The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-15
CAPT. AL
SPOTLIG n T
Nv LOUIS LATTER
Tor tho NNPA Nous SSFyire

Nv LOUIS LATTER
For the NNPA News Service
Malcolm Ross. chairman, % tho
Far Employment Practice Com
rriiiee has lost his leadership and
usefulness That apparently is the
ore decisive outcome 50 far ~
tas controversy between PreSi-
cent Truman and the committee
over ne issuance ~ directive 10
ine Capital Transit company order
ing The employment 90 colofed
persons as street car Toioru en- and
conductors and bus drivers
His inability 20 get conference
To- the committee With Mr. Thu
ran q one 90 tre reasons for his
l0S - prest 20 among his col
leagues Frequently ne mad had =
:!ffcu'i time seeing subordinate
executive officers. and lately he
kss evidently resigned tlmsef io
Grazing With Presidential secre-
'arle. and advises and What may
be ,al'cd \ scc0pG-S''mg team.
Ross Is confined To John Hop
kins hospital in Baltimore He
went there hetueen the FIRST and
second strikes 81 Capital Transit
EMPLOYEES. when the committee
Was being poiled on the issuance
81 the directive. which Mr.. Tru-
man blocked Ross sent word
from tho hospital that he was OPP
posed and insisted that the rec
ord show that he was in the hos
initial and took no part IN the
voting.
TT APPEARS that he il IN
capable - sharp. DECISIVE acton.
T. t1e action meets with much OPP
position or resistance He means
Nell. but he j. weak
As an indication that he carries
l'le or no weight, he was not
consulted on ISSUES Wtlch were
nut on the accnda % the labor
management conference Nor has
he been IN on anv Of the confer
ences with John w SNYDER dlrec-
tor az the office Of war mobilization
and reconverSion on the problems
~ reconVerSion N peace econ
onv Yet il was generally sd-
rri;,cd that the employment pat
tern followed IN the reconverslon
PERIOD would be vitality important
II workers ~ minority groups
To sum up the situation, Ross is
hv-passed on official action in
which large-Scale planning is dong.
Ross came into the FEPC chair
manship through the backdOOr.
He had q mediocre job with the
National Labor Relations Board
and had no national reputation
of any kind. When Father Haas
was appointed chairman Of the
FEPC ne took Ross with him
with the understanding that Ross
would he his successor after he
became widely known and he.
Father Haas, stepped out.
WHEN HE ACCEPTED a $1,000
cut IN salary. Ross prestige
dropped. This reduction in pay
nut him on a salary level with
George VI. Johnson. who was then
deputy chairman ~ FEPC.
There is feeling among COM
rnittee members that Ross salary
increase from $500 TO $4,000 with
the resultant public acclaim was
more important TO him than get
ting great deal accomplished.
Members also feel that he needs
the job They decided 10 issue the
directive 10 Capital Transit while
he was in the hospital 80 as not to
jeopardize the SS,o00-a-year salary
he now receives.
NJ. W. Tozier. director Of in
formation for the War Reloca-
ton Authority wanted a colored
speaker for q Nisei program at
Santa Anna Calf. on December
4. General Joseph Vinegar joel
Stilwell was to he there and to
present a Distinguished Service
medal TO = Nisei girl.
HE TELEPHONED Leslie Perry.
administrative assistant al the
Washington Bureau Of the N.A.A.
C.B.. Perry could not accept and
suggested Bill HASTE. chairman OF
the national legal committee Of the
NAAC.P. Bill could not 60 and
suggested Charley Houston, a
member of the national legal com
r1ittee. Charley could not 20 and
suggested Walter White. secretary
Of the NA.AC.P Walter declined
and suggested Roy wilkins. as
sistant secretary of the N.AA.C.P.
Row also declined.
The moral for public relations
officers is--start al the top eehelon
and work down.