Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-08-16
Dear Joe
BY JAMES L. HICKS


.. Editors Mote: George Holland. special
HAls"n representative in the NetrFans Ad-
ninistTation. writes a guest column this
week for Mr.. Hicks. who IL on vacation
Holland - former resident Of ST Paul }
Dear Jimmy:
I've thought Of you many times
since we both got that "homing
pigeon" in our lApels; however, un-
I'll now things have been happening
so fast | haven't had a good op-
portunity TO write you.
Just as had hoped while IN
service, | finally secured a lob in
the Veterans Administration. I'm
assigned TO Joe Especial Assistant
10 the Administrator AlbriRht's
office now as the Special Liaison
representative and in that capacity
I've made visits 10 most Of the
principal cities in the country talk
ing to veterans groups on various
phases Of the Veterans Admins
tratiOn program.
l regret to say, Jim, that the
picture isn't rosy. You are IA
milIar with the CT Bill. OF course,
you know Of its main features
disqualification, review Of dis
charges, education and On-the- lob
training, loans for homes, bust
ness, and farms, and reimbursement
allowances unemployment pay.
As you know, it requires the
cooperation Of the local community
TO make the two most pertinent
features Draining or education.
and loans) workable. Well, the
communities are not doing a com
plete Job. Despite the Chiefs (Gen-
eral Omar n. Bradley's) insistent
plea for complete community par
ticipatlon, most cities have too
many laggards. As always, where
the Tan Yanks are concerned the
picture is even darker.
In too many METROPOLITAN
areas across the country the Tan
lanks are taking a beating from
all sides. Unfortunately, there
are not too many sepia business
men who are informed, and Of
those that are aware Of their
chance TO help, too many are
refusing to do so. To explain nv
point, Jimmy. let's (yOD take
Washington, ID. G.
Washington has often been called
the capital of the world and | am
told daily that it is the center
Cseat that isl Of Negro culture
and education. | shan't argue
either point, and | will agree that
there is an unusually large group
OF prosperous Negro businesses as
well as "A group of firms that are
IN an almost all Negro area whose
profits are dependent upon the
Negro populace. With such ad-
vantages existent one would think
that those Negro CTS seeking bust
ness and on-the-jo training in
d. c. would have little trouble
However. such is not the case.
In ID. c. there are only twenty.
four firms (NegrOD that have Sc
cured approval from the Board of
Education and the Veterans Admin.
lStratlOn for On-the- Job training
You know, Jim, that is not good,
and since you are always giving
the Veterans Administration hell
in your column, how about stir
ring up u little interest" within
the Negro community on behalf of
these eN-GIs who wish TO learn the
art of businesses such as theater
managers, office managers, real
] estate gnlpHnnnn
men. restaurant managers and the
entire gamut of those businesses
that the District is blessed? =
within the Negro community.
Considering the number Of Ne
gro businesses in Washington,
ID, C., including many of the fore
going lines of endeavor, il is def.
nitcly surprising that so few have
secured the necessary approval, and
It Is an unpleasant picture, one
of which ! am not proud. Incl
dentally, there are one or two of
the approved firms that have no
tTalnees at this time. and strange
/ ly enough, in some Of the more
popular trades and businesses, for
example. electrical refrigeration
and accuuntancy. Why? | don't
know. II is enough to say that the
picture in Washington is repre-
sentative Of the entire country and
especially the metropolitan cities
where there are large "concentra-
tions" Of Negro ex-GI's.
I'm sorry. Jim. that | have
taken this first letter to you to
"gripe" about the problems Of
Negro veterans. but il is a prob
lem that should be Of concern 10
all Of us, and am constantly
made aware of the increasing
need for help for Negro veterans
from the Negro public. So
please, Jimmy. in some column in
the near future, point out these
things TO your public, your en-
ployers, and your friends. We
vets need help now.
| hope to have the pleasure of
seeing you again soon and until
then, | am
Yours sincerely.
George Holland.