St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1954-09-10

W., iitAiAtiNs btNAiNdil~A ihtfiNdtiS
AVE been banned from employ
jobs in st. Paul for just one
reason: They were what they
were, and their immediate qualifi-
cations had nothing to do with H.
Groups favoring ST. Paul Fair
Employment Practices ordinance,
or FEpC, as Il In commonly called,
are prepared To end all that. For
considerable period of time, sup
porters OF an FEpc ordinance in
81. Paul spearheadcd by the st.
Paul branch OF the NAAcP ma
tional Association for the Ad-
vanccment OF Colored PeopleD
have been working hard TO organ
ize some support for such an or
dinance In st. Paul
Other groups have already
thrown their weight behind the
passage OF such an ordinance, The
81. Paul Council OF Human rcla-
tions. has endorsed the passage of
a 81. Paul FEpC ordinance, as
has the ST. Paul Trades and Labor
Assembly. which makes up all the
A. r. of l.. unions In ST. Paul, The
st. Paul CIO Council Is also on
record In favor OF such an ordin-
ance.
other groups including veter-
ans groups, women's clubs and
various civic and inter-group or
CARNATIONS are expected to throw
their support behind the passage
OF this law.
The st, Paul city administration
IL by and large committed to the
enactment OF such a law.
Joseph Il. Dillon. Mayor. during
the recent campaign, stated that
he is heartily in favor of n city
FEPC. He said that "the issue Of
equality OF employment oppor-
tunities Is a moral issue. ! favor
an FEPC ordinance with enforce
ment powers. and similar TO the
Minneapolis ordinance"
Five of the present six-man CITY
Council have both In speeches and
in letters committed themselves to
passage OF this bill. They include
Commissioner Marzitelli. Peter
son. Gibbons. Halvorson and Hol-
land. Commissioner Mortinson has
not Indicated his feeling one way
or the other.
Both political parties too, have
taken definite stands in regards 10
city FEPc law. at their respec-
tive county and Congressional
District conventions.
The Democratie-F armer-Labor
party endorsed in the strongest
terms, resolution calling for
city FEPC ordinance with enforce
ment powers. The passage OF this
resolution was greeted with loud
applause at the convention.
The Republican party. despite
the fact that many OF Its leaders
are in the forefront of the battle
for an FEPc. refused to bring
any resolution out OF the resolu-
tons committee at their conven-
sion.
Following the presentation for
an FEPC. II Is expected that the
entire proposal will be submitted
to the City Attorneys office, as
is the custom in St Paul Council
procedure, Following that, various
readings viii be held, and finally
public hearing. before the city
Council is expected TO take any
action on this measure.
Proponents Of the FEPc ordiin-
ance have Indicated the hope that
the passage Of city law win help
TO secure the passage Of a state
law In the 1865 Minnesota State
Legislature. Similar attempts at
passage in the Legislature in the
past several sessions have been
blocked by opponents OF the bill.
However. passage Of some sort OF
bill is expected at the next ses-
sion.
The Minnesota Poll, indicates
that $40 OF Minnesotans ques-
toned favor an FEPC law on the
books. Support Of the Minnesota
Committee on Employment on
Merit the state group working for
state FEPC, has been thrown
behind this movement In st. Paul.
Minneapolis has had such a law
since 1e47. while Duluth enacted
weak FEPC bill last year. Some
IL states and 80 cities throughout
the United States have enacted
FEPc bill Of one sort or another,
since 1874,