St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-03-11

| tlalihll utiluhs
Bomis Makes Charge
Bemis said Il have ON the
highest authority. that the Min
nesota Employers association tof
which my employer is a member)
this year has directed their rep
rcsentative not to oppose the bill
In their behalf.
while Il In true Mr. Christen-
son testified before the house
labor committee against this
bill, apparently he appeared and
the arguments he presented in OPP
position reflects the views OF only
one person. Of n divided member
ship OF the Minnesota Employers
association.
Listening very carefully to
Bemis. the MEA lobbyist agreed
reluctantly that there are a num-
Der of employers In the state who
now favor FEpC, and that there
is also probably great many
businessmen In this state who
don't care"
The significance OF Bemis' testi-
mony before the committee is that
IL represents larger acceptance
Of FEpc by employers through
out the state.
This also means that Christen-
sons role as spokesman for the
association at the legislature has
diminished as far M FEPC s
concerned.
Wednesday nights hearings be-
fore the house labor committee,
was the first time that opponents
OF the bill had ever been ques-
toned by members OF the COM
mittee about some OF the state
mcnts they made In tcStifying n
gainst the bill.
Rep. Fred Gina. speaker Of the
house and principal author OF
FEPC in the house was particu-
larry sharp with Christensen
when he asked him. III he knew
Of any church organizations In
the state that were opposed TO
FEPC7"
When Christensen testified he
referred TO two church orgnniza-
tons that were opposed to FEPC.
After hedging around for a
while, he answered that he knew
OF none.
Al both hearings before the
house and senate, the chief
spokesman against the bill stated
the American Council OF Chris
tian Churches and the Lutheran
Research Society were on record
ms opposed to FEPC.
The American Council OF Chris
tan Churches is quoted in the
book Apostles OF Dlscord" by
Ralph l.. Roy as having a close
relationship with hate mongers.
Gerald l.. X. Smith and Harvey
Springer.
All Lutheran synods have dis
claimed the Lutheran Research
Society and its head. Lawrence
Riley because Of it's hate pro-
gram. the Apostles Of Discord'
states.
Gordon Forbes spoke against
the bill for the railroads and told
Of an incident that the Northern
Pacific Ry. had with the Wash
ington state FEP commission.
where the railroad was found not
% have Disseminated.
He was questioned by Joseph
Prfrel Jr, St Paul. and one Of
the authors, about the outcome
Of the case the Northern Pacific
had with the Washington FEPc !
involving two Negroes who APP |
piled for dining car stewards |
Jobs.
Forbes said that the railroad |
was found not TO have discrimin-
ated.
What he feiled TO say was that |
the Washington FEPC in its re-
port Of the cast said that the rail-
road did have white only pol
icy in hiring dining car stewards.
Christensen charged that the
low number Of cases that the |
Minneapolis FEPC has had
justifies his position that there
is no need for an FEPC law In
Minnesota.
Gina and Joseph Ksrth, est.
Paul. and chairman OF the house
labor committee stated that the
number Of cases an FEP commits
sion has before It, Is not a proper