The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-29
Dewey And Race
BY MARQUIS cHILDS
CONDENSED from New York Post)


Prof. Alvin Johnson is a
brilliant liberal who through
most Of a distinguished career
has taught economics In and
around New York City. He
was chosen by Gov. Dewey 70 be
chairman of a Committee on Dis
elimination in Employment.
What the johnson committee did
was to propose legislation against
racial and religious discrimination
which goes much further than any
thing ever undertaken before. Any
employer refusing to hire an indi-
vidual for reasons ''of race, creed
color, national origin or ancestry
would be investigated by q commits
sion and, II found guilty. ordered
to cease and desist. Refusing 20
comply. the employer could be
hailed into court and. IL still refus-
ing, could be found in contempt
and punished by a fine or jail SEN
tence.
Johnson and the men and women
who worked with him were anti
cipating the time when Negro SOL
diers return from the war in no
mood to accept second-class citizen
ship. They believe the race issue
will then become explosive. They
hoped to meet that situation with
a law.
Johnson had a long conference in
Albany with Charles Breitel.
Dewey's counsel. who was con-
cerned over the constitutionality OF
the proposal. Nevertheless. members
OF the Committee on Discrimination
apparently expected the governor
10 introduce il in the legislature
with his blessing.
While Il was introduced ut Dew
ey's request, Il did not get the sup
port Of the Administration As .
substitute. Dewey put forward
tepid bill setting mp . commission
TO make studies Of practices Of dis
elimination" The commission was
to report. with Recommendation for
legislation, ION or before February
I. 1S<5."
The governors action let loose a
storm. Eight Of the IS members Of
Johnson's committee resigned. Ne
gro organizations and Negro news.
papers denounced the Governor.
Other papers joined in with the kind
OF criticism that most irritates the
sensitive Dewey.
Dewey's point Is that you cannot
iegfSiate racial equality into exist
ence. AS he sees IL this desirable
goal can only come about through
a long process OF education over the
Years No legal dictum will achieve
il automatically.
* X *
talked this over with Johnson.
a slow-spoken former NebraSkan
who has the look OF sturdy farmer.
He saws he still likes Dewey. He has
remained as chairman OF the COM
mittee on Discrimination. But he
believes as firmly as ever that the
bill could and should be
adopted.
II goes a long way. he comedies.
I. could be used, for example. 70
upset -the employment practices Of
NlallHdlldIl ONlAkC
now employ Negroes only in mental
positions where they do not come
IN contact with the public
In a recen; issue of the Yale Re
view. he wrote stern warning on
the race issue. II can destroy us in
the aftermath Of the war as Il has
gone long way toward destroying
Europe We have no natural inn
nuni;y from the poison that per
verted the German people
Where Dewey Is TO blame. In my
opinion. Is in evAding the issue. II
he felt the committee proposal Vas
and even harmful then
he should have frankly aid 80. II
VAS not enough TO counter with q
request for further studies
Under the practical working OF
our system the politician must be
allowed . margin OF evasion. But
he cannot expect to look around the
major questions Of eur time.