The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-23
NAACPAsks ReUielU
OF Seabee Charge

NEW YORK Permission 10 file
briefs and appear personally on be-
hdlt OF tao Negro ScabeCs dismissed
from the United States Naval Re-
serve. October %. 1913. on a charge
of unfitHesS" was a>tcd by the
NAACp special counsel in a letter
September l3 10 Secretary OF the
Nayy James V. Furrcs,al.
The two meu. Arthur Monroe
S. COINS and Clifford F. Smith, were
among the original Is Seaoces given
undesirable" discharges for dis
cuys.ug racial grievances at a sup
ua cdiy of the record" meeting
called by the commanding officer,
while they were on duty at base
IN the Pacific.
Facts Revealed
The facts revealed in statement
made 10 thu NAACP by the ScabeeS
immediately after their dismissal
revealed the following facts. When
the meCtmg was called the COM
handing officer explained that the
meetinI was absolutely of the
record Each Of the men tod of
grievances. Some Of Them were:
white and 'colorcd' signs; the mat
ter Of ratings, a Negro could not
be promoted 10 a first class rating;
separate liberty buses FOR white and
Colorcd, all the first class men and
leaders with the exception OF a
few. we're white. IL was also brought
out that the Negro masters of arms
were no. permitted To place white
sailors on report or 10 take any
other measures, but were forced 10
refer the matter TO white masters
OF arms. One of the grievances pre-
scented was the fact that any pun
ishment for breaking rules was uni
formly more severe for Negroes
than for white.
Discrimination Everywhere
There was the same type OF dis
elimination and segregation in the
barber shop: there was also segre-
cation and discrimination In the
chow lines
AT the close Of the meeting the
men were told by the co that he
was glad that the meeting had bt en-
called. Tia, they would have SINH
lar meetings IN the future
AT the meeting IL was decided
that an intcr-raCial committee
would be formed TO bring about oct
ter relationship between white and
coiured This committee was 10 be
headed by the chaplain.
The next day the reglmental
commander wanted 20 know what
the meeting OF the day be.ore was
about. and who was the one who
sponsored the meeting. There was a
pause IS the men were waiting for
the battalion commander TO speak.
He made no comment. AT this meet
ing there were no company COM
mander> There was the regimcNal
commander, battalion commander
and the executive officer.
No one answered the question
until one Of the men answered.
Arthur Scguins. He sad that the
one who invited us was not there.
He said - WGS an open forum. a
round table discussion and gave
a snort summary OF the meeting
He VAS cut of by the commander
and We were told that we had no
r.Jh; 10 hc az that meeting We
we're asked II We knew exactly
what We had gotten into That il
Was against navy reg la.Ons 10 hold
such q meeting He then said, You
na,c really brought about a small
STATE f muary At that time he
H,u; 4r furtIer 90 explain the diff
ielcn' horrors OF mutiny He to.c
uS wh., could happen III cases OIL
cuur, martial We could be shot a
su.rs. ugrislrueu, for - or Il
year or given d.shonorab.c dis
charge,
A..hu Sego.us' rating at ,h'
t.uc ot q uIssal was CM % anC
iha, o. CLIFFORD Smtn. EN- &C