The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04
Pontiac
CONTINUED from Pare u

CONTINUED from Pare u
dition OF about 200 trailers TO the
trailer camp at the Crystal Lake
Housing Project
The army suggested that the Ne
gro workers should be housed In
the vacant CCC camp at Pleasant
Lake.
The people who live near the
CCC camp at Pleasant Lake i'm
mediately. reacted. This group APP
peared before the Board OF Super
visors Of Oakland county and reg
istered protest against the use Of
the now vacant CCC camp for Ne
gro laborers.
Did Not Drop Il
Phelps Cunningham. project
planner for the Cleveland Office Of
the FPHA. in a statement TO the
Chronicle the day after the hearing.
said that the government had not
dropped the plan 10 put Negroes
in the CCC project but that a new
site. the Cement Block Buildings
belonging to the County OF Oak
land. had been chosen. He an
nounced at that time that the
county would be petitioned to lease
the buildings 10 the government.
The second Directing group was
the CLIO, which maintained that
the labor shortage proclaimed by
Pontiac industry and the army did
not exist. A spokesman for the Pom
tiac local said. I'VE believe that
management is now bringing in a
surplus OF labor in order 10 create
bargaining force. We know that
there are many available workers
in this area but the plants will not
hire them do not think that this
is racial question and we are not
attacking il as such"
The spokesman said further that
there are now 1900 men on gov.
eminent unemployment insurance
in the Pontiac area at present
Why can't some OF these be used"
he said.
Negroes Opposed
Or. Howard II. Mcneil. city COM
missioner OF Pontiac and one OF its
leading Negro citizens, said, II am
opposed to enlarging the number OF
transient laborers in this city be-
cause these people do not help the
cause OF Negroes in this commu-
nifty" Mcneil said further that the
present boundaries OF the Negro
residential area in Pontiac caused
great hardships to be worked upon
the people each time more laborers
are added. Said he. Every time
they bring in more people they
want TO put them in the all ready
over-crowded Negro neighborhood.
These people are not going to stay
here and therefore do not care how
much trouble they cause"
MY attitude Is not against the
war effort" he continued. because
! feel that Negroes in Pontiac have
given great deal to that effort.
but I feel that much OF the basis
OF citizenship is permanent homes
in good surroundings. therefore !
do not blame the people who are
opposed to having temporary
homes for these transient workers
in their immediate neighborhoods."
A Negro officer on the Pontiac
police force made the following
comment: II do not feel that Ne
groes are in favor Of any further
expansion. There are 5000 Negroes
in this town and conditions are
quite bad. There are no sidewalks
on the south side. job opportunities
are bad and all interest in civic
pride has been stifled."
Could Make Trouble
Police Chief Charles F. Rhodes
OF Pontiac told the Chronicle that
there had been no interracial
trouble as yet but said he, II feel
that there may be great deal Of
trouble if the housing OF these new
temporary workers is not taken
care of adequately. II these work.
ers must BIT had. all efforts should
be used to take care OF them"
Dr.. William Hayden, pharmacist
in Pontiac, declared that more Me-
groes are needed in the city but
that the type now being brought
in were more a detriment than an
asset