1,
Page Fourteen
turned me down. Said I was In-
eligible."
We started the usual investiga-
tion with a field representative
going to the plant and requesting
records and interviews with per-
sonnel people. He ran into a stone
wall. "Sorry," he was told. "We
can't let you see a thing." There
was no bitterness or argument,
just a flat refusal. He reported to
the commissioner in charge of the
case and asked for advice.
"Here is something definitely
wrong," we thought, until we re-
ceived a visit from a representa-
tive of a federal agency. In es.
sence, the federal man said, "Lay
off and don't ask any more ques-
tions."
Because the war had not ended,
we were unable to do anything
but comply and inform the com-
plainant that there was nothing
wo could do for him at that time.
A few days after the first atomic
bomb leveled Hiroshima we 'got
the answer. The plant was manu.
facturing components for the
bomb, and the War Department
had issued strict orders that only
native-born American citizens were
to be employed on any project
connected with it.
Hiring and firing are not the
only phases of employment with
which the Commission must deal.
One of the most prevalent forms
of complaint has been that against
biased questions in application
forms. The law states that it is
unlawful "to use any form of ap-
plication for employment or to
make any inquiry in connection
with prospective employment
which expresses . . . any limita-
tion, specification, or discrimina-
tion as to race, creed, color, or
national origin."
In order to acquaint business
and labor with this and other sec-
tions of the law, the Commission,
soon after its appointment by the
Governor, mailed letters to 11,000
companies, informing them of The
law's provisions and pointing out
that certain types of questions
were illegal.
We also began a series of speak-
ing engagements at businessmen's
clubs, community and industrial
round tables, and the like. After
illegal practices under the statute
were explained, the meeting was
opened for discussion.
For these speeches we drew
upon ourselves the ire of certain
sections of the press. One news-
paper in an article observed that
"the $50,000 - a - year commission
against discrimination has made
60 speeches in the past few
months," and pointed out that the
Rosh Hashonah Greetings
and Best Wishes to All
Friday, September 27, 1946
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
average was a little less thar federal law. Although the white
$1,000 a speech, but it neglected to
present our other activities.
The article was entirely unwar-
ranted because, through these
speeches and the letters, we had
submitted to us over 500 employ-
ment application forms with re-
quests that we make necessary
changes, eliminating questions of
a discriminatory nature. We had
hoped that these methods would
save us trouble in the future, but
objections to forms are still corn-
ing in.
A young woman with a foreign
accent applied for a job and was
given the company's standard ap-
plication form, containing ques-
tions as to her national origin, her
religion, her mother's and father's
religions, and her membership in
fraternal organizations, if any.
She glanced quickly over the form
and returned it to the personnel
manager, telling him that the
questions were illegal under the
anti-discrimination Act.
At the time she filed her com-
plaint with the Commission she
reported that the manager grabbed
the application from her, tore it
to pieces, and ordered her out of
the office.
Later, during the investigation,
the employer admitted, rather
lamely, that his forms did not
comply wtih the law and had
them changed. His personnel man-
ager excused himself for his ac-
tions with the young woman on
the ground that she had made
him nervous and upset when rile
refused to fill out the blanks. He
even asked her to re-apply for the
job, but she turned him down.
Most of the complaints filed
with the Commission are those
you would normally expect: Ne-
groes charging discrimination by
Whites, Jewish persons complain-
ing about Gentiles, foreign-born
people objecting to alleged preju-
dices by native Americans. But
there was one particular case
which was in direct contrast to
the normal run:
In a small building in one city
in the state there are two ele-
vators, adequate to handle the
number of tenants and visitors.
In addition to the two operators
there is one starter employed. At
the time of the incident in ques-
tion both the starter and one of
the operators were Negroes and
the other operator was white.
The white operator came to our
offices and demanded that he get
his job back, declaring, vehe-
mently, that he had been fired by
the starter for no apparent reason.
He had done the job well and
liked the work. An investigation
revealed that another Negro oper-
ator, who had been serving in the
Army, returned and asked for his
old job under the provisions of
man held seniority over the Negro,
who had been working during the
other's absence, he was discharged
by the Negro starter to make
room for the discharged veteran.
