Evening star., 1943-09-25
Readers Criticize
Kent Column
To the Editor of The Star:

Mr.. Frank B. Kent. in recent article
on the Presidents Committee on Fair
Employment Practice. finds 1t difficult
not to feel that the course tof FEPC)
is in conflict with governmental plead
ings for increased production). This
is undoubtedly because of his ignorance
of the committee and its work. AS he
points out himself, little has been
printed about this committee"
This is an unfortunate circumstance
which the committee has sought to cor
rect through the cooperation of the
press. The committee can attest to the
sincerity and thoroughness of its efforts
in this direction. 1t does not presume to
account for the failure of the press
to do its part.
The FEPC was established by the
Presidents Executive Order 8S02, issued
June Is, 1941. In this order the Presi-
dent reafirmed the policy of the United
States that there shall be no discrimi-
nation in the employment of workers in
defense industries or of Government be-
cause Of race, creed, color or national
origin" and declared that it is the duty
of all employers and of labor organiza-
tions, in furtherance of said policy and
of this order, to provide for the full and
defense industries, without regard to
race, creed, color or national origin
On May 27, 1943, by Executive Order
9346, the President reorganized the
FEPC. In that order it was clearly stated
that "the successful prosecution of the
war demands the maximum employment
of all available workers regardless of
race, creed, color or national origin
These executive orders provide the
basis for the committees program. 1t
would be to the advantage of any one
seeking to learn about the FEPC to read
them fully
Mr.. Kent's knowledge of the commit
tees recent railroad hearings and the
charges involved is obviously very small
His sweeping statement that the COM
mittee has also charged "a number of
companies and firms engaged in highly
important war work " with discrimi-
nation because they segregate the white
workers from the Negro workers" is a
vicious distortion of fact.
One of the chief problems of the rail-
roads-for whom Mr. Kent utters deep
sighs of sympathy mixed with admira-
tion-is shortage of capable labor. The
FEPC's hearings were held only after
thorough investigation had indicated
the existence of an available labor sup
ply and an apparent inability of the
railroads to draw on this labor pool be-
cause of policies and practices which do
not conform to the expressed Govern
ment policy.
Similarly, the committees investiga-
ton Of employment policies in war
plants is aimed, in accordance with the
principles of the executive orders, at
insuring the maximum employment of
all available workers regardless of race,
creed, color or national origin" Mr..
Kents statement that "the charge is
not made that they (the factories) do
not employ Negroes as we'll as whites"
is absolutely false.
In declaring that the committee ''has
an impossible job" Mr.. Kent obviously
issues only half statement The tone
of the entire article indicates clearly
that what Mr.. Kent really means is
the job will be impossible as long as
he and those who believe as he does
can make it so.
1t is ironic that he should start his
article with the statement that "It does
seem that this is a poor time needlessly
to stir up class conflict and race hatred"
The article itself is one which potentially
does more in that direction than any
of the actions of which he falsely &C
cuses the committee.
Under the democratic traditions of the
United States, Mr.. Kent is entitled to
his own opinions and the right to ex-
press them. The deliberate distortion
of facts to justify ones position is not,
however, consonant with such tradition.
Such tactics can and often do provoke
the class conflicts and race hatred which
are the seeds of disunity.
There is never time when class con-
flicts and race hatreds should be stirred
up. But for the preservation of the
free way of life in America there must
always be the time to seek their complete
abolition.
ST. CLAIR BOURNE,
Information Specialist, FEPC.