Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-04-13


Kinzer, presided and presented
Representative Thomas Vukelich Of
Gilbert, Minnesota, one of the
sponsors of the bill, who spoke. He
declared that there was great need
for the proposed legislation and
called attention to the fact that
such bill had recently been passed
by the New York State Legislature
and signed by Governor Thomas E.
Dewey.
The Minnesota bill is patterned
after the Ives-Quillan Bill, that is
now law in New York state. Rev.
C. T. R. Nelson, president of the st.
Paul branch of the NAACP, spoke
after Representative Vukelich.
Such legislation is needed for ma
tional security and unity he said.
at is quite obvious that our armies
will win the war on the foreign
battlefelds, but we are in grave
danger of losing the peace on the
home front because of segregation
and discrimination" the Camphor
Methodist church pastor asserted.
Frank Boyd, secretary-treasurer
Of the Twin Cities Division of the
Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Port
ers and a presidential elector, spoke
about the discrimination against
the Jews in the Twin Cities.
He declared that it was race
batting" that made possible the
disruption of Europe by the forces
of evil and thereby disrupted
the peace of the world. The vet
eran labor leader scored the wave
Of anti-Semitism as evidenced re-
Gently in the attacks on Jewish
children in North Minneapolis.
Minnesota was characterized as
being a progressive state by Tai
madge c. Carey, secretary of Gov
ernor Thye's inter-racial commits
sion and chairman of the Mime
sofa FEPC delegation to Washing
ton. Mr.. Carey said that as yet
we have had no serious racial diff
culities, but that we must not let
that fact lull US to sleep. 1--WE must
show the way to the nation in such
matters as are before us today"
He told the members of the Labor
Committee that if they could be a
Negro or a Jew for just "a hours
they would understand just how
much the proposed legislation is
needed. He cited the fact that $50
of the Negroes of st. Paul were on
relief during the depression, while
only 25R of whites were on the
relief rolls. He declared that there
are many cases of discrimination
in war industries in Minnesota. He
referred to the Constitution of our
country and said that we need to
live up to the spirit of it and that
the Constitution needs to be imple-
mented with such legislation as is
now being proposed. This legis-
lation is necessary to give to every
one what they are justly due. This
is not legislation against prejudice,
but it does say to an employer or
labor union that they must not use
their prejudices against individuals
in the matter of employment"
Speaking of the returning service
personnel Mr.. Carey said, when
our boys-white and black-return
after fighting together they will
want full employment. Our diff
Guilty is found in low or no income
groups, for they can not secure
proper food, clothing, housing and
other essentials for better living
and this bill hits at the very root
of many of the problems of minori-
ties" Mr.. Carey asserted. In re-
ferring to the bill that is before the
Congress for a national FEPC act,
with enforcement powers, Mr..
Carey said that the passing of a
state bill would implement the pro-
posed federal legislation, in that
the state bill would cover intra-
state employment problems, which
are not covered in the proposed fed
eral bill.
No Special Privileges Wanted
"The Negro is not seeking
special privileges but they want
what other citizens desire-full and
equal employment opportunities.
Such legislation would be beneficial
to all groups in our community,
majorities, as well as minorities,"
Mr.. Carey concluded.
It was at this point in the hear
ing that Representative T. v.
Oraas, of the 18th District and a
member of the House Labor Com
mittee, raised the question as to
whether we could legislate against
such incidents as occurred in North
Minneapolis in the attacks against
Jewish children or is education the
proper approach? Quick as a flash
Frank Boyd jumped to his feet and
asked to answer the question. LEG
islation is a part of education"
Mr.. Boyd declared, as he went on to
speak about the need of ''humani-
tartan legislation"
C. /. o. Leader Speaks
C. o. jacobson, a head Of the
State CLIO Council, said that the
basis of the problem is education,
but that people need employment.