The Detroit tribune., 1963-01-19
EDITOR RIAL

We have watched with growing interest the progress
being made by the 400 Negro cergymen in Philadelphia
who in "door-die Seective Patronage campaign, have
rocked the formidable Sun Oil Company in Pennsylvania
Everyone il seems has heard of this giant of indus
trv through its Bue Sunoco gasones and other Sunoco
oil md fnl products Nerv few people know that Negroes
hod not reofc hold positions of respect and dignity
With this oil epire Common labor is the Negro lot in the
operations of large companies the United
States
Workng from pulpit bovcott' and starting the
campaign after SUNDAY morning Worship service the
ministers ignored Oils observation that they employ
eS that 300 NEGRO aborers and percepvely look
cd farther into the Negro opportunity for employment ad
What they appalling and they let the
Sun Oil Company know that token employment opportunity
would not be acceptable to them
Other powerful Negro organizations in sympathy with
the cergymen issued edcts supporting the seectve Patron
program and virtually whipped Sun Oil Company to
its knees as it were The goth Annual Session of the
Methodist Church voted to support the campaign; 144
Prince Hall Masonic Lodges aided the ministers in their
fpht for equal employment opportunity All set to join the
fight for right graduate and undergraduate fra
tcnes and sorortes and the Church of God In Christ
which almost outnumbers Negro Baptists two to one In
just ninety days, Sun Oil Company had hired 25 Negro
girls two drivers and echncan with no foresee-
able end in sight
OF course there extenuating circumstances that
knocked Sun Oil for loop Namely Wall Street and Stock
holders NO one supports shaky financial structure and
Nhel you are pumping nVe million gallons OF gas In
area per week and suddenly drop to three Million then
two and lower the foundation can't help but become pre-
carous
Whv shouldn't Selecve Patronage campaign func-
ton in Detroit? has been tried number of times and
though results were generally favorable something went
wrong
There are companies who comply with FEPC edicts
without pressure from courts of law or other interested
groups These companies should be rewarded with our
by immature leaders who most likely became miffed when
they were pulled from their high horses and told that they
business and mass purchasing power rather than boycoed
were not following proper procedure.
Lack of leadership then has been the drawback
IN Seectve buying projects in this City of Detroit With
the vast membership lists of the many Negro organizations
that dot the city Selectve Patronage campaign would
do more for the Negro in this city than court order
Legislative aconis but not swift while slappng
merchant where it hurts most - his pocketbook = does
wonders IN the field of racial equality
In recent days, however, the determination exhibited
py fhe block club associations concerning the opening Of
super market in where the residents object 70
fraffe congestion II will cause, TO indicate that
voice IS being heard Support Of the block clubs by the
NAAcP Masonic Lodges; and Churches the city which
IS pledged TO them is also significant an indication that
The national seeetve buying campaign called for by the
Kew Marin Luther King, Jr. will not bypass Detroit