St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1951-12-14


prise move by the President was a
short step in the right direction,
but felt that the order did not go
far enough.
The Dixiecrats and other re-
dictionaries claimed that such a
committee is unnecessary, while
the Republicans branded the ex-
ecutive order as political fodder.
In announcing the order at Key
West, Fla, where he is vacation
ing, the President stated that the
creation of this committee is one
more step in the program which
he has undertaken to use the
powers conferred on the executive
by the constitution to eliminate
the practice of discrimination in
connection with activities of feder-
al government.
He pointed out that the fair en-
ployment board of the civil service
commission is carrying out such
responsibility for federal en-
ployees, and the Presidents COM
mittee on equality of treatment
and opportunity in the armed ser
vices pointed the way toward end
ing discrimination in our fighting
forces.
The President said cOntrac-
tors fulfilling contracts with the
Federal government should fol-
low the national policy Of equal
treatment and opportunity.
The new committee to be set up
under this Order might be COM
pared in some ways with the ORR
ginal FEPC established by Presi-
dent Roosevelt during World War
II, only it will be much narrower
in scope.
The original fair employment
practices committee had the
authority to issue cease and de-
sist" orders, while the new COM
mittee is expected only to con-
fer, advise and make recommen-
dations to officers of contracting
agencies regarding the prevention
and elimination of discrimination.
Clarence Mitchell. director of
the Washington bureau. NAACP.
expressed disappointment in the
order, because of its weaknesses
and lack of enforcement powers.
In past negotiations with De-
Tense mobilizer Charles f. Wilson,
the American Council on Human
Rights, through its director, Ell
mer w. Henderson. had contended
that special machinery set up to
enforce the non-disCriminatory
clause already in the defense con-
tracts could have a tremendous
effect on the general efforts to-
ward fair employment.
When the recent order was is
sued. Henderson commented:
Much will depend on the
CaHbcr of the six public members
of the committee yet to be ap-
pointed. and whether the commit
tee will be given an adequate
staff of interested an sympathetic
examiners to enable il TO carry
out its function The test win be
in the prompt investigation of the
practices Of ContraC-
tors and sub contractors to deter
mine if they are carrying out the
letter and spirit Of the contract
clause and to require that they so
do.
From the DiNieCrat corner
came statement from Sen. J.
William Fulbright ID. Ark
that the Presidents move looked
to him like "diVersionary
movement" 10 take the public
spotlight off the tax collection
scandals"
Sen. Walter F. George ID, Ca
is reported as saying the only
thing he could make OF it was that
Mr.. Truman may be preparing to
run for President again.
From the Republican angle, Val
assistant TO the
chairman of the National Repub-
Iican Committee. said he could see
nothing new in the order.
Washington interpreted the or
der as an implication that the
was only creating
to recommend that