Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1945-07-06

Germany has not stamped out
the Nazi idea.
This column has emphasiz-
ed, time and time again, dur
ing the course of this war, the
fact that Hitlerism is not ex-
clusively a German invention.
l have pointed out that the
hiring of goons to break up
labor unions in America was
just as much manifestation
of Nazism as any of the afro
cities practiced by the German
Nazis on their unfortunate vic
tins.
Now, l point out again that
the fight against extension of
the FEPC is just as much a
manifestation of Nazism as
any of the acts of terrorism
which the German Nazis in
flicted upon the European
Jews.
The noises Bilbo makes as
he rants against the FEPC are
echoes of the sound of Nazi
bludgeons breaking the skulls
of European minorities.
SIMPLE JUSTICE
The FEPC (Fair Employ
ment Practices Committee)
was created for the purpose of
attempting to discourage dis
elimination in the hiring of
people for industrial jobs.
1t attempted, fairly and hon.
estly, to enforce a Presiden-
tial Executive Order which
outlawed discrimination in the
hiring of people to work in
plants holding war contracts.
In short, the purpose of the
Committee was to make simple
justice the dominant factor de-
termining dispensation of en-
ployment opportunities.
Executive Order 9346 said
"that there shall be no dis
elimination in the employment
of any person in war indus
tries or in Government by rea-
son of race, creed, color or ma
tional origin" The Order fur
ther required contracts and
subcontracts let by the Gov
ernment to contain provision
"obligating the contractor not
to discriminate against any
employee or applicant for en-
ployment because of race,
creed, color or national orig
in"
UNION MEMBERSHIP
Another section of the Order
declared that lit is the duty of
all employers and all labor
organizations to eliminate
discrimination in regard to
hire, tenure, terms or condi-
tions of employment or union
membership because of race,
creed, color or national orig
in"
The meaning of the Order is
clear and simple: 1t aims to en-
courage us as a people to live
up to the principle of demo-
cratic equality for the saliva
ton of which we have told the
world we are fighting this
war.
Practice what you preach, 1t
says clearly and simply.
In other words, since we are
fighting a war against an en-
emy who would make us the
slavish servants of a master
race, we should ourselves
cleanly disavow any inclina-
tions to set up one type or
color of American as superior
to other types or colors of peo-
pie living in this country.
BILBO SAYS NO
But Bilbo says No.
He says that he speaks for
a master white race which
rules the American South and
that he does not want the Fed
eral Government to spend
public funds in promotion of
a democratic principle upon
which this nation is founded.
Sincere Americans must
take their place on the side of
democratic justice in this fight.
We have shed blood and sacri-
feed lives to defeat would
be international master race;
we must, therefore, give of our
time, money and energy to de-
feat Bilbo and his domestic
master racists.
Otherwise we stand exposed
as hypocrites.
Labor, above all, must fight
for the FEPC. For, If Bilbo
wins, the employers will be
encouraged to incite workers
of one color or creed against
workers of another color or
creed-and, with our ranks so
divided, none will be strong
enough to win the full bene-
fits of unionism.
1trA A. sL H. ,,,1~Il oarnok