Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1953-02-20

/ ueNah w NNt piNs
Jensen. who IL vice president OF
the scott-AtwAter Manufactures
Co, and president Of tho Mlnnsap-
oils school board. said no was
speaking for the members Of 06
organizations associated with the
council.
Robert c, Mcclure. professor of
law. University of Minnesota,
opened tho testimony by explain
ing the various provisions Of the
bill for the committee.
Jensen then went into the rea-
sons why the bill was necessary
and. u passed. u would be sound
legislation,
lie pointed out that job dlscrim-
nation was morally and sthicaily
wrong.
THE law states q basic prin-
ciple OF good business manage
ment 10 smpoly those best quail.
fled to do the work required"
In reference 20 the enforcement
section Of the bill. Jensen stated
that In tho event q case should
come 10 the courts, the penalty
imposed 'in not for discrimination
In employment policy but for diff
ance Of our district court"
Some Of tho opponents" Of the
bill In past sessions Of the leginla.
ture have tried 20 intimate that
employment on merit In q Com
munist inspired idea" Jensen said,
Jensen said that tho Reds do
not want American free enter
prise 90 solve the problem Of uTn.
pioymsnt discrimination"
lie said that when President
Roosevelt established the wartime
FEPc the Com m uniHts were
among the Ioudest opponents"
Jensen also referred 10 the REC
ordn of the seven states and three
cities which have FIfPC laws and
ordinances which show In osnF
1000 cases that have come 10 tho
attention Of the states and cities.
there have bssn only two that
haVa gone 10 court
In each case 70 was 10 test the
oonHtItutionaiity Of the law. And
only seven have gone 10 far a. 10
require public hearings,
TIE bin. ~ proposed In the SEN
ate by Son. Gerald Muiiin. Mime.
apolla. sets up o body 70 examine
the facts In . dispute concerning
Job discrimination and provides
for Cancellation and education"
whore the facts warrant.
n the Cancellation fails. n spe-
cIai governors review board Ia
called upon IN help out. and n that
fails. then the case II settled IN
district court,
Jensen also said that JOB dis
elimination wsakens the nation
politically and economically.
"It should bs clear that where
lack ~ opportunity eKists--aa u
does exist for those who fall be-
hind the discrimination curtain
10 that extent we reduce Tho abii.
ity Of large numbers Of our most
productive citizens 90 participate
In our free enterprise system,
which requires that every worker.
sven a. every entrsprsnsuT be free
% work b the extent Of his capac-
lty and resources % that he may
be both q producer and q consum-
or. To deny q man q JOB when he
" able 10 and willing 20 work II 10
undermine his faith In our system
Of free enterprise"
The speaker pointed out that
FEPc involves more people than
the Negroes In the state. Hs said;
I'VE are not advocating Q biii
simply 10 Improve thu employment
opportunities Of our 10000 Negro
citizens. There can be lIttIs ques-
ton that they are victims Of Q
pattern Of vicious discrimination
and consequently our entire Soci-
ETY. In NietimiSsd
Even more severely dlScriTni-
mated against are an even larger
number Of American Indians. Nv
ing In our cities and towns, IN
rural areas and on gravsly de-
pressed reservations.
And thsre are other racial and
sthnIe minoritIss vino suffer from
our pattsrn Of employment dis
elimination. Religious discrimina-
tion. too. II q serious problem IN
employment"
Jensen assured the senators that
~ race or religion Ia iegitimatsly
related 10 competency in any CIV
en- Job, thsn one does not discrim-
inats n the employer insists that
thsss eritsria be met"
After Jensen flniShsd his testi-
mony he introdncsd eight other
speakers VINO spOks briefly N sup
port Of the ban
Stuart Lsck. president Of tha
James Lsck Co, top flight con-
tractors said the ban would be
sbeneficfal % employers ana am.