•
•'
•
8—THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, October 15, 1948
THANKS TO
OMAS E.
•
S CIRI AAINATION
OLITLAVVE
• •
• •
IN EMPLOYMENT
IN ADMISSION TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
IN NEW YORK STATE SETTING A PATTERN FOR OTHER STATES TO FOLLOW
The provisions of the New York law are based on a
simple philosophy, stated in the act itself:
government is not such a clumsy thing that it cannot
solve delicate problems."
"Practices of discrimination against any of (the
What Governor Dewey has done to outlaw discrimina-
state's) inhabitants, because of race, creed, color or
national origin, are a matter of state concern; .. .
tion in employment has been -followed by an equally
such discrimination threatens not only the rights and
nation in the colleges of the state—a campaign which
proper privileges of (the state's) inhabitants, but
menaces the institutions and foundation of a free
democratic state."
This took political courage. For large and important
groups in the state were up in arms against the measure
in its entirety. The very idea of F.E.P.C. was at this time
a red flag to many employers, who had not come to
understand the way in which the measure would work in
practice.
On March 12, the bill was finally passed, and was signed
by Governor Dewey before an audience of more than two
hundred persons.
vigorous campaign by the Governor to eliminate discrimi-
resulted in the passage of a law by the Legislature
specifically directed to this end.
In fact, the plank in the 1948 Republican National Plat-
form in favor of "equality of educational opportunity for
all" was inserted largely at the instigation of Governor
Dewey himself.
The New York State law against discrimination in higher
education originated- in the appointment by Governor
Dewey, almost two years ago, of a Commission on the
Need for a State University, to study the educational
needs of New York State and to bring in recommendations
In signing the bill the Governor said:
for increasing the educational opportunities 'of the young
people of the state.
"Today we are witnessing an act which gives living
reality to the principles of our country . • . not only
In signing the bill into law, Governor Dewey called it
"a further step by New York State to reduce obnoxious
is this bill a reaffirmation of the great principles by
which we live, it is an expression of confidence that
and undemocratic barriers based on religious belief or
accident of birth."
Fl VOTE REPUBLICAN NOV. 2 • VOTE FOR THOMAS E. DEWEY
This message sponsored by Detroit Jewish Friends of
Governor THOMAS E. DEWEY