The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-02-24
From indianapolis. Ind.)
LOCAL UNION ELECTIONS is

the topic Of discussion these days
wherever UAW-CIO members
meet. Every move that will be
made in the next two or three
weeks by most local union officials
viii be made with view 10 the
number Of votes it will mean in
the reelection Of that Official or
the defeat of someone he is oppoS-
ing.
The issue Of discrimination is no
exception: indeed in many locals
having large Negro. Jewish and
fore gn-born membership. the dis
elimination issue looms as the pri-
mary issue the members are called
upon TO consider Reports received
by us lately indicate that many
candidates for local union Office
are being sounded out on what they
intend 10 do about discrimination
at their plants in the event. they
oie elected. And. as should be ex-
pfcted, many high-sounding prom
iJes are being made by people
whose past conduct give no assur-
ance that their promises will be
kept.
At one local union. for example,
a printed pledg c form Is being cir
culated which binds the signer not
to engage In or permit the local
to engage In any social" discrimi-
nation. Prejudiced- minded mem
bers will, of course. vote against
any one who makes such . pledge;
and, on the other hand. nom
prcjudiced persons will not look
favorably upon a candidate who
refuses to give such a pledge.
AT STILL ANOTHER local union
a frantic search IS being made for
an acceptable" Negro 10 lend
color TO slate which otherwise
-hss-ne appeal-whateror TO the To-
calls large Negro membership. Why
some people assume that a man
is straight on the discrimination
issue merely because his skin is Of
a certain. hue has always puzzled
me. We still have Uncle Toms"
ard we have our share OF colored
"Hitlers,' too. who do not hesitate
10 show their anti-Semitism.
AT innumerable locals discrimi-
nation grievances are being vigor-
ously processed these days a, a
rate which gives the lie 10 such
stock allbies as. I'VE would up
grade our Negro brothers but the
company won't 20 along with u.s."
or The white workers would stop
production" or 1t takes time TO
do these things
That the so-called minorities'
vote is a potent factor In the cleo
ton or reelection of a large num-
her of local union officials goes
without saying. The important
question is whether these groups
should give or withhold their sup
port solely on the basis Of the can
didates' position on the discrimi-
nation issue alone. To do this.
think, would be q grave mistake.
IN lie OhN-NiO HtInDcI
does not belong to "a minority
group" he belongs TO a union made
up of free and equal members
Appeals for his support or vote
when made along racial, religious
etc, lines, should be regarded by
him as highly inappropriate. His
thinking and his action should be
conditioned by the thought thai
so far as my union and its affair:
are concerned, there are no minori.
tics"
Therefore. whether Il be locaI
union election time or any other
time. your views and your vote or
a given issue should be determined
/ by desire TO achieve that which
means the greatest good 10 every.
one alike in your local. The end.
ing Of racial and religious discrimi.
nation certainly falls in this cate.
CORY; but IL is not the sole issue
that demands your consideration.
Ask yourself what were some oil