St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1950-07-07

the United States Senate to sup
port the petition for cloture.
ask the Members of the United
States Senate to support that Pc
tition, whether they are for FEPC
or not, because 1t Is of the utmost
Importance to the American peo-
pie, who were promised by two
political parties and by a host Of
spiritual, educational, and politi-
cal leaders that this legislation
would be brought TO a vote, that
the United States Senate permit
that vote to be taken.
The arguments which have
been used are not arguments
against the merits of the bill. The
arguments which have been used
are arguments for delay. I submit
that at this time American demo-
cracy needs to have constructive
effort made in legislative propo-
sails. We need to meet these is
sues head on. We need to be able
to study the pros and cons, for
there are two sides to these is
sues, and honest differences of
opinion. But those differences of
opinion can never be clearly and
effectively stated so long as we
find ourselves in a parliamentary
situation such as now prevails.
1 submit, Mr.. President, that If
this Nation can enter upon q
great and broad Marshall plan
without an argument as to
whether we should take up the
bill, if we can enter into Federal
aid to education, If we can have
program embracing more than
billion dollars for rivers and
harbors development, if we can
have a program that embraces
broad price-support legislation
for American agriculture, If we
can have programs that enter
into the school system of America
for vocational education and
medical education, If we can de-
bate on the floor of the Senate a
bill which affects the lives of
every young man and every
young woman in the land, such as
selective service, without ever
once having a moments debate as
to whether such legislation should
be considered, we ought to be
able to get the FEPC bill before
the Senate without the parlia-
mentary maneuvering which is
very evident on the floor of the
United States Senate.
Therefore, regardless o +
whether one is for the proposed
legislation or against it, I appeal
to the Senate to give the people
of America the opportunity to see
their Senate, the greatest delib-
erative body in the world. vote
upon one of the most controver-
sial issues of our time, for only In
that manner can men stand up
and be counted as to whether
they are for it or against it.
Mr.. President, earlier in the de-
bate asked that certain material
which 1 had prepared analysing
this bill, a factual analysis Of 1t,
its purposes. its intent, be in
corporated in the Record follow
ing my remarks. was given I'M
animous consent that that be
done.
The PRESIDING OFFICER.
The present occupant Of the chair
is advised that, without objection,
1t was so ordered.
(See exhibit ~
Mr.. HUMPHREY. know that
in looking over this material my
colleagues in the Senate will find
answers straightforward con-
structive answers to some of
the charges which have been
made. They will find answers, If
you please, to what I consider to
be a misinterpretation Of some of
the purposes of this bill.
EXHIBIT 1
STATEMENT BY SENATOR
HUBERT H. HUMPHREY ON
S. 1928. FAIR EMPLOYMENT
PRACTICES ACT.
Mr.. President, on January 5,
1919, the President of the United
States, in his state of the Union
message, recommended that the
Congress establish a Fair En-
ployment Practice Commission to
prevent unfair discrimination in
employment. He said:
I'VE in the United States be-
ueve that all men are entitled to
equality of opportunity. Racial,
religious, and other invidious
forms of discrimination deprive
the individual of an equal chance
to develop and utilize his talents
and to enjoy the rewards of his
efforts.
Once more I repeat my re-
quest that the Congress enact
fair employment practice legisla-
ton prohibiting discrimination In
employment based on race, color,
religion, or national origin. The
legislation should create a Fair
Employment Practice Commits
sion with authority to prevent
discrimination by employers and
labor unions, trade and profess
sional associations, and Govern
ment agencies and employment
bureaus. The degree of effective
ness which the wartime Fair
Employment Practice Committee
attained shows that it Is possible
to equalize job opportunity by
Government action and thus to
eliminate the influence of preju-
dice in employment"