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Southern Democrats Hostile to Truman’s Move Against Racial Bias in Employment

January 10, 1947
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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President Truman’s recommendation in his economic report to Congress, on permanent federal legislation to prevent racial and religious discrimination in employment or wages was hostilely greeted by Southern Democratic Congressmen.

An informal poll of Southern Democrats in the House indicated that the one hundred Congressmen from southern states would vote solidly against an FEPC bill. One Congressman asserted that only twenty-five votes could be mustered in the House in support of such a bill.

A bill “to prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, color, national origin, or ancestry,” was introduced in the House by Rep. William L. Dawson, Democrat, of Illinois. The bill