Memorandum on Sample of Cases Handled Successfully by the President's Committee on Fair Employment Practice

In keeping with a request from Father Haas as transmitted by Mr. Malcolm Ross, with Messrs Henderson and Davis, I have prepared the following sample of important cases settled by the President’s Committee on Fair Employment Practice during the months of May, June, and July, 1943.

1. HANFORD ENGINEERING WORKS, PASCO, WASHINGTON.

The Committee received complaints from the War Manpower Commission in Region VI (Chicago) and Region IX (Kansas City, Mo.) on June 12, alleging that the above mentioned company was attempting to recruit workers in the Chicago and Kansas City areas but was refusing to accept Negroes solely because of their race.¹ The reason given for refusal was lack of housing for Negroes in Pasco, Washington. The President’s Committee on Fair Employment Practice wired the company and obtained a relaxation of the discriminatory hiring specifications. The company hired Negroes from Region IX on June 26. However, it did not recruit either white or Negro workers in the Chicago area, after the Committee had obtained relaxation of the discriminatory hiring practices. This was because of a change in its hiring plans.

2. AGREEMENT BETWEEN WAR FOOD ADMINISTRATION AND BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON IMPORTATION OF BAHAMIANS.

The War Food Administration voluntarily included in its agreement with the British Government for the importation of Bahamian agricultural workers on March 16, a provision that such workers would be given the benefits of Executive Order 8802 (now 9346). Lt. Colonel J.L. Taylor, Deputy Administrator of the War Food Administration, informed the President’s Committee on Fair Employment Practice on May 14, that whenever Executive Order 8802 is violated, workers would be removed from the area of violation. 

The War Food Administration, at the Committee’s request, agreed to keep this office informed of actions taken which fall within the purview of Executive Order 8802. This information will be furnished on all foreign nationals imported to this country for agricultural work. Thus, Mexicans and Jamaicans are also covered by the arrangement.²

3. ALUMINUM COMPANY OF AMERICA, BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

On March 23, a field visit was made to the above mentioned company to determine three things: 1. Whether in-plant segregation of Negroes was being stopped, 2. whether Negroes would be hired on the basis of ability, and 3, whether colored women would be hired for production work on the same terms as white women. The complaints had been submitted against the company by the Aluminum Workers of America.

The field investigator reported that the company was beginning to hire Negroes without discrimination and to end patterns of segregation. A report from the War Department submitted at the Committee’s request dated June 8 stated that in-plant segregation of Negroes had been corrected in the Cylinder Head Magnesium Divisions of the Company; that Negroes were being hired on the basis of ability; and that Negro women were also being hired for production work on the same terms as white women. On June 19, the Committee requested the Bureau of Placement of the War Manpower Commission to obtain statistical data from the Manning Tables and other sources to show the extent of progress in terms of actual figures. This report is now being prepared and there is every reason to believe that the matter has been settled to the satisfaction of all parties.³

4. ANGELICA JACKET COMPANY, PYRAMID AND CHAMP MFG. COMPANIES, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

On May 3, the President’s Committee on Fair Employment Practice referred to the War Department for investigation complaints of National Youth Administration power sewing machine operators against the above mentioned companies. The companies had not cooperated with the War Manpower Commission in settling the complaints and the next step was to take the matter up with the contracting agency. On July 8, Mr. Lewis W. Clymer, War Manpower Commission representative in Region IX, reported that as a result of the War Department’s intervention, the Pyramid Company employed 22 colored women. These women were first used on the night shift on a segregated basis but the owner of the plant found this impractical and integrated them on the day shift. The Angelica Jacket Company is preparing paid training for 30 colored women. The Champ Manufacturing Company agreed to employ workers regardless of race, creed, color, or national origin. Mr. Clymer stated in a telephone conversation on July 19, that the situation was progressing satisfactorily.

5. TIMKEN ROLLER BEARING COMPANY, CANTON, OHIO.

Negroes scheduled to be trained as automatic screw machine operators at Canton were transferred to other duties on April 19 because white operators refused to instruct them. With the cooperation of the War Department and the Navy Department, the President’s Committee secured the restoral of the Negroes in training classifications. On July 5, Mr. J. Lawrence Duncan, War Manpower Commission representative in Region V (Cleveland), reported that some of the Negro trainees were in production and others were being trained. Also, on June 12 the Committee received a complaint from the union at the plant that a wall had been erected separating Negro and white women at the Timken Company. Mr. Duncan investigated this at the Committee’s request and found that the wall had been erected by the War Department to separate work on confidential contracts from work on unclassified contracts. However, this interfered with the circulation of air and because of the complaints of white women, colored women, the union, and other persons, the wall was taken down.

6. WATSONTOWN ORDNANCE PLANT, WATSONTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

The Committee received a complaint against this company on June 28, that Negroes seeking employment were turned down solely because of their race. An investigation was undertaken by the War Manpower Commission in Region III (Philadelphia) at the request of the Committee. The report of the War Manpower Commission stated that it appeared that the company would not use Negroes until the available supply of white workers was exhausted in the area. The Committee instructed the company to comply with the requirements of Executive Order 8802. The company agreed to do so and the last reports as of May 20 show that it is now employing colored persons.

7. COMPLAINT OF JAMES J. KELSICK AGAINST THE SAN BERNARDINO AIR DEPOT.

Mr. Kelsick’s complaint was referred to the United States Civil Service Commission and the President’s Committee under date of February 12, 1943. He charged that he was discriminated against because of his race in refusal of the Depot to appoint him to the position of Junior Aircraft Engine Mechanic for which he was originally employed. An investigation was made by the Civil Service Commission representative and a report was received on May 6, 1943, in which we were informed that steps were taken to effect appointment to above named position. A letter received from Mr. Kelsick dated May 31, indicated that he had been appointed and was satisfied with the adjustment made.

8. COMPLAINT OF L. HOWARD BENNET AGAINST THE CHARLESTON NAVY YARD, SOUTH CAROLINA.

Mr. Bennet’s complaint was referred to the President’s Committee on January 18, 1943, on behalf of Negro women who were discriminated against by the Navy Yard solely because of their race. It was referred to the Commandant, Charleston Navy Yard, February 2, 1943. A reply was received from the Commandant on February 12, indicating that steps were being taken to facilitate employment of Negro women. A letter was received from L. Howard Bennet on July 14, stating that Negro women were being employed in occupational classifications about which the complaint was originally made.

9. COMPLAINT OF MARTIN TALL AGAINST THE NATIONAL ROSTER OF SCIENTIFIC AND SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL, WAR MANPOWER COMMISSION.

​The investigation of the forms of the National Roster was begun by the Committee on its own initiative, but on July 8, the Committee received through its New York Office a complaint from Mr. Martin Tall against the Roster on account of the questions on race on its application blanks. Conferences were held with Dr. Carmichael, Director of the National Roster, and on July 21, he reported to this office that the questions on race would be stamped off of all questionnaires. Questionnaires already filled in will also have this data stamped off before being sent on to placement officers.

11. PRESS WIRELESS INCORPORATED.

Press Wireless Incorporated, on July 6, agreed to delete all questions relating to race on its application forms. 

12. COMPLAINT OF JULIA E. WHITMORE AGAINST WAR DEPARTMENT, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

On July 4, the complainant wrote that she had been hired by the War Department against whom she had lodged her original complaint and considered her case closed.