The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-05-22

THE INSIDE STORY: II should
be clear by now even TO the most
optimistic leaders tina. the NAACP
has been deserted by its so-called
allies WHO pledged all out support
in the current fight for the Negroes
righ, 70 1--we IN war housing prof.
ects along with workers Of other
nationalities Apparently the 60
.ng has become 100 rough and the
stakes 100 high for a number Of
organizations which heretofore took
firm stand for justice and dem
ocracy. A. any rate, the NAACP
IS nov in the battle alone. and here
IS the inside story which proves
tha. the organizations which start
ed out TO fight this thing through"
have perhaps advisedly. withdrawn.
First, and most important, Is the
UAW-CIO from the international
down 70 Local 900 and other locals
Housing director-secretary. Charles
Edgecombe publicly revealed the
hypocrisy Of Local 6O0s housing
committee last week when he told
how william G. Nicholas, chairman
Of the Local 600 committee APP
pealed to him (Edgecombe) for ad'
vice on how to 60 about getting
rid Of Negroes living In the same
apartment building with Nicholas
Why this should come rs q surprise
10 those interested In the housing
issue Is more than this reporter car
figure out, for Il was more than
wear ago that this column reported
the Local GOO housing committed
was not the least Bit interested r
housing war workers on . basis o.
first come first served. But there
Is one element of surprise In th'
Edxecombe report which csuses n
to ask the question. why shouls
Nicholas appeal 70 Edgecomb'
when Il Il common knowledge tia
Edgecombe and Nicholas have beef
lighting over the housing issue eve
since EdEecombe was made HOUSING
director-secretary? All through
personal dispute. Nicholas appeared
70 be on the side Of the Go con
stitution; on the side Of right an
Justice. Now that Edgecombe Ia
openly substantiated this column
reports, the public II ready 70 81
up and take notice.
TIE reader probably expects tn
CIO 20 publicly denounee Nichola
but il is our guess that II won
and here is the reason why. II
CIO, as mentioned above, Is pullin
out Of the fight, and thereby hans
a tale. II will be remembered ths
last December, the Information;
and Local 600 took positive stan
in favor OF mixed occupancy as
means OF speeding up production
r. J. Thomas was for II Locs
600 was for II. The Communis
and Socialist factions in Local 60
were for Il. But that was las
December before UAW-CIO elec
tons Since then. with election
coming up and every candidate AM
faction afraid 70 take stan'
against segregation. TIE picture ha
changed. although both the SP
and The CPS are not al:ogethe
truthful about their reasons 10
giving up the ghost. The CP
pulled out Of the fight Gt say
here) because the mixed housini
issue Is dynamite ard may dis
rup: the war effort" Tie SP'
pulled out Gt says here again) be
cause the issue is so dangerous
may "break up the union" Boil
factions are saying. In effect, 81
he'll with the UAw-CIO constitu
/ ton which says We are against a.
forms OF discrimination etc"
However. events have proved tina
the CIO Was never sincere. As
matter OF fact when the fight 60
hot last December. Walter Hardin
chairman Of the Go Interracia
committee was supposed 70 hav
made . study Of mixed project