The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-07-21

dnu MY lnOu- Horace White
sand dollars al
lows the present FEPC to carry on
in limited form its work. while
the people Of the nation grid them
selves TO battle for permanent
FEPC bill. The two hundred and
Fifty thousand dollars permits the
workers for a permanent FEPC
measure to further educate and in
spire the people for a permanent
bill
Without some form of FEPC
afiOat in our national life. inter-
est in fair employment practices
would likely lag in the thinking
and feeling Of the American peO-
pie. The small appropriation
made by the House Is a new lease
Of life to the hackers Of FEPC.
Every democratic organization in
the United States should find itself
working in behalf Of a permanent
FEPC, II the people of America
become aroused enough over the
lack OF oour Congress 10 pass fair
employment legislation, the perma-
nent fair employment measure will
pass the Congress during this ses-
sion. Only an aroused electorate
can get a permanent fair employ
ment measure on our statute books.
The difficulty faced by the pres
ent staff Of the FEPC will be how
10 spend two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars so that il will
serve the ends of democracy in the
specific matter of fair employment
to all people regardless Of race,
creed, and color.
The small appropriation could
best he used TO pay administra-
tive salaries Of the people In
Washington to keep the idea and
the need of fair employment leg
islation ever before the man in
the street. In addition to this.
there should be some effort made
on the part Of people in the coun-
try with national reputation and
devotion to the democratic
process, who could he so infiu-
enced. to 90 To some Of the
wealthy foundations and wealthy
individuals and ask them To pay
the expenses Of offices and sal
aries Of local FEPC workers in
strategic areas Of the nation. The
Washington office then would he
free TO use its money for the CO.
ordination of effort. the asSimila-
ton Of facts, and the dissimina-
ton Of information on behalf of
the permanent FEPC.
There certainly are enough foun-
datlons with money and an interest
in democracy that would be willing
10 use some OF their money for this
very important work in the name
of united America 10 win the war
and TO help establish an enduring
foundation for peace Unless some
thing Of this kind is done. the small
appropriation made by the House
committee can be a process by
which the real value Of fair employ
ment practices legislation is les
sened in the minds Of the general
public,
In other words. a small appro-
priatiOn for national and i'm
portant governmental agency can
serve to discredit that agency in
the minds Of the general public.
To meet the possibilities of dis
crediting the agency with a small
appropriation. those OF us devoted
to the cause Of fair employment
practices should look earnestly
for private and other public
means for experimenting the
budget Of S250,000 In addition to
the private sources suggested, IL
may he possible in the name Of
the war effort to secure the pay
ment Of salaries 10 field staff
for a permanent FEPC from other
war appropriations at this time.
There may be those who feel
that the organic relationship be-
tween a publicly financed body
and a privately financed unit
serving a publicly financed body
Is difficult one to work out.
Maybe II Is a difficult one to
work out in the terms Of our
laws. but II is not impossible for
a meaningful and working reIa-
tionship to be established with
unity and with results to achiev-
ing the main goal before all Of
us; that of fair employment prac-
tices. We have a tradition for the
relationship Of a privately con-
trOlled agency working with q
publicly financed agency in our
national life.
The Veterans Bureau is financed
publicly. but the veteran organiza-
ptions supplement. in almost every
locality OF America. the effective.
ness of the Veterans Bureau. Vet
Grams organizations are financed
by private sources mainly 10 see 10
II that veterans get the full beneh,
Of the Veterans Bureaus program
In some instances the man in the
street does not know where the
Veterans Bureau begins and the
veteran programs end because they
are so closely interviewer. There
Is mutual respect and cooperation
between the various veteran or.
CARNATIONS and the Veterans Blu.
reau.
The logic OF the Veterans Bureau
and the various veteran organiza.
tionS and their support OF each
others programs; it seems. could be
carried over by FEPC people into
the FEPC program 10 safeguard
the work and the meaning Of the
FEPC 10 the cause OF American de.
mocracy.
:, OF course. regardless Of what
temporary measures we may ar
rive at 10 use effectively the small
appropriation given the present
FEPC committee, we will con-
time 10 fight for permanent legis-
lation. This Is our sbounding duty
or we will have fought this war
and learned noihins