Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1960-05-14

Continued from Page One)
General Services Administration,
and Matthew H. McCloskey of Phil
adelphia, one of the largest con-
tractors involved in Federal work
in the capital.
The conference was concerned
with methods to guarantee COM
pliance with orders to hire quail
fled Negro electricians issued by
the Presidents Committee on Gov
eminent Contracts. Mr.. Meany is
a member of the committee, which
is headed by Vice President Nixon.
Nixon Pledges Action
The National Urban League
made public letter from the Vice
President promising that qualified
Negro electricians would be hired
or appropriate action" taken
against contractor who failed to
comply with the Governments re-
quirement for nondiscriminatory
practices.
The Nixon letter was in reply to
a telegram of protest sent him last
Thursday by Lester B. Granger,
executive director of the league.
The league charged that collision"
between builders and Local 26 of
the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers was continuing
to bar Negro electricians despite q
year long drive by the Nixon COM
mittee.
The Vice President assured Mr..
Granger that his committee and the
General Services Administration
were working in close cooperation
to end defiance. He said he hoped
and expected that gratifying re-
suits" would come from the joint
effort of all groups interested in
smashing Jim Crow hiring prac-
tees in the electrical field. '
Mr.. Nixon did not comment
specifically on a demand by the
league that prompt action be taken
to cancel the contracts of non-com-
plying builders, that they be black
listed from bidding on future con-
tracts and that court action be ini-
tiated against them.
Sterling Tucker, executive Sec
rotary Of the leagues Washington
Chapter, declared tonight that the
best chance for breakthrough lay
in action by Mr.. Floete to get
tough" with Mr.. McCloskey and for
the Philadelphian in turn to get
tough" with his electrical sub-con-
tractor, the Howard P. Foley Co.
Willing To Spur Move
Mr.. Meany has repeatedly set
forth his willingness to assist in
the hiring of non-union electricians
as q means Of overcoming the dis
elimination against qualified Ne
groes. He has not indicated what
specific action the federation would
take if such hiring resulted in
strike by Local 26 and q refusal to
cross picket lines by other A. F. L.
C. I. o. construction unions.
Mr.. Meany's expression Of hope
that q breakthrough was near was
voiced in q news conference in con-
nection with the quarterly meeting
Of the federation's Executive Coun-
Gil.
The council authorized the ex-
penditure Of $500, 900 this year to
fight against state "right-to-work"
laws. A special effort will be made
to repeal an Indiana statute for
bidding compulsory union member
ship. Indiana is the only large In
dustrial state with such Q law now
on its books. 81
The federation also may seek re-
peal Of "right-to-work" laws in
Idaho and Utah. It viii try to block
enactment Of such laws in Mon
tana and Delaware and to prevent
Mississippi law from being con-
verted into . constitutional amend
ment. Nineteen states now have
statutory bans against the union
, shop, but in most Of these. no ma
/ Tor fight II planned this year.