President Roosevelt’s fair employment practices committee returned to Washington today from Chicago to consider testimony presented to go to substantiate charges that six Chicago firms and five Milwaukee firms holding defense contracts discriminated against Jews and Negroes.
All of the companies which were summoned to the hearings appeared except the Allis Chalmers Co. of Milwaukee. Representatives of those who answered the charges assured the committee they will not violate President Roosevelt’s executive order that no firm holding defense contracts shall discriminate against workers because of face color or creed.
The committee will study the cases which have been reported to it and will report directly to the President on its findings. The non-appearance of the Allis Chalmers Co. representatives will be considered a plea of nolo contendere, Chairman Mark Ethridge said.
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