St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-02-28


NAACP, testified before the g
ton, on February 2Oth.>
Mr.. Mitchell denounced Senate
resolutions S. IS, S. $50, s. l05
and s. 1873, introduced by Republi-
can Senators Joseph H. Ball, Of
Minnesota, and by Robert A. Taft
Of Ohio, and II. Alexander Smith
Of New Jersey, which contain pro-
visions which he charged would
provide machinery for frustrating
unions with injunctions, wrecking
their treasures with damage suits,
and sending their members shiver-
ing to jail"
Speaking not only for the more
than one and a half million colored
persons in the AFL and the CLIO,
but also for millions Of morgan
lied colored agricultural workers
now being encouraged to Join
unions .. and thereby raise their
standards Of living and increase
their security" Mr.. Mitchell point
ed out that "the glimmer Of hope
which these people have from the
new efforts to organize them will
be extinguished II the iron clamp
Of rigid federal control is applied
to them" since "these bills, II en-
acted into law, would have the eff
feet Of giving legal sanction from
the federal government to organ
lied violence against them"
"This Congress which has so
many bills to regulate labor is
wanting in a drive to stamp out
lynching in this country" Mr..
Mitchell said. It is lethargic with
regard to protecting the rights Of
minorities through fair employ
ment practice legislation.
These evils which are eating
away the foundations Of our de-
mocraey are the things which
should challenge the interest Of
all ut this time, and we call upon
those who have energy for passing
laws to turn their attention to
these things rather than to the
punitive anti-labor legislation now
before u.s."
When Mr.. Mitchell finished read
ing a prepared statement, Senator
Robert A. Taft, of Ohio, committee
chairman, remarked that II take II
you are opposed to any legislation"
THAT is correct" Mr.. Mitchell re-
piled. He modified his answer, how
ever, saying that he was opposed
to any pending measure.
"Are you In favor Of any labor
legislation 7" Senator Morse asked.
In reply, Mr.. Mitchell attributed
to Senator Morse a statement made
last Wednesday by Philip Murray,
president Of the Congress Of In
dustrial Organizations, that the
representatives Of labor and some
members Of Congress get together
and map out a labor program.
Senator Morse told Mr.. Mitchell
that he was trying to be a pretty
coldblooded realist," that there was
an overwhelming demand for legis-
lation, that Congress was going to
vote for II.
~ hope | can vote for some good
legislation" Senator Morse said,
but II l have to make a choice be-
tween no legislation at all and even
some legislation that goes too far,
| would vote for the legislation that
goes too far"
When Mr.. Mitchell protested
this would be unfortunate" and
that pending bills were intro
dueed in an atmosphere Of
hysteria," Morse interrupted him,
saying:
you overlook the essence Of
the legislative process. We have
TO work out a considerable COM
promise. We just are not getting
any help from labor at ALL"
Unless labor comes forward with
some constructive suggestions, SEN
ator Morse said, the Congress will
have to do the best it can without
the help Of labor.
Earlier Mr.. Mitchell had clashed
with Senator Taft, who took excep-
ton to his statement that the bills
under consideration, "if enacted into
law would have the effect Of giving
legal sanction from the federal gov
eminent TO organized violence"
against unorganized colored agri-
cultural workers VINO are now belng
encouraged TO join unions.
81 think you have certainly an
extraordinary conclusion" Senator
Taft remarked.
Mr.. Mitchell recited an incident
which William Green, president Of
the American Federation Of Labor,
had previously told the committee
about. 1t concerned the abduction
and beating Of Willie Green in
Georgia during efforts to organize
the cement, lime and gypsum work
ers.
What has this all got to do with