WAR, URGE THE RE
MOVAL OF ALL DISCRIMINA-
TORY BARS FROM THE WAR Eff
FORT. EXPOSE THE DISRUPT
Frs OF WAR UNITY, AND PRO-
MOTE UNITY AMONG NEGROES
FOR VICTORY AND FULL CITIZ-
ENSHIP.
The board also took action re-
sulting in the removal Of Henry
Johnson as an officer and member
OF the board OF the National Negro
Congress. In addition 10 the con-
sti!utional provision for Johnson's
removal the board voted unani-
mously that his actions as an agent
Of John l.. Lewis, ARE inimical and
dangerous 10 the best interests Of
the National Negro Congress, the
best interests Of the Negro people,
Of labor and OF national unity"