The Omaha guide., 1943-06-12

Itime OF man power shortage are de-
MED the right to employ their skiIIs
| because Of the Nazi theories Of rae
ialism in America.
Thomas Speaking of the discri-n-
Ifnation in war industry, Mr.. Rand
olph, you were, 1 know, a leader in
the March on Washington move
ment which played so large a part
in winning the Presidential order
against discrimination against Ne
groes in defense industries. j un
derstand that that movement com
tinues. Would you say . word a.
bout its plans?
Randolph: I am glad to say a
word about the March on Washing
ton Movement which can't into ex-
istence in protest against the run
around Negroes were gattirs when
they appned for jobs in defe Use in
dustries and various government
departments. AS the result OF its
mobilizati e Of Negro masses and
threatened march in Washington,
July 1st, 1871 Executive Order No.
$500 was granted und = which the
Presidents Committee On Fair En-
ployment Practice was established.
This Committee has done splendid
work in breaking down barriers a
gainst Negro workers in war plants
and government departments. In
fortunately, the Committee was al
most destroyed when FEPC was
put in the War Manpower Commits
sion and the railroad hearings were
postponed by Mr.. Paul v. McNutt.
Only recently a new chairman.
Father Haas. was appointed by the
President. Negroes are now de-
handing that the railroad hearings
be re-scheduled Immediately and
that FEPC be independent, respon-
sible only to the President with an
adequate budget and personnel. and
that it adhere to the principle IF
public hearings. and also that shs
present members If the committee
be retained.
The March on Washington Move
ment plans to hold a national con !
ference in Chicago June 80 to July !
4 TO map a program of attack upon
jim crow. !
Thomas: Of course, Mr.. Rand :
olph, 1 am interested in this move
ment as l have long been interested /,
in the NAACP and other move
ments Of colored Americans. But
I am even more interested in your
iwn great role in labor. You are
the president Of a strong union. /
What is your advice TO the Labor
about the Negro and to
the Negro about the labor move
ment?
Randolph: My advice to the A.
merican labor movement, Mr.. Thorn
as. Is that it wipe out racial dis
elimination and segregation, for q
labor movement divided upon a
basis of race, religion or national
origin win become easy prey to the
forces Of Fascism and reac-
ton in America. I also urge the
Negro workers TO join trade unions
both AT. of L. and Go. accord
ing to the one which controls the
industries in which Negro are en-
ployed.
Thomas: That seems to me
sound advice. ! don't want to see
Negroes made the tool Of reaction
airy forces in America and you have
done more than almost any other
man to prevent that. But at the
same time, 1 understand from what
you are saying that there are still
some unions, and we know that's a
fact, which discriminate in consti-,
in customs, in action, a.
Negroes, and on no other
grounds than that they are Negro
IS; and that you as a labor leader,
l understand, and for the sake Of
labor all well as for the sake
of colored labor-that's the kind OF
thing that you're fighting. Am /
Randolph. You are quite right. |
Mr.. Thomas.
Thomas: And that leads me to
ask you for a last sort Of summary
remark. I'd like to know what you
think about the present situation
here in America, in its bearing I'D
the war and on the peace. What
does it near to peoples in Africa
and Asia to learn some Of the facts
about our treatment Of colored A
mericans?
Randolph: The question of color
and ace, Mr.. Thomas, in my Opin-
ion has become the central histor-
icaI iSSI4a of +haSa iran,S tho roa=- /