The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-19

nosed IN the I'M Harry mcAipin
authorized strike. But some of the
men participating in that travesty
on democracy "smelled" no sweet
err because they belonged to the
CLIO.
And the analogy goes over into
government agencies, too. For ex-
ample the Army took a fortnight
and commendable stand on the
Philadelphia "tie-up." Its determi-
nation to operate the transportation
vehicles and support the new hiring
policy toward Negroes was affirmed
by reopening of the training course
last week for the eight Negroes over
whom the 5000 would-be Americans
walked out. Still, it was member
of the Army who almost precipi-
tated a real riot when he sought TO
enforce his Southern patterns on
Philadelphia by separating the
whites and Negroes on a bus he
was protecting
But the most illustrative example
Of the rose smelling the same no
matter what you call it, is the War
Manpower Commission.
1t was the insistence OF the Phil
adelphia regional War ManpoWer
Commission that the priority refer
raj plan be followed in that area,
involving the hiring OF workers
without discrimination because OF
race. creed. color or national origin,
which brought the Philadelphia
Transit Company around 10 hiring
and training Negroes. The COM
pany previously had defied a direc-
tive of the Fair Employment Prac-
tice Committee 10 do the same
thing.
In Washington. however. wearing
the same CLOAK" of the VINO, the
regional office of that agency has
exempted the Capital Transit Com
pany from compliance with the pri-
GRITTY referral plan regulations.
The Capital Transit Company has
been defying the FEPC for almost
two years now. II has bluntly re-
fused to hire Negroes as operators
and platform men. II has admitted
to the abor-Management commit
tee OF the Are aWMC that il knows
the regulations but that il is not
abiding by the portion on indis-
criminate hiring.
But the area VINO, through its
Labor-Management committee and
the Area VINO director, Ernest ".
Connolly, voted down all sugges.
tons of holding Capital Transit to
compliance with the VINO priority
referral rules and regulations. They
have given the company Carte
blanche-permitting il to hire with
out clearing through the Employ
ment Service by using its own re-
cruitment methods and program.
OF course, the Capital Transit in
tends 10 hire only white men and
women as operators and platform
personnel.
And so-even though the Wash
ington area VINO is called the
agency for obtaining maximum utll.
izatlon Of manpewrr for the war
effort, il still smells like what il
really is-and that doesn't mean
like a rose
The question is whether the gov.
eminent and the people are going
to let them getaway" with IT,
They are as guilty OF sabotaging the
var effort through combating full
labor utilizatlon-at different
stage - as McMenamin. Carney.
Thompson and Dixey. who led the
Philadelphia Transit employees
strike in 5-day unauthorized walk
out.
Collision with the Capital Tran
SIT TO keep Negroes out is a mild
charge 10 place against Connolly
and the members OF the Labor.
Management committee. Derelic-
ton OF duty could be added. and
several more serious ones probably
could be proved
1t will be interesting TO see what
happens!