The Omaha guide., 1946-07-20

The headlines on June 25th dealt
with OPA extension and a host Of
other matters. There should have
been one more item on the front
page Of every paper: the anniver-
sary Of FEPC.
On that date in 1941 President
roosevelt issued an executive Or
der reaffirming the nations creed
OF no job discrimination "a creed
more often by-passed than observ
ed.) Despite giant want ads, Ne
groes, Jews, and other minorities
were being refused job training
~up-grading and even union men,
bership. The situation was so ser
ious, in terms of community ten
sions, that A. Philip Randolph Or
gained a mass protest which soon
resounded in Congress and the
White House. Thus, out of the
struggle of one minority group an
executive order was born which
brought other minorities into it's
scope.
The wartime FEPC had %
Utility for discrimination in de-
tense industries and government
This Committee developed techni-
ques for consideration and inte-
grafton. But after constant snip
ing from Negro-baiting, Jew-bait-
ing, iabor-baiting congressman,
the wartime FEPC went out of
official existence on June Both.
On June 25th the National Coun-
Gil for a Permanent FEPC spon-
sored rallies and meetings through
the country in order to focus '
eryone's attention on our
sion to prewar discriminatory
practices. We want the country
to know that even the u. S. EN-.
ployment Service is nov accepting
orders for white only, Gentle
only, or Protestant only.
1t was the hope Of the National
Council that permanent legisla-
ton could be enacted before the
wartime Committee was dissolved.
The National Council has, through
its 81 cooperating organizations,
been able to make the FEPC "A
national issue in two years. an
unusual achievement in the an
uals of Washington lobbying. Both
major parties felt compelled to in
sert an FEPC plank into their
platforms.
The bills introduced in the SEN
ate and the House were approved
by Committees of the respective
bodies. In the Senate, the bill ac-
tually reached the floor; but after
the filibuster it was returned to
the calendar. In the House, the
Rules Committee voted to hold the.
bill in committee. A discharge pc
tition, requiring 218 signatures,
which would bring the bill to the
House floor for discussion, lacks
43 signatures. But those very AZ,
missing signatures mean that nei-
ther party has lived up to its pro-
misses. The National Council made
June 25th a day Of re-consecra-
ton to the task of preparing for
action in the next Congress. Our
OOSoll Il OllllCd E1(IlOll CT 11OlAlC
while congressman and senator's
are back in their districts for the
summer.
The National Council has two
strong arms-the 81 cooperating
organizations and the SO local
councils. We are recognizing our
executive committee to include
more representatives of national
organizations and other key peo-
pie. We have set up a policy COM
mittee. "A planning committee is
working with us on a complete
study of our program, with a view
to strengthening it and giving
more adequate services to all in
terested groups.
Recently, from a refugee camp
in Germany a congratulatory
cablegram reached the United
Council of Church Women follow
ing its selection of a Negro mo-
Their as the American Mother Of
1916. you have given hope to
the world, the cablegram said.
Imagine the hope which could be
given here at home if. after our
our observance of June 25th, we
create a national groundswell that
helps us pass federal legislation
against job discrimination. For in
the final analysis, the right to
work is the right to live.
-APA-