Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-12-05
FEpC Tells Of
Investigations
Being Scheduled
Detroit, Cleveland,
St. Louis Plants
To Answer Charges

WASHINGTON, D. C.-(SNS)--
public hearings and examination OF
EMPLOYMENT practices in war IN
dustries will next be held in the
cities OF Detroit, st. Louis, Cleve-
land, Philadelphia and Baltimore
it was announced Saturdiy by the
Presidents Committee on Fair En-
ployment Practice, the operating
unit in the War Narrower COM
mission concerned with redresslng
grievances growing out OF dlscrln-
nation against war workers De-
cause of their race. creed, color, or
national origin.
Because of insistent and increas>
ed complaints from the Detrois
area. the first of these hearings Is
scheduled for the Motor City In
February or earlier i preparations
can be completed, Lawrence w,
Craner. executive secretary of the
committee, stated The other near
fags will be he'd at intervals Oh
approximately six weeks.
TO CHECK COMPLAINTS
The committee will investigate
and check each OF the complaints
submitted to 1t through it's field
investigators and VIII take up the
specific complaints with the INDUS
tries and labor unions involved
prior to the public hearing, Ora
mer said. 1t is possible that adj
justments may be worked out dur
ing the course of investigations on
these complaints, THIS obviating the
necessity of the public hearing Tor
such concerns as take steps 70
correct discriminatory practices, ha
added.
Detroit, it was explained, repre-
sents both extremes Of pract' e IN
the employment or minority groups,
but at the present time the bulk
of the grievances reported comes
from Negro women who are being
refused employment even by those
firms wich employ Negro men and
have done so for some time. In
certain cases, 1t is alleged that
employers have agreed to employ
the wives of workers indicted into
the armed service, but have taken
only white women and no Negro
women in these circumstances.
Last July the Committee con-
sidered holding a hearing in the
Detroit area, but deferred action to
permit the local representatives OF
the War Manpower Commission to
1 push their efforts TO open employ
ment opportunities to all women,
without discriminatory barriers, .
Cramer explained.
FAILS TO LOWER BARS
"As long ago as last August, one
of the largest employers of women
committed himself to desist from
refusing to receive applications of
Negro women because OF their
race, but up to the present time 1t
is frequently alleged that this
same company continues its dis
criminatory employment practices,
even though it has ired a few
Negro women for token purposes"
VIM. Cramer said.
Three citizens delegations from
the Detroit area, including repre-
sentatives of labcr organizations,
have made recent trips to Washing
ton to submit conpl. ints against
those discriminatory prlcta:es.
1.-THE ST. LouiS-Ecst st. Louis
area is another center of war in
dustry from which large number
of complaints have reached the
committee and where 1t is alleged
that all efforts to date have failed
to bring many OF the largest hold
ers of war contracts into line
with the national policy Of full
utilization of manpo wer and of
fair employment" Cramer pointed
out.
In the cleveland and Dhiladel-
phia area. while there Is & great
deal of token employment Of mi
nority groups, complainants charge
that unfair practices are still being
carried on IN the utilization of
workers according to their skill and
in upgrading them in keeping with
their ability to contribute the most
to the productive effort"
Baltimore is simils to Detroit
| in that, while some employers hire
their help without discrimination.
several major holders of war con-
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