St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-04-06

EDWARD ]. THYE
study "the first Of a series Of re-
ports to the Governor on various
racial and religious situations
which may affect the public peace
in Minnesota during the postwar
years"
In a foreword Governor Edward
J. Thye said:
"The vital point in this report Is
the finding of the Commission that
while during wartime all Negroes
in Minnesota can obtain both full
employment and a fair opportunity
for upgrading, yet in peacetimes a
much larger proportion Of Negroes
than white persons cannot secure
any employment; and Of the Ne
groes employed few enjoy oppor-
tunities for being upgraded. In
addition to this information, the
Commission has tried to explore the
mind Of industrial Minnesota to de-
termine why the Negro is denied
employment.
"If a considerable number Of the
citizens, whether they be en-
ployers, employees, customers or
governmental officials, would read
and discuss this report the racial
patterns of employment would
steadily change for the better. Our
mistakes in this matter are attri-
butable, I am confident, to a lack
of information rather than to a
deliberate disregard of American
principles"
The report itself gives a compo-
site picture of replies made by ever
600 employers to a QUESTIONABLE
seeking their attitude on the full
employment Of Negroes. Firms
which had Negro personnel were
asked to give their experience with
Negro employees.
Records of such employees as to
absenteeism, union problems, gar
nishees, efficiency, honesty, clean
illness, punctuality and cooperative
ness.
Labor unions of the state were
also quizzed. Only 100 unions out
of 45O replied to the questiOnnaires,
the percentage being about the
same proportion as employers re-
plying.
The report revealed that while
there is at present plenty Of en-
ployment for Negroes in the war
period that in the peacetime period
they suffer greatly from refusal Of
employers to consider them for en-
plOyment.
The Twin Cities Ordnance Plant
operated by Federal Cartridge
Corp. is given considerable praise
for being the first war plant to fully
utilize Negro labor IN this area.
Other firms mentioned who now
hire Negroes include Northwest
Airlines, Inc, Munsingwear, Inc,
International Harvester Co., Griggs-
Cooper, Raymond Laboratories,
Brown and Bigelow, D. w. Oman
and Sons, Seeger Refrigerator Co.,
Superior Metal Products Co., North
western Aeronautical Corporation,
the A. o. Smith Co., the Strutwear
Knitting Co., Minneapolis Honey
well Co., Minneapolis Moline and
others.
The readable report has chapters
and sections on ''The Negro Comes
to Minnesota" "The White Immi-
grant Travels to the Northwest"
"The Governors Interracial Com
mission" "The Nature of the Prob
lem," "Civil Rights" Housing"
Employment" "What is the Ne
gro's Opportunity for Securing
Employment in Minnesota" "Dur-
ing the War Years." During the
Years of Peace"
Sections are devoted to the Public
Utilities, the Railroads and Bus
Lines, Packing Plants, Ford Plants,
U. s. Postal Department, Mime
sofa State government, county
governments and municipal govern
ments.
A chapter is devoted to Who Are
the Persons in Minnesota Who Keep
Negroes from Working? with sec
tons on employer and employee
motives and reactions.
Rev. Francis Gilligan, chairman
of the commission, who, with the
St. Paul Urban League, did the bulk
of the work of gathering and as
sembling data for the report said
Wednesday that it is planned to dis
tribute $1,000 copies to business
firms and labor unions.
Papers Praised