Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1942-02-20
Was He Helping Disunity?
Harrington Denies He Has
Race Prejudice; Evasive
About Lymanhurst Situation
AFFAIR AT LYMANHURST TO
BE AIRED
FRIDAY MORNING


Considerable excitement reigned
in official Minneapolis circles, fol-
lowing the Minneapolis SpOkes-
man-St. Paul Recorder exposure of
the discharge of three Minneapolis
women, who chose dismissal from
their jobs, rather than segregation.
The matter will be aired at the
Board of Public Welfare meeting
to be held Friday morning, $50
a. m, in the Mayors reception
room.
/. s. Joseph, Board member,
stated that he would ask an ex-
PLANTATION of the incident, because
l do not believe in intolerance of
race, creed, or color"
DR.. F. E. Harrington, city health
commissioner, when questioned re-
garding the incident, stated that in
twenty-five years that he has been
in Minneapolis public service, no
one could justly accuse him of
practicing color prejudice.
He further told a reporter that
he was perfectly willing for the
matter to be taken through the
regular channels of Board of Pub
lie Welfare inquiry for a thorough
threshing out.
He would not say whether he
ordered the Negro women Jim
Crowed or not.
Officials at Lymanhurst Clinic
were apparently much disturbed by
the accusation of discrimination.
Mrs. Hazel Mitchell, manager, said
that she was very much surprised
that there should ever be an accu-
sation of prejudice at the institu-
ton. Mrs. Mitchell would not deny
or confirm DR.. Harrington's part in
the changes which affected the col
ored women alone.
According to Mrs. Mitchell, Ne
groes have been employed there
for the past seven years, two being
employed at the present.
There has never been any trou-
BILE, nor has there ever been any
practice that could be construed as
smacking of prejudice.
1t was stated that Mrs. Sybil
Bell, one of the women affected,
and who has a son in the military
service, came to the clinic as a
maid, but because of her superior
ability, was appointed cook, having
nominal jurisdiction over several
white employees.
She was considered very trust
worthy, and carried keys to the
storeroom.
1t was also said that there al
ways had been complete harmony
among the workers, and that more
colored persons had been hired
there per capita, than in any SINH
lar institution in town.
The room from which the women
were supposed to have been moved
is a small affair containing six
small lockers, which were intended
to house the effects of some sixteen
employees, and the use of the other
room was ordered following the
placement of lockers to relieve the
congestion, according to Mrs.
Mitchell's statement.
1t was also said that on account
of the number of patients attend
ing the clinic, all lavatories were
opened for general use by the pub
lie, and that none were especially
designated for sole use by en-
ployees.
The Urban League, the Henne-
pin County C. 1. o. Council, the
N. A. A. C. P. and the Council of
Negro Organizations are interested
in the case.
1t is expected that representa-
tives from several important Negro
organizations in the community
and liberal white groups, includ-
ing labor unions, will be present
at the hearing.