The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-12-25
Gloster Current Gives Answer
To Raymond Clapper's FEPC Attack

Raymond Clapper's attack on
FEPC in the Dec. IS. edition Of the
Detroit Free Press. was answered
by Gloster B. Current. executive
secretary NAACP, in a letter to
Clapper this week. Current criti-
cized Clapper's article as upholding
the railroads for practicing 'discrim-
ination and stated that the attack
on FEPC is "unwarranted and does
great dis-service TO the cause OF
unity"
Clapper was accused Of creating
the impression that FEPC was ask
ing overnight transformation OF en-
ployment policies, when actually
the Committee wanted compliance
through indication that some plans
would be effected 10 place Negroes
in cstegories from which they are
now being excluded by the Commit
tee. Malcolm Ross answer 10 the
sixteen railroads who stated they
could not comply was cited 10 Clap
per. and the question raised that
Ross and the Committee had not
been given fair treatment in the
article.
Mr.. Clapper in his article had
stated that only mischief, disunity
and further irritation OF race rela-
lions can come from the point now
being pressed by the Presidents
Committee on Fair Employment
Practices that the railroads must
open up more operating jobs TO
Negroes" The article further point
ed out that the railroads are more
realistic than the committee" That
the railroads take a realistic posi-
ton" and that their work has been
achieved by harmonious relations
with railway labor. and by patriotic
cooperation OF the shipping and
travelling public" which, IL they
are cofnpeYfed TO comply with. the
o-discrimination order will dis
rupt crescent peaceful relations with
their employees and would antago-
nize the travelling and shipping
public"
Mr.. Currents answer stated:
I'VE cannot understand how one
who has been so LIBERAL in his
views, could do such a mental
somersault on the matter OF dis
elimination in employment To say
that racial discrimination should
be discouraged wherever pracncaf
puts a meaning on the word "prsc-
tical" which makes democracy a
way Of life 10 be based on pracii-
csli;y and so-called common
sense" We hold that the Presidents
Committee on Fair Employment
Practices was not set UP by the
President merely TO beg recslcit-
rants, whether they are industri-
alists with large government con-
tracts. unions, utilities with fran
chises, or railroads and railroad
brotherhoods vital 10 VIZ efort-to
comply with its directives. Not so
long ago, the President had 10 re-
buke Comptroller General Lindsey
c. Warren, on this score. and made
IL clear that the Committees d.
receives were mandatory. and not
directive
For many years the railroads,
since becoming diesclized, have been
rlddluR themselves ol NcSAO nv
men. who formerly operated on
most OF the southern systems. Both
labor and management in this in
stsnce knew what they were doing,
when agreements were signed viz
tually excluding Negroes from their
former places in locomotive cabs.
The original hearings on the rail-
roads were postponed In January.
due 10 pressure by the brotherhoods
and the railroads who knew then
that they had no defense and must
plead guilty.
As 10 the question OF vital war
work" and realism, all work con-
nec,ed with the war effort Is vital
10 some extent. The railroads
brotherhoods argue ore way on
alleviating discrimination. and an
other on wage increases. On one
hand, they are afraid Of antagoniz-
ing employees, the travelling and
the shipping public; on the other
hand, they would stop the entire
transportation system il satisfactory
wage increases are not forthcom-
inc