St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-01-14

under fire
s for its at
JUDGE VINCE DAY tack on dis
elimination against Negro railroad
workers on 16 Southern railroads
and railroad brotherhoods, is re-
garded as significant. The trend
of leaders to face honestly the
question of the extension of funda-
mental rights to citizens regard
less of race, creed or color, is heart
ening to the informed, patriotic
public.
The Council from its offices at
$50 Northwestern Bank building,
Minneapolis, also sent out appeals
to individuals and organizations in
this area urging that similar let
tiers and kilograms be sent Presi-
dent Roosevelt, Malcolm Ross,
chairman of F.E.P.C., the railroad
brotherhoods and others.
Letter Sent Out
The Councils letter said in part:
''The authority of the Presidents
Committee on Fair Employment
Practice to enforce job equality re-
CARELESS of race, creed, color or
national origin has been publicly
challenged by sixteen Southern rail-
roads.
September 1918, 1913, the FEPC
held a public hearing in Washing
ton, D. C. Testimony revealed:
that despite a serious labor short
age, certain railroads, in collabora-
ton with unions, were denying ex-
perienced Negroes opportunities
for employment and promotion,
though for decades whites have
worked together amicably with Ne
groes on Southern railroads. The
twenty-five railroads involved did
not dispute the facts presented; the
unions although invited, did not
participate in the hearings. Fol-
lowing the hearings, four of the
railroads agreed to change their
employment policies. November 10,
the FEPC ordered the railroads to
cease and desist their anti-Negro
practice. December 10, sixteen
Southern railroads defied FEPC
directives.
The Twin City Council on Fair
Employment Practice requests all
organizations interested in promot-
ing fair employment practice to act
Immediately in support of the
FEPC. Suggested below are sew
eral recommendations for such ac-
tivity.
1. Send a telegram or. letter to
President Roosevelt expressing
your approval of any action he may
take in support of the FEPC, send
ing a copy of your communication
to Malcolm Ross, chairman of
FEPC.
2. Appeal to the railroad broth
erhoods to comply with the direc-
tives of the FEPC. Address COM
munications to Martin II. Miller,
National Legislative Representa-
tive, Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men, 10 independence Avenue S. W.,
Washington, D. G.
8. Take such other measures,
perhaps in cooperation with other
groups, as will develop an informed
and favorable public opinion in sup
port of the FEPC."
Council Members
Some members of the Twin City
Council are: DR.. Raymond Bragg,
Arthur Brin, Charles Burt, Helen
Busyn, Judge Paul Carroll, Clar-
ence CLANCY, DR.. F. Stewart
Chaplin, ]. C. Cornelius, Ralph T.
Craigo, E. C. Day, John G. barley,
Mrs. Lester Davies, Ralph Dickman,
Milton Firestone, Rev. Francis Gil
ligan, James Hughes, Mrs. Il. C.
James, Brook Jones, Rudolph Kogl,
Rubin Late, Leland Leasia, Rev.
Theodore Leonard, David Liggett,
G. T. Lindsten, James Masterson,
Rev. Thomas F. Meagher, Rev.
Benjamin N. Moore, Cecil 2. New
man, S. Vincent Owens, Rev. Morris
Robinson, Ed Ryan, Roger Shep-
hard, William Sinnott, Ward Stew
enson, Alan Taylor, DR.. Charles
Turck, Thomas Vennum, Judge Ed
ward Waite, Basil Walters, Ray
Wentz, Rev. Howard Wiley, Perry
Williams, Mrs. Harold Wood and
William Wright.