Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1942-08-21

spiritual leadership for which man
kind longs.
The work Of the Fair Employ
ment Practice Committee, if it is
allowed to remain responsible only
to you, will be a driving force in
accelerating the democratic process.
Men everywhere must see that our
country is a democracy in fact for
the eyes of all the world are To-
cused upon the United States. OPP
pressed peoples, not only the Poles
and the Danes but the Indians, the
Chinese, the Africans and the Ne
gro Americans look to you for spir-
itual leadership.
The Man Power Commission, if
it is to be effective in Immediately
mobilizing the productive capacity
of our country, must keep clear Of
controversial issues. Equality of
economic opportunity is not con-
troversial, but because the South is
determined to use its exaggerated
influence to deny the Negro ele-
mentary democratic rights, this
equality of economic opportunity
is thrown into the field of contro-
versy. In these circumstances, the
Commission may not contemplate
moral punitive action against en-
ployers and at the same time ask
them to speed up production. The
Southern mind would resent Mr..
McNutt's Committee to the point
of non-cooperation but will obey
the edicts of the Presidents Com
mittee.
If the Fair Employment Practice
Committee is transferred to the
Man Power Commission, it will I'M
doubtedly be subject to the orders
of the regional directors. AS is
noted above, the chief offenders are
Northerners. There is where much
work needs to be done. Southern
Regional Directors will bend every
effort to sabotage the Committees
work. War Man Power Commits
sion will soon have to ask Congress
for more funds. Congressman and
Senators from the South who en-
Joy their abnormal prestige and
power from the numerical strength
of the Negro while at the same
time Withholding from him the
right of vote, will refuse to ap-
propriate funds for the Commits
sion unless the Fair Employment
Practice Committee is killed or
hamstrung.
Further, the Chairman of the
Man Power Commission is candl-
date for the Democratic Nomina-
ton for the Presidency in 1914, II
you do not choose to run. AS such
a candidate, he must seek votes In
the Democratic Convention from
the solid South. The South is COM
mitted to the proposition that Ne
groes shall never be given equality
of opportunity. It is too much to
ask a human being aspiring to the
greatest office on earth to clash
violently with the small men of the
South. You are the exception. The
people have confidence in you and
no matter what these small men OF
the South may think or feel, they
can never affect your high place in
the history of the world and in the
hearts of your countrymen.
In the years to come let history
recall that you did more for de-
mocracy and for world peace than
perhaps any other man. 1t is upon
this issue, the equality OF all men,
that the peace of the world rests.
The Fair Employment Practice
Committee is the one active Agen-
cy of our Government that is lay
ing the foundation for a lasting
peace; and it must have the au-
thority and sanction and prestige
of you and your Office directly be-
hind it.
Respectfully yours,
Eardie John, Chairman
Fair Employment Practice
Committee.