Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-02-15

FEPC transcends in important
lynching bill or an anti-poll tax
bill. Jobs are fundamental. In
our society we must work if we
would eat; jobs are tantamount to
life itself. Our leaders, along with
liberal whites, have made FEPC
national word. They have made
the nation conscious Of the injus-
tees being done minority groups
here by employers, unions, ETC.,
which look first at color, religion,
or race before hiring a person.
A federal FEPC is now the final
hope Of the hundreds Of thousands
Of Negroes who were In the armed
forces. Other hopes are fast dis
sipating. The Four Freedoms
were found TO be empty words when
Churchill made the British posi-
ton known. The One World idea
has been proven glorious fiction
because Of the unreadiness Of the
dominant white reactionaries to
think Of it In the way the late
Wendell Willkie did. Now comes
FEPC as a last hope.
During the war, the Negro be-
came more labor conscious than
ever before. Labor unions courted
him, namely the clio, and in some
rare instances, even the AFofL.
More and more, as it was proved
how it should work out. Negro
workers started placing their eggs
in the union basket and the brave,
noble words Of the union leaders
were calculated to buoy up the
hopes Of black labor which in the
past was so studiously avoided
except for dues.
Now comes the national disgrace,
the "flibuster circus" being staged
in the senate by southern repre-
sentatives Of white supremacy. A
close look at what is going on re-
yeals the country in the throes Of
an industrial upheaval. Some of
the more pessimistic predict a
major revolution as the only means
out of this national dilemma. The
labor unions, the CLIO and the AFL
are fighting what amounts to be a
bitter struggle for survival with
the hardy, fat, sleek bosses Of our
nations big industries.
The President, disregarding ad-
vice Of his party members, told
Congress he wanted an FEPC
measure passed. In this, Mr.. Tru-
man is honest and extremely brave,
going further along this line than
his predecessor in the White house.
But Mr.. Humans request came in
the midst u perilous time when
relationships between management
and labor are strained and at a time
when management has evidently
decided to break the power Of the
growing labor unions once and for
all.
FEPC means the same as a dose
of salts to a southern representa-
tive, whether he is a Congressman
or a Senator. FEPC means to him
a challenge to white supremacy
and IL the Japs were lined up on
the banks Of the Potomac he would
filibuster and argue until exhausted
to prevent any such measure for
the benefit Of the Negro to pass.
The other day, delegation
descended upon Washington to
picket the Senate on behalf Of the
FEPC and against the un-Ameri-
can filibuster. Among the dele
gates were many Wholesome
from the South, others from the
North, but all committed to fight
against n system that allows the
many to be ruled by the few. II
was inspired by the National Negro
Congress and the National Council
for a Permanent FEPC, plus a few
smaller and less widely-known or
CARNATIONS. Absent from the lists
officially and-prominent by their
absence, were both the American
Federation Of Labor and the Con-
gress Of Industrial Organizations.
Without them, the picketing and
demonstrations seemed a waste Of
time.
II there is any real sincerity in
what William Green Of the AFL
and Phillip Murray Of the CLIO have
to say toward winning Negro conf
dcnce to organized labor, IL would
appear that both Of these organiza-
tons would put the full weight Of
their unions behind the passage Of
the FEPC. Against that view
point there can be no quarrel.
Labor leaders while in the North
talk long and earnestly about FEPC
and why II should be on the books.
They inspire and stir up hopes in
Negroes that they are 1905 with
us in our battle for our rights.
But when the business gets down to
cases, they are found missing
Why!
We all know that there's a steel
strike going on: that the automo-
tive industry is torn asunder by
labor strife; that the packinghouse
workers just finished their strike;
that the Western Union and tele-
graph workers are out; that many
! other union demonstration against
management unfairness are TAX.
ing place throughout the land. Blu;