Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-01-31
A. & p. Ofher
Firms Hif In
Consumers Boycoff

NCOHClnu6O from rage
we couldn't find any who were
qualified" asserts the president Of
one boycotted firm. THE ministers
told us, That's your problem. "
Another boycotted company had to
refrain Negroes already on the
payroll so that they could fill more
demanding posts.
"Our Demands Were Fair
But talks with both the minis
tiers and the companies affected
suggest part Of the reason for the
success of the movement has been
the modest nature of the demands.
We've won because our demands
were fair" declares a spokesman
for the ministers. Comedies an Of
fetal of a boycotted company:
They were right"
A minister explains the reason
ing behind the Negro office en-
ploye quota set for APP: "a COM
mittee of ministers visited APPS
officials and found the company
had $50 employees in its main office
here, all white. We figure 10%
of the nations population is Negro
but that it would be unreasonable
to demand rs Negroes be hired.
We think IL would be fair, but
we're only asking half that, just
as a token to show APP won't
discriminate In the future"
APP refuses to comment public
ly on the boycott, but one minister
reports he is receiving weekly let
ters from the company on its pro-
gress in Negro employment. So
far, he says, APP has hired or
promoted enough Negroes to fill
81 Of the total of Sc positions spec
flied by the ministers.
Other Cities Offer Help
While the APP boycott is strict
~ local now, its leaders say min
listers in Baltimore, Detroit and
Atlantic City have offered to call
for boycotts against APP in their
communities to intensity pressure
on the company. The offers were
rejected, but ministers here say a
multi-city boycott of the kind en-
visioned by Mr.. King is a strong
possibility for the future.
The boycott against APP in
Philadelphia is nearing the end of
what the ministers consider its
first phase, which involves a sim
pie announcement from pulpits
suggesting the use Of the selective
patronage tactic against a COM
pany. Leaders in the movement
estimate that over 1925, 1000 of the
areas 100000 Negroes heed boy
colt call during the first phase.
This phase normally lasts three
weeks but in the case Of APP was
extended to five weeks.
The second stage, usually last
ing two weeks, is marked by
stronger urging from the pulpit,
coupled with signs in barber shops
and beauty parlors. Some 260, 900
Negroes are cooperating by the
end Of this phase, the ministers
estimate.
The third stage brings the use
Of printed circulars and other pub
licity devices to broaden support
for the boycott. This stage pro-
duces cooperation by about 500, 900
Negroes, the ministers claim. =
The ministers are anxious to
avoid possible legal repercussions:
These might include damage and
SANDER actions or attempts to win
against the movement
on the grounds 1t constitutes a
conspiracy to restrain trade. To
this end, they refrain from using
the word boycott" from the pull
pit. Instead, they explain the emf
ployment situation at the company
involved and then make pointed
comments, such as: I'm not going
to buy any more products from
that company until they start hir-
ing our people. But it's up to you
to decide whether to do some
thing in this drive for Negro free
DOM"
In contrast to the vocal leader
ship Of many organizations prom
citing Indignation, it's difficult to
pinpoint the top men in the boy
colts here. The $50 ministers that
make up the Selective Patronage
Committee are guided by a smaller |
group with constantly shifting
membership. This group decides
the companies to be approached |
and the demands to be made. BY
keeping their leadership hazy and
In a state Of flux, the ministers
hope to prevent opponents from |
Il undermining their movement |
through attacks on a handful of |