Weekly Report

IMPORTANT EVENTS AND PROBLEMS

During the past week at the urgent request of Region XII Mr. Ross had a conference with General Kirk, Surgeon General of the U. S. Army, concerning a complaint filed by a Negro nurse against the Letterman General Hospital. Mr. Ross has informed me that General Kirk has agreed that the complainant should be hired, although it appears that a revision of the Army’s plan will result in the dismissal of all civilian nurses at this establishment within approximately thirty days. It is interesting to note that the Surgeon General’s office was critical of the attitude (described as “pressing”) of Mr. Rutledge. Mr. Kingman in a conference with Mr. Ross stated that he was present at the meeting with the War Department representatives at the Letterman Hospital and the relationships were most cordial. This incident should remind us that whenever our examiners are conscientious in the field it is likely that we will receive a criticism concerning their “aggressiveness.”

The settlement of the General Cable case emphasized the soundness of the position taken by most of us in the meeting with Major General Harrison and General Greenbaum on Monday, April 2. This position, as you will recall, was that the company should go forward with its compliance as quickly as possible.¹

During this week I had a number of conferences with the War Department, P.A.W. and union officials on Shell Oil. At present the War Department and the Petroleum Administration for War report that they have been in touch with the company’s top management and stressed the necessity of compliance with Executive Order 9346.

After discussions with Mr. Ellinger and Mr. Ross we have agreed that the original mass meeting planned to “educate white employees” would be inadvisable and therefore neither the War Department or PAW will be expected to send representatives to this meeting. However, both of these agencies will be expected to maintain a continuing interest in the problem. So far, they have agreed to do this.

The Post Office Department reported on its investigation on complaints against the Philadelphia Post Office. So far, this has been the most searching of the Post Office Department’s inquiries on questions of discrimination. It appears that there have been some adjustments of complaints but, as like the other cases, it is not yet finally settled.

During the past week I arranged a conference with Messrs. Kingman and Brown on the Norris Stamping case. Major Everett M. Goulard of the Ordnance Department joined us in this conference and he promised assistance from the War Department in settling this case. He left for San Francisco and Los Angeles. While on the coast he will handle this case and also join Messrs. Brown and Hunt in conferences on it. The Legal Division has requested Mr. Hunt to return from Arizona and be available in Los Angeles.²

I also planned a conference between Messrs. Theodore Brown and Hoglund and Lieutenant Colonel Cross of the War Department on St. Louis. The War Department, however, misunderstood our request and sent instead Colonel Sidney Sufrin of its Labor Branch. Nevertheless we discussed the St. Louis area and I will have a followup meeting with Major Cross myself.

Mr. Brown and Mr. Hoglund reported on the Remington-Arms Company in Kansas City and the National Carbon Company in St. Louis. They stated that both of these companies, following action by the central office and the New York office of FEPC (at our request), are now hiring Negro women and it appears that the complaints against them are being adjusted.³

ASSIGNMENTS

The following cases were received from the regions:

1. U. S. Employment Service: 
   

   Columbia, S.C.	7-GR-478
   Greenville, S.C.	7-GR-479
   Anderson, S.C.	7-GR-480
   Spartansbirg, S.C.	7-GR-481

   Amarillo Army Air Base

   10-GR-445

The following FDR’s have been reviewed and acted upon: