Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1953-02-27

the pubic the corporations plan.
Negroes who had previously OBJ
tanned defense employment In
other areas were amazed when
they were able TO obtain jobs at
Twin Cities Ordnance Plant with
out a placement fee.
II should be definitely under
stood that the Urban Leagues did
not actually select the workers
Investigations were handled solely
by the corporation. Hundreds Of
people whom the Leagues referred
were not employed for reasons
known only 10 the company itself.
The Leagues referrals were aimp-
ly preliminary approvals facilitat-
ing plant job interviews.
OF great assistance 10 Negro
applicants was the fact that the
birth certificate requirements were
waived for many Negroes Early
In the employment period. the
Leagues pointed out that many
Southern rural states from which
Minnesota Negroes migrated, had
not yet become q part Of the reg
lstration area. when the applicants,
now OF legal working age, were
born. Affidavits were prepared by
the Twin Cities Ordnance Plant
which. when properly completed
and Acknowledged. served In lieu
OF certificates OF birth. Verifica-
ton Of citizenship by acknowledge
ment Of other affidavtts was Ia
cilitated by the Leagues which
also gave counsel 10 applicants on
the type Of jobs for which they
should apply, the location Of In
terviewing offices, time Of appoint
ments, etc.
Politicians and others who had
never before been interested In
securing Jobs for Negroes, i'm
mediately descended on the Fed
erh Cartridge Corporation, but
each In turn was referred 10 the
Uban League Of their respective
city, A. agencies chiefly interested
In performing q community SER
vice, the Leagues played no politics
with jobs.
Negroes Trained for SkIIled Joba
In January i942, the school for
key production personnel opened.
Ten Negroes were among the first
100 men trained. A few CaucA-
SLAMS. some Just off the w.P.A.
relief rolls, complained about the
presence Of Negroes. The school
director was ordered 20 tell them
In no uncertain terms that the
contractor expected them 10 live
up 20 his contract in It's entirety.
the DISCRIMINATION clause in
eluded With this ultimatum laid
down. Negroes and whites In the
school soon became the best Of
friends.
Negroes Can't Belleve u
A. late a. February iet7, Ne
grocs werc still sksptical about
the job opportunities In the plant.
While the installation % machinery
for making cartridges was rapidly
being stepped up, the bulk Of the
Negro labor was either employed
In construction or In the CIstotiial
Service department In their con-
Germ about jobs they ignored the
Increase In the number % guards
20 ten: the department head who
now supervised nearly 100 Gus
todians and matrons; and the key
production personnel one % whom
was now IN charge Of thirty-fivr
white wOFkerS
This pubic sksPticiSrn began to
lessen somewhat when two care
filly selected SsEro women wore
assigned to the assembly hines
along with the nrst 100 women
employees,
Many % the hurrtedly employed
administrative personnel wprp un-
aware 81 the prime eoatractor's
non discrimination plan A. q re-
suit an attempt was made In one
proilctiOn building TO concentrate
the ftrst fourteen Negro women
operators On the same prciuction
line, Rumors new and the con-
munity doubts flarrd. An Inn
mediate breakdown BY the plant
operator followed lie instructed
saPSrtnteadents not 10 co0csn-
trAte Negro workers On any line
or N any department., with an
added admoaitioa that Nsgroes
A