Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1959-05-23

tary-treaSurer OF the BrOtnernOou
of Sleeping Car Porters.
Specifically, the reports of the
discussion sessions recommended
that y national advisory COM
mitee Of church leaders be estab-
lished to assist the Presidents
Committee on it's program; ~ that
similar advisory committees be
established on the regional, state
and local levels; 81 that the Pres
ident's Committee step up its pro-
gram of informing the public of
the need for non-discriminatory
hiring; and ~ that proposed leg
islation which would give the
Presidents Committee statutory
authority be endorsed.
Each of the reports stated that
Americans have a moral commit
ment to help eliminate discrimi-
nation in employment based on
race, creed, color or national
origin.
Mr.. Nixon
Vice President Nixon, who pre-
sided at the opening session Of
today's meeting, told the group
that moral backing is needed for
recent legislation and court deci-
sions on civil rights.
"If you will 60 back to your
communities and help mobilize the
moral conscience of the people"
Mr.. Nixon said, "you will help
present to the world a picture of
nation and a people who believe
in moral values and practice them,
as well as preach them"
Mr.. Walsh
Deputy Attorney General Walsh,
speaking on the Administrations
civil rights program, restated the
Government position of non-in-
tervention in suits for school de-
segregation at present. Mr.. Walsh
said that the success of school
desegregtaion in Virginia under
lined the wisdom of this position.
He praised the NAACP for its
work in this area, saying that it
had demonstrated to doubling peo-
pie the inevitablity of complying
with the law of the land.
He cautioned, however, that
should anti-NAACP laws interfere
with the organizations power to
bring suits, the Government would
then reconsider its present po-
sition.
Mr.. Walsh called for the sup
port of the group for the Admin
istration's civil rights program,
saying that it had better chance
in Congress than more liberal
measures in other bills.
eve must avoid doing that
which is second BEST" he stated,
"but at the same time, we must
not seek that which we know we
can't get"
Mr.. Roosevelt
Mr.. Roosevelt, who is the son
of the late President Franklin ID.
Roosevelt, said that racial dis
elimination in employment today
comes at time when the nation
is struggling to maintain its po-
sition as a great democracy, as
we'll as to survive.
"On all fronts-military, scien-
tific, industrial, agricultural, scho-
lastic, intellectual-the Russians
are resolved to master US and the
arts and skills in which we have
long enjoyed leadership" he stated.
owe cannot and we must not let
prejudice erode our manpower re-
source. 1t is too high price to
paw for something that benefits
none and hurts everyone"
Mr.. Roosevelt suggested three
courses of action to the religious
leaders to help eliminate discrim-
nation in employment. They were
u help the members of their
churches and synagogues under
stand the problems that arise out
of job discrimination; p report
to employers who discriminate that
many firms are changing previous
discriminatory employment prac-
tees, and encourage minority
youth to obtain the training re-
quired for new job opportunities;
and 81 focus public attention on
the moral commitment of each
citizen to assure all Americans
unrestricted access to jobs in keep
ing with their aptitudes and abil-
tiles.
Mr.. DriscOll
Mr.. Driscoll said that minority
groups and industry must share
the blame for present employment
practices in many communities.
"There are many good jobs avail
able today for members OF minor
ity groups if they have the skllls
required. All too often, unfor-
tunately, they do not have the
required knowledge and skills,"
Mr.. Driscoll said. "This bespeaks
the need for better educational
opportunities for our citizens.
Good Jobs are vacant for lack of
qualified applicants even in many
of our cities where unemployment
is heaviest.
Industry must accept some OF
the blame for this situation be-
cause it has not encouraged our
non-white citizens to qualify them
selves for jobs on the higher 'lev-
els" he declared.