The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-16

past, pledged themselves to a per-
Fair Employment Practice
committee. Such bill has been
drawn and introduced in our Con-
gress for passage.
The bill is having trouble in
Congress at this time. both from
its enemies and friends. The
enemies of Fair Employment
Practice Law maintain that 70 fight
against discrimination in industry
creates race strife. They maintain
that it will take a long time 10
overcome race prejudice, and that
any governmental agency which
forces employers. whether private
or public. TO hire people no matter
what their race il they are quail
fed. is n-American and un-demo-
cratic. The enemies of the bill
maintain that race discrimination
will break down Of its own weight
if given enough time. These peo-
pie have vague argument about
education overcoming race preju-
dice. These people can be an
swered by pointing out that de-
mocracy. IL II is to survive, has
TO give all OF its workers fair
opportunity TO compete. The color
of ones skin. his religion or race
can never be criteria for permit
ting one TO compete or not to COM
pete for jobs and opportunities.
Education is possible for the mass
es OF people and the classes also
only as they learn by doing. A
book point Of view about working
and living with people does not
really educate. II permits one
to rationalize and cover up his
prejudices and hstreds as these
hatreds relate TO race. Therefore.
time. in the matter OF the race
problem. has no relevance at all
except people are learning through
actual experience-the experience
Of eating. working and playing,
one with the other. regardless Of
race, creed and color.
The friends Of the Fair Employ
ment Practice Law are faced with
a dilemma. The buses and street
cars in Washington. D. c., have re-
fused TO upgrade Negroes as motor
men and conductors. The Wash
ington Transit company. that runs
this service. has defied directivcs
from the FEPC to upgrade Negroes
TO the positions OF motormen and
conductors. The Fair Employment
Practice committee itself is very
eager TO have law passed making
the committee a permanent COM
mittee. There ere those on the
committee who would like 10 crack
down on the Washington Transit
company now because OF its refusal
TO employ Negroes as motormer
and conductors. There are others
on the committee. and many other
people who are not on the commit
tee. maintain that now Is not the
time TO crack down on the Wash.
ingtor Transit con- pany. These
people say that il the Washington
Transit company is brought tC
time" now. il will proceed to stii
up great deal OF feeling in Con,
gress against passing a bill makini
the FEPC permanent arm OF gov
eminent. They MAINTAIN furthe,
that il is much more advantageou,
10 get the bill through Congress,
establishing permanent FEPC
than il is TO crack down on IN,
Washington Transit company a
this time. The split in the rank!
OF the friends OF the FEPC legis
lation is working harm to the leg
islation. This dilemma on the par
OF the friends and members OF IN,
FEPC are providing the horns o
the dilemma through which IN,
real enemies OF progress and dc
mocracy in our country. can slip.
II seems a part OF wisdom tina
the Fair Employment Practic,
committee, as a committee appoint