As a result of the Commission's
recommendation, the building op-
erator gave the white man his old
job back.
Although in each case I have
cited so far the Commission has
worked to protect the employee
or job-seeker, the law is so worded
that protection is also afforded the
employer who may be subjected
to unjust, unwarranted, and haras-
sing complaints. Many employees
call on us demanding retribution
for alleged unjust acts under the
statute, but, through invsetigation,
we have been able to reject those
made by the crackpots and ven-
geance-seekers.
Hired as a first-class welder
which he claimed to be, a man
charged a factory with subterfuge
and discrimination against his re-
ligion because, he told the Com-
mission, he did not come to work
on Jewish holidays. The day after
one such holiday he returned to
work and was fired. The company
claimed he was inaccurate.
Officials of the union of which
the man was a member were told
a story by him different from that
which he related to the Commis.
sion. He told the union the com-
pany had fired him because he
had made top rate, was entitled
to more money, but was refused
the rise. In his report to the
union he did not mention disdrim-
ination. The union appointed Its
own investigation committee, one
member of which was Jewish,
Season's Greetings and Best Wilbei
Rosh Hashonah Greetings
BROWN
DRUG STORE
NATIONAL
DRY GOODS
M. Kwaselow
8901 Twelfth St.
Tyler 4.2156
220 W. JEFFERSON
a
SINCEREST ROSH HASHONAH GREETINGS
CREAM OF MICHIGAN CAFE, INC.
8621 TWELFTH STREET
TYLER 4.9825
tl
n
ROSH HASHONAH GREETINGS
FELDMAN BROS.
WHOLESALE VEAL, LAMB
2472 RIOPELLE ST.
CA. 1538
ROSH HASHONAH GREETINGS TO ALL
EDGAR'S SUGAR HOUSE, INC.
"EAST SIDE" "WEST SIDE"
"ALL AROUND THE TOWN"
1924 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit
Telephone LAfayette 0008
STORAGE
NINE MERCHANDISE WAREHOUSES
Through Years of Depression or Progress
FINANCIAL SECURITY
DEPENDABLE SERVICE
ALBERT KANE
Real Estate
Maize It NEW with
Custom Made
LEVY'S KOSHER
MEAT MARKET
Sc
pt
CC
dl
st
th
th
es
an
ca
pli
ed
na
de
1
crl
wl
Ur
he
to
SLIP COVERS
DRAPERIES
Max Gross
11520 DEXTER BOULEVARD
Interior Studio
TO. 7-9473
Fruits - Vegetables - Fresh Fish
ti
ci
of
CI
at
Rosh Hashonah Greetings To All
ECONOMICAL
PUBLIC MARKET
CC
a
ei
from
Season's Greetings
a
di
Greetings .. .
13113 DEXTER BLVD.
HO. 3616
1
TOwnsend 8.2344
Open Wednesday and Thursday Evenings till 9 P.M.
MORRIS LEVY, Prop.
12152 DEXTER BLVD.
TO. 8.3560
Rosh Hashonah Greetings To All
•
ROSH HASHONAH GREETINGS
NAT71.7:47. ■- i77;
BOWLES LUNCH CO.
435 Woodward Ave.
•
MORTGAGE LOANS
LOWEST RATES
NO SERVICE CHARGE
MALLORY HATS
Mean good Hat news for
Spring. We have the Hat styles
You want!
TIES
Arrow—Beau Brummel
SHIRTS
Ambassador — Arrow
SPORTSWEAR
McGregor
Western and Southern Life Insurance Co.
During the past 25 years we have made it possible for
our hundreds of patrons to enjoy Perwein's
famous Cakes and Pastries
We Use Pure Ingredients Only
HICKOK
Belts and Suspenders
Pajamas—Robes
9038 TWELFTH ST.
ogg cos Aw
Madison 1750
•
COOPER UNDERWEAR
OLEN'S
Men's Shop
Mortgage Loan Department
602 Stephenson Bldg.
PASTRY SHOP
9144 TWELFTH STREET
MADISON 6569, 6870
Branch: Neutnann's Market, 25 E. Grand River
COFFEE CAKE OUR SPECIALTY
L. C. JANISSE
Manager of Detroit Office
fle