Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-09-28
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ference. Mr.. Pittenger said
that he had nothing to say, and
asked each one of us, "What
have you got to say?"
Mrs. Colby spoke first, and
stated the reason for our visit
in concise terms. Mr.. Allen de-
clined to speak and / did also.
Mr.. Phillips spoke briefly.
When Mrs. Colby thanked Rep.
Pittenger for taking time to
see us, he stared at her and
said, young lady, that's my
prerOgative and l use it every
day." After recovering my
speech, l said, Representa-
tive Pittenger, you seem to be
labOring under the erroneous
impression that there were
Communists and fellOw-trav-
ellers' in our delegation last
February" 1 asked him who
were they? He said that he
did not care to discuss the
matter. He ended the confer
ence by saying, ''NOw, have
heard what you have to say
-. you can't say that / did
not see you. 1 don't want
to give you the brushOff," as
he backed into his private Of
fee.
Representative Harold Knutson
of st. Cloud told US that he has
been an employer since he was
nineteen years old Che is 65 now
and that many employers are fear
full of the bill. Representative
Knutson stated emphatically that
he would not sign the discharge
petition, because it is against his
policy. He charged that legisla-
ton brought up by that method is
mob legislation" He declared that
the Rules Committee is a screen
that permits orderly considera-
ton of legislation" Toward the
close of the conference l said, eff
1 understand what you have said,
you are against FEPC." He did
not deny the statement. Rep.
Knutson said that he does not have
any prejudice and that he was one
of the best friends of the Negro
in the Congress. 81 have eulogized
them and I have taken southerners
to task about them, but when it
comes to legislation, that is some
thing different" he asserted.
Representative H. Carl Andre
sen asked US who of the Minnesota
Representatives had signed the dis
charge petition. We told him that
Rep. Starkey, Gallagher and
Hagen had signed. He said that he
has signed discharge petitions, and
named three, the anti-lynching,
anti-poll tax and Townsend bills.
Representative Andersen said that
he had an open mind on the sub
ject, and that he would consider
the matter of signing the discharge
petition for FEPC bill.
Our most encouraging con-
ference was with Senator JO-
seph Fl. Ball. He told us that
as soon as two or three emer-
gency matters were disposed
of in the Senate, that the
FEPC bill would be introduced
by his committee, Education
and Labor. He said that he
would work for clOture so that
the fiIlibuster that is sure to
start, will be stopped.
We did not see Senator Ship
stead as we were unable to get to
his office before he had to leave.
But from what he told US in Feb
ruary, we hope that he will sup
port the bill.
We paid our respects to Repre-
sentative Frank S. Starkey of st.
Paul and Rep. William Gallagher
of Minneapolis and thanked them
for having signed the discharge
petition. Representative Harold
Hagen was out when We called to
thank him for having signed the
petition.
To summarize briefly and with
out comment. Three of our Rep
resentatives have signed the dis
charge petition, and are definitely
for the bill. Six Minnesota Repre-
sentatives have not signed the dis
charge petition, and one of our
Senators is definitely for the bill.
On Tuesday night I called
Charles W. Washington while 1 |
was in Pittsburgh with an hour and
half layover. He dressed and came
Town through the rain to visit with |
ne. Mr.. Washington, who was
formerly the executive secretary of |
he Urban League in Minneapolis,
S doing a great job as Industrial |
Secretary for the Pittsburgh Ur-
pan League, but he still loves the
Twin Cities and sends his best re-
CARDS to his many friends.
While on the train between
Washington and Chicago, I saw
many Negro soldiers and sailors. |
engaged a soldier in conversa-
ion. He had served two years in
England. 1 asked him how they |
we're treated while in England. He |
said that the English people treat
I'd them very nicely and that they |
we're often invited to their homes,