Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-08-16
ANNA HEDGEMAN
QUITS FEPC COUNCIL


favored a compromise In order to
get a standard Of conduct In en-
plOyment written into federal law
with the hope Of getting the legis-
lation amended later, thought that
II would be bad to accept a COM
promise Mt that time because they
doubted that there was time for
Congress TO pass a bill before adj
jOurnment.
Randolph called a meeting Of the
policy committee of the Council
and, In effect, told the members Of
that committee he wanted them to
accept the Taft bill because he had
organized the Council and raised
the funds with which IL had car
ried on. Members OF the policy COM
mittee, among them Walter White,
executive secretary Of the National
Association for the Advancement
Of Colored People, were amazed.
The policy committee voted against
him. He then appointed a commit
tee to study the organizational and
financial structure Of the Council.
In the two-y year fight for FEPC
legislation, one Of the difficulties
Mrs. Hedgeman and her staff faced
was the inability to get Mr.. Ran
dolph 10 come TO Washington and
assume leadership at strategic
times. He was usually too busy.
Randolph IL the president Of
the brotherhood Of Sleeping Car
POTters, the head Of the March
on WashingtOn" movement, which
pressuTed the late President
Franklin ID. Roosevelt into issu-
ing the executive order June IS.
1871. creating the Fair Employ
meRt Practice Committee; he also
IL q leader Of the Socialist party
and In now heading a third party
movement.
Mr.. Randolph was unable to attend
the frSt hearings on the FEPC
bill. He came here only during the
last few days Of the three week
flibuster against the FEPC bill in
last January and February. and
was unable 20 attend an emergen-
cy dinner meeting at the May
flower hotel on January %.
Usually Mr.. Randolph was not
available for appointments. Only
when Robert r. Church, the Ten
nessee Republican leader, began
making appointments for Randolph
and himself TO talk with Senators
did Randolph begin to lobby per-
sonally for the bill.
Back Of the difficulties also lies
Randolph's affiliations. In the or
ganiEation Of the Council he ig-
nored Mr.. White. Some people at
tribute TO this fact the threats Of
the NAACP to take over the fight
for permanent FEPC legislation.
The National Council Of the Con-
gress Of Industrial Organizations
never made n substantial contribu-
ton TO the Council, while Il gave
s25. 900 20 the National Commit
tee to Abolish the Poll Tax. Some
members Of the CLIO are opposed
to Randolph because he would not
take the Brotherhood Of Sleeping
Car Porters out of the American
Federation Of Labor when John
l.. Lewis, president Of the United
Mine Workers of America, and his
cohorts left the AFL.
Communists Involved
As a socialist he Is opposed to
Communists. This has caused the
Council TO veeT to the right, and
much Of its support has come from
church groups. including Catholics.
As observers here see it, only
n complete reorganization Of the
Council on n broader base with rep
resentatives Of national organiEa-
tons composing the membership
can reinvigorate the Council.
Mrs. Hedgeman was not avail
able for comment. At her apartment
here her husband. Merritt Hedge.
man, n veteran, stated she was
planning a well deserved vacation.