The Phoenix index., 1942-03-14

Gems itself largely with the governA
mental activities and the generas
practices extant in the service.
Weaver and Alexander have
done an exceedingly effective
and able work." Mr.. Cramer
said. "They are due much credit
for the persistent effort. When
they started, there we're no sam
ctions to hold against the COM
panies, all they had to depend
OH was the 18th amendment, i'm
other words they were making
bricks without straw"
Recommendations have been
made to companies and to the gov
ernment as to what could and
should be done," Mr.. Crauer said.
"and in a number of cases, these
recommendations have been acted
upon. No clean bill of health has
been given the government depart
ments, in spite of the many changes
which have come about. It will
be many years before elimination
of discrimination in the govern
ment itself can be enjoyed, despite
the effective work now going on"
MUCH ACCOMPLISHED
However, through a joint agree
ment with the Committee on Per-
sonnel Directors, much has been
accomplished. By using the same
method the supreme court follows
in the matter of Negroes serving
on jurieS in the south, the FEPC
hopes to prove discrimination in
many old government departments,
which hitherto have had no Negroes,
or only few Negroes and those
in custodial capacities. While there
has been no open discrimination
practiced, the implied diScrimina-
ton through the failure of certain
departments to hire Negroes. over
period Of years, will stand up
under the supreme court method of
determining prejudice against Me-
groeS, Mr.. Cramer believes
Responses to the requests of the
FEPC have been various and in
tereSting, Mr.. Cramer said. Some
agencies have leaned over back
wards in their effort to cooperate
with the committee, while others
have taken different attitudes.
Some conflict of opinion with
the personnel council arose
when suggestions as to promo
tiOns from within were made,
with the council assuming the
attitude the committee was get
ting out Of line and attempting
to dictate administrative policies.
In all the experiences with de-
fense plants, manufacturers and
departments, as we'll as unions, only
two have shown any antagoniStic
attitude, refusing to cooperate. Ons
of these was the International ma
chiniStS-the union which balked
Negroes from being employed In
the aviation industry on the west
coast. This union has been cited to
the President for his action.
Believing that a period of ex-
ploration is necessary to determine
the work of the committee, plus
the temper of the times" Mr.. Cra-
mer Is confident that some good
will be accomplished but it will be
over a long period rather than
through immediate results. 1t has
been brought to the attention Of
the committee that there are manu-
facturers, living in the north, who
feel that Negroes are not intelli-
gent enough to be trained to do
machine work.
In the governmental departments.
the war department, navy depart
ment, Office of Emergency Mana
cement and the new Production
board have taken the lead in the
hiring of Negroes as stenographers
and clerks. At present, the depart
ment of commerce is on the grill"
because Of report emanating from
an employe who feels he has Suf-
fel'ed discrimination,