The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-10-16

''"''n ~ frfuihdhn Y. cmlth,
Secretary oi the National Mari.
time Union ~ America. CIO. nj
the National Irbnn League con.
ference In Chicago. Saturday,
Oct. :, Mt the special round ia
Die luncheon session on -Sta.
Milling the Employment Of Ne.
groes IN War lndustrIes).
The cause. effect and remedy
Of Negro discrimination In Amer
lea Is a burning issue affecting
the outcome OF the war and the
shape OF the peace
CAJSE-Racial antagonism and
community intolerance are root
ed deeply in the South and many
ether areas. job discrimination is
rife everywhere, keeping the Ne
gro in economic slavery The in
famous poll tax keeps the Negro
in political slavery. He is denied
the opportunity 10 vote for win
the-war candidates and his con-
stitutional rights are seriously
abridged. In tho armed forces
and in the Red Cross policies
are pursued that are detrimental
TO harmonious race relations.
Lack OF adequate housing facili-
ties and Jim crowism hand
maiden Of Hitlerism in America
intensity the friction between Ne
groes and whites. The oyerwhelm-
Ing majority Of the nations press
and radio particularly the
Hearst-McCormick- Paterson regler
section OF the Sixth Column
press SANDER the Negro people
constantly. invent new epitheis
and through journalistic Incite-
ment. promote disunlty in a ma
ton al war Schools. recreation.
health and other faciliiies--in all
these normal benefits OF a dcmoc-
racy. the Negro Is shamefully
short-changed Jim Crow trade
unions in the railroad and other
industries. likewise must share
part OF the blame for disrupting
race harmony.
EFFECT-Only the enemies OF
democracy. and especially the Hit
Ter Axis. gain from race con-
flict. and oppression and dis
elimination OF minorities in
America All the people every
American regardless OF race. coll
or or creed. and the nation as a
whole suffer seriously with the
outbreak Of every race riot or
disturbance The present ram
pant discriminatory practices sap
the nations strength. cripple war
production. disrupt essential uni
~ shatter morale. destroy con-
IlutVtt III OuI WI aims "uN
lower American prestige In
China. India. Africa. Latin Amer
lea and other United nations. 1t
is common knowledge that we
have serious manpower short
age yet discrimination and seq
regatIon are permitted TO block
the full utilization Of the needed
talents and abilities Of large sec
lions Of the Negro population.
REMEDY-First and foremost,
the Government must take more
direct and fortnight action than
It has TO date The pace OF
progress must be speeded up
now precisely because war can
ditions have greatly Intensified
existing evils to the detriment 81
our war effort Fomenters OF
race hatred and bigotry must be
dealt with sharply by the author
tiles They should be imprisoned
n necessary Even more summary
treatment should he melted out
10 those who lnstigate race riots.
Employers must discard the no.
ton that when they hire Ne
groes they perform benevolent
act They must adopt an enlIght-
cned policy toward Negro appli-
cents. They should recognize that
the denial Of Negro rights and
opportunities In the past makes
II necessary that Negroes he civ
en- equal opportunities. through
training and upgrading program,
to acquire or improve special
skills.
There should be FEPCs In ev-
cry fsphere Of activity affecting
the well-being OF the Negro peo-
pie. These agencies should have
unhampered powers 10 do a real
ioh 81 correcting widespread