The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-03
BIDDLE URGED
TO GIVE ORDER
Immediately
Recent Strike Wave Cited
A q m nous

Seeking 10 stem the toe Of strikes
ap6 walkouts by white war workers
Who are being Influenced 10 pro-
t@t the hiring and upgrading Of
Negro war workers. the Mich gan
Chronicle urged U. S Attorney
General Francis Biddle TO conduct
s,Justice Department probe Of this
area IN a letter written this week
by Louis Emanuel Martin. editor OF
the Michigan Chronicle. The letter
is.reproduced as follows:
March -. 1913
Attorney General Francis Biddle
Washington, D. c.
Dear Sir:
We wish 10 call 10 your attention
aseries Of incidents involving race
relations among war workers in the
Detroit area which. we believe may
be traced 70 the activity OF subver-
sire elements.
During the last eight weeks a
number OF work stoppsges, walk
outs, and strikes have taken place
ID various war plants where Negro
workers have been up-graded and
given new job opportunities Doubt
less your office is familiar with some
Of these cases.
White workers in several divisions
OF the Packard Motor Car company.
an the Duplex Printing company. the
Ex-Cell-O Corporation. United
Shtes Rubber and Detroit Alumni
nsm and Brass company. 10 men,
ti6n . few, have demonstrated
against the indignation OF Negro
war workers in the last few weeks
which resulted in significant loss
Of production.
The leaders OF the unions TO which
most Of these workers belong have
worked to avert these stoppages and
TO obviate conflicts which menace
war production and damage the
nprale Of oil workers in he plants.
In most instances he various man
stements have cooperated with the
unions in this effort. Neither union
leadership nor the company repre-
sentatives have been Ible 10 do q
thoroughly effective job, and we
believe that they will be the first
ID admit this fact
IN each Of the cases. II has been
reported, that the demonstrations
OF the white workers are well or
gsnized. cslculatsd. and deliberate.
Ia othee wuBA4 ~ ShitAs are being,
Given lsaderGAip . kese allairS and
ths istent snrtai rfsjudices q NJ
workers are being effectively ex.
plnited. II Il our considered judge
n1ent that pro-Axis agents and SUBJ
versive forces are At work among
tlfe rank and file OF workers in
many Of these war plants.
You will recall that in the So
Journer Truth controversy federal
grand jury indicted three persons
for subversive activity. Racial con-
fifcts In this area would. because
Of its overwhelming importance to
Our war effort. play directly into the
hands Of the Axis powers. We be-
lieve that q deliberate effort to de-
stroy the peace Of this community
is being diligently pressed and that
unless some remedial measures are
taken shortly a crisis may be ex-
pected.
Certainly II Is unnecessary TO tell
you Of the damaging effect these
arti-Negro demonstrations are hsv-
ing on the morale of our Negro
workers who are producing for VIC
tory. The fact that they have in
creased in the last few weeks is an
ominous portent. Many articles and
great many conferences in the
last few months have dealt with the
attitude OF the Negro toward the
wxr effort. Even the federal gov
evan snt has recognized the need
ftr attacking the vicious anti-Negro
employment practices OF employers
and combating the propaganda Of
Rsn-minded elements in our So
cicfy. The Nszi government has
boosted that our country is divided
and that we can be conquered from
within. Indeed without unity. our
victory will be delayed and we will
pay for our prejudices in an I'M
necessary loss OF human lie.
The serious implications Of this
new wave Of demonstrations against
Negro war workers and the direct
eject II has upon war production
irhpel Us TO appeal TO your office for
Immediate sction. Pro-Axis elements
sfe At work and we cannot permit
dem 10 thwsrt the war effort with
opt serious injury to ourselves and
g the cause OF the United Nations.
II Is our hope that you will order
IN immediate investigation Of these
snti-democratic developments in
tbs arsenal OF democracy.
Sincerely yours.
- Louis Emanuel Martin,