Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1951-02-09

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stated the sole purpose OF tho
proposed legislation was TO com
pei a busincHS man 90 hire or pro
mote someone he doesn't want OF
keep him from firing Romeonc he
feels should be fired. Hts attack
IN tho bill was vicious,
Christensen said this bill waa
substantially tho same one which
had been proposed In the u. =.
Cungrcas for tho past ten yoars
and was regularly defeated Ho
said, 1t IN alan the same bill
which has been presented 10 our
state legislature and been dc.
rcatcd for tho past six years"
Race Identification
Christensen read several pas
ages from the proposed lcgiRla-
ton which the opposition. accord,
ing 10 him, felt was unfair and
gave too much power 10 only
few,
One Of tho most vicious parts
~ tho bill said ChriatcnHen was
the abuliahmcnt Of race idontifi'
cation lie told the labor group,
according Ia tho bill, II was u.
legal Ia ask man II he was born
IN this country. whether he WAS
n u. n. Citizen. questions about
his birth, race, color, nationality.
religious preference, parents
birthplace, hiR or her past On
perionce, any police record, or
political RffilIation. You cant
even ask II he ever served IN the
Russian Army" he said.
In urthering his argument
against the bill. Christensen said
that under tho bill. freedom ~ r..
llgion would be exempted and
that businessmen wanted that
same freedom,
Use Of Negro M.D.'I uted
The opponents spokesman used
the Mayo Clinic In one Of his Oh.
JoctlonA 10 the bill lie said the
Mayo Clinic had patients from all
over tho world come hare for
treatment and that In the u. \.
most Of tho patients came frum
below the Mason Dixon line
lie said, Southern white
women do not want 90 b. en-.
aInined by Negro doctors nor do
they want thsir ChlIdrcR exam
IBed by them" lie stated the
clinic had even TIRED doctors
from India, hat even this
wouldn't work.
A. for tho UpgradinR Of cm-
ployees. Christensen told the
committee that companies wanted
the privilege of upgradlnK the
people who had the beat quaiiflca-
tions and would create the best
harmony among the employees.
According % Mr.. Christensen,
Gorr8nea would bs walking
along tho line hslpiRg the work.
err with their tasks and lean.
Ing over thsm. Sc said. "s0me
white womsn would not liks .
Negro beading over them and
hsIpinE them"
One phase Of ChristsnSsn's
testimony was questioned uRor-
0usly by n member Of the commit
tee. ChriStenSrn had previously
stated what would happen 10 the
community ~ Sacred Heart,
which. according 10 him, was all
Catholic. and operated q saw mill.
lie said, n a Lutheran was sent
into this community. Il would ruin
the business.
Little Drastic"
Labor Committeeman w.
Holm from Tyler. Nina, told
ChTistnasen hs had baea In b1sI.
neaa with o concern In . Gath.
ollie community for forty years.
and that he had not ruined the
business. ChFistsns~n thrn
stated that maybe he had boen
- IIttLe drastic" In his state
meat.
Minnesota Mining Against MN
The oppoSiti0n also presented
several witnesses. One % the
largest turn0uts against the bill
was from the Minnesota Mining
Company who had several repre-
sentRtives present led by Ivan
Lawrence. Vice president Of the
personnel division Of that COM
pany. Mr.. Lawrence said that the
proposed legislation provided adj
ditiOnaI disadvantages 10 Mime
sofa business. Hs cited ths pro-
greas OF his firm In the field Of
minority employment with coop
GRAFTON Of the g. Paul Urban
League. Through voluntary
means. yOT win see more lasting
results than with Liquidation" he
said.
Gamers Opp0sod
Another important witness for
the opposition. was Edwin Krans.
Canning executive from Orion
vile. MINI. who said that the
canning industry was opposed 10
tbS bin in principle. We believe"