Evening star., 1944-08-02

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closed by Judge Harry 8. McDevitt,
director Of the Philadelphia Civilian
Defense Council, after it became the
scene Of 4 melee.
The walkout. which deyeloped
without public warning, began At 4
am. yesterday when the eight col
ored operators were to have; driven
trolleys for the first time on practice
runs.
Nsgrs Workers Upgraded.
Negross had been upgraded to
platform (operative) Jobs in accord
ance with the War ManpoWer Com
Missions employment stabilization
program. Both union and company
spokesman protested the upgradins,
which was by the Fair Employment
Practice Committee.
The drivers at first offered no ex-
planation Of the movement. Many
had reported in Ill. Others, when
asked why they declined to work,
also said they were Ill. One said,
there's no trouble There's Just an
epidemic Of sickness around here"
Later group Of 900 participants
issued q statement saying the oper-
ating employees >" are taking the
only effective measure left to them
to protect their Jobs and their many
years Of service seniority.
Under the upsrading privileges
now in effect" the statement added,
Negroes employed in other depart
ments now have priority over all
new applicants.
This demonstration ia not q labor
movement. 1t is not sponsored by
any union or other organization.
PTC men. and women IRE simply
trying to protect their jobs and their
seniority against the unfair discrim-
nation now being used = against
the white employees and prospective
white employees"
The PIC, after maintaining
ofhcial silence through the day:
issued statement In the evening
saying: "E
This is not the usual strike situa-
ton where We could talk to the
leaders. 1t Is an unusual situation.
I'VE are asking the men who are
their leaders 50 thai We can talk to
them in an effort to get them to 70
back to work. And to get peaceful
settlement. We are ready and will
ing to talk to any one and every one
IN an effort TO get TRANSPORT tion
resumed" =
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>, Unisn Hints 1t Inauences. "A
The Transport Workers Union
said the stoppase was attributable
to "disgrumtled leaders", Of rival
unions, but that "there is something
more in back OF It."
Immediate action (by the Justice
DEPARTMENT. will ferret out enemy:
activity" TWU :Internationa Vice
President James j. Fitzsimon SAID
in 4 telegram to Attorney Genera
Biddle. asking an Investigation.
Lurking In the background" Mr..
Fitzsimon said, were enemy agents
who, he said. instigated the move-
ment to incfte race riots and hamper
war production. p 9
The TWU was named bareaininS
agent for the workers in a collec-
tive bargaining election March IA.
TWU received 4,4lo votes; the AFL.
Amalsamated Association of Street
Car, Electric Railway and Motor
Coach Employees, 1857; and the
PRT' Employees Union dndepend.
ent), 1S15. The independent union
previously had been the bargaining
agent. J..
Unisn Fresident Speaks.
Frank p. Carney. president Of the
independent unions spoke ut ., mass
meeting Of strikers last night.
I'VE don't want Negroes and We
won't'work with Negroes" he shout
ed to the yelling, cheering crowd.
There Is no politics involved in
this situation. This is . white mans
job. Put the Negroes back where
they belons-back on the road
way"
Today the city took on 4 pre-
war. appearance. More AUTOMOBILES
clogeed the streets than 1T any time
since the start Of gasoline rationing
The usual shopping crowds were
absent and downtown merchants
estimated unof1cially that their re-
ceipts would total 81 900 900 less
than normal each day Of the stop
page. les
City and state orders prohibiting
liquor sales applied to such swank
spots as the Racquet. University
and Union League Clubs and top
night hotels as well n to the corner
taprooins.
Meetings Are Protested.
:: Mrs. Caroline Davenport Moore
executive secretary Of the phila-
delphia Chapter for the National
Association for the Advancement Of
Colored People, said the tieup might
have been prevented had the PIC
prevented the holding OF anti-Neero
meetings on company property"
| Commenting on her statement.
DR.. "A. "A. Mitten, In charge OF PIC
industrial relations, said. I'VE can
mot have policemen posted on al
our properties"
In New York. the National Asso-
citation for the Advancement OF
Colored People sent telegrams to
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