The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-05-15
LAUNCH drive
AGAINST Mines
in The WEST
Coast Writers Take
Up Fight To Crack
Race Barriers
BY J. ROBERT SMITH


LOS ANGELES, Cslif.-Local 887,
United Automobile Workers, CLIO
Union OF North American Aircraft
company, joined in the fight this
week TO force baseball moguls to
let down the racial barriers and &C.
cept Negro players on their teams.
The union, which boasts many
Negro members. including two pro-
fessionsl stars. Chef Brewer and
Olin Disls, has passed resolution
aimed at Coast League and major
league baseball club owners, urging
that in the name OF 'the Four
Freedoms for which American boys
OF all races. colors and creeds are
fighting and dying" they give try
outs and equal opportunities to ball
players OF any race, color or creed.
Have Proven Capable
1T is not too much to ask for an
amusement enterprise, essential to
morale OF war workers and service
men alike. that Negro baseball
stars, who have proven themselves
capable OF competing on an equal
basis with any athlete, regardless
OF color. should be given the right
to enjoy democratic privileges in
this land OF freedom the resolu-
ton stated.
In the meantime, after months OF
fruitless promises. the controversy
over democracy-in baseball, this
week reached the direct action"
stage, with mass demonstration
planned by members OF the COM
munity and CLIO workers outside
Wrigley Field here, Tuesday, May
Is, when the two local teams, Los
Angeles and Hollywood meet in
contest.
A Fascist Practice
Smashing OF the unwritten ban
against Negro ball players. a
Fascist PRACTICE which has been
UNDERSIGNED by Axis propaganda
broadcasts to South America and
the Orient, has won wide support
from public-spirited citizens. many
OF whom are regular patrons OF
Coast League games here.
The board OF supervisors, the
City Council, various locals within
the Clio. many individual leaders
in civic organizations, all have sup
ported the right Of Negro and other
racial minorities to play America
national pastime. on the same basis
as now enjoyed by whites.
Hot Potato
Fearful OF criticism from bigoted
subscribers. or in some cases afraid
TO give democracy a chance on the
diamond, Los Angeles sports editors
and baseball writers, with one ex-
ception, Gordon Macker OF the
Daily News, have handled the Ne
gro issue like steaming potato.
They have taken the same atti-
tude as Johnny Vergez, manager OF
the hspless Oakland Acorns; Char
lie Root, manager OF the Hollywc I'd
Stars. and Bill Sweeney, leader OF
the Los Angeles Angels. Other
Coast Leaguers. likewise, are afraid
to be the first TO break the ice.
Looks Silly
Nate Moreland, a Southern Cali
fornia boy who pitched for Red
lands university before going up 10
the Baltimore Eli es, national Me-
gro champions, could not get job
with a Coast League club, yet dur
ing winter league ball. he pitched
against Coast and Major Leaguers
oftimes making them look silly He
could hold down a job with any
coast club now.
Last year he played in the Next
can National League, after being de-
MED the opportunity to show his
stuff in the United States.
Brewer. former Kansas City
Monarchs pitcher, also showed his
stuff in the Mexican League So
did Dials, an outfelder, and Howard
Essierling. infelder.
Kenny Washington, former UCLA
all-American football star. and a
drawing card anywhere on the Pa.
cific coast during his college foot
ball days. was denied the chance to
even try out with Los Angeles or
!