Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-02-23
Staff Correspondence


Cities attended a mass meet
ing at the Halle @. Brown
Community House last Satur-
day night on a twenty-four
hour emergency" call, and heard
A. Philip Randolph, the dynamic
leader of the Brotherhood of Sleep
ing Car Porters, speak on the need
Of a permanent federal Fair EN-
ployment Practices Commission
Mr.. Randolph asked that Minnesots
send a delegation to Washington in
support of a permanent FEPC. Mr.
Randolph is the organizer of the
March-on- Washington movement
which was responsible for President
Roosevelt creating the Fair En-.
ployment Practices Committee by
executive order. He read and ex,
planned Senate File 1O1 and House
of Representatives Bill All (iden-
teal bills) now being considered by
the 10Th Congress.
Mr.. Randolph declared that the
proposed Legislation sis a revolu-
tionary policy" and that never be-
fore has the Congress attempted to
legislate against discrimination in
employment on the basis of race,
creed, color, national origin or an
cestry." The speaker pointed out
that not only are Negroes discrim-
mated against in employment, but
Jews, Catholics and Mexicans suf-
fer also.
Mr.. Randolph described the posi-
ton that Senator Robert Taft, the
leader Of the Republicans in the
Senate, has taken in the matter. At
first the Ohio Senator had three
reservations in regard to the Bill
and he was not moved from that
position until a delegation of 35
Ohioans of both major parties
went to Washington to see
him, and to urge him to sup
port a permanent FEPC. "They
moved Senator Taft" Mr.. Randolph
said, ''but to a worse position
Senator Taft has come forth with
a bill that has no teeth in it."
Mr.. Randolph said Minnesota's
senior Senator, Henrik Shipstead,
is non-committal on the Bill, that
he will not discuss the matter. SEN
atog Joseph H. Ball was reported as
being in favor Of some kind of
Legislation in the matter, but seems
to prefer the Taft type of bill.
Asks That Delegation Be Sent
Mr.. Randolph urged that a COM
mittee from Minnesota should go
to Washington and confer with all
of the Minnesota Representatives
and the two Senators not later
than Feb. 81 to urge them
to support the Bill with some
teeth in it." and not the Taft pro-
posal. ..-ss-,'
Legislation Important to All
Cecil Newman, editor of The Min
Spokesman and St. Paul
predicted that there will
be serious trouble in the post war
world in our country if this legis-
lation is not passed and enforced.
Negroes and Jews, who have
fought in this war will not be salts
fed to be refused employment when
this war is over D.. and this legis-
lation is just as important to the
group as to the minorities
that the bill will help" Mr.. New
man declared.
Crowd Takes Action
The crowd at the mass meeting
was ready for action and a motion
was made to organize a Twin City
Council for a Permanent Fair EN-
ployment Practices Bill and a steer
ing committee of eight persons
were named to make plans for rails
ing money to send delegation to
Washington. Those named on the
steering committee were J. T,
Wardlaw, Talmadge Carey, Jonas
Schwartz, and Cecil Newman, all Of
Minneapolis; and Mrs. Ruth Gage
Colby, Mrs. Helen Parker Mudgett,
Frank Boyd and S. Vincent Owens,
all of St. Paul. Officers of the
steering committee include, CO.
chairmen, Frank Boyd and Mrs,
Colby from St. Paul, and Talmadge
Carey and Mrs. Lawrence Steefel
from Minneapolis; Rev. Clarence
T. R. Nelson, St. Paul, secretary;
Judge Edward Waite, Minneapolis,
treasurer.
After an appeal by Rev. Nelson,
$80.25 was raised in cash at the
mass meeting. Miss Myrtle Garden,
after making remarks of apprecia-
ton for the "fine and sacrificial'
work of Mr.. Randolph in the fight
for a permanent Fair Employment
Practices act, pledged one hundred
dollars for the work. Several other
pledges were made.
The steering committee met i'm
mediately after the adjournment Of
the mass meeting. Names of more
than a hundred people of the Twin
Cities were submitted as prospect,
i've sponsors for the Twin City
Council for a Permanent Fair EN-
ployment Practices Bill and tele.
grams sent to them for a meeting
to be held at the Radisson Hotel or
the following Tuesday night.
On Tuesday night more than 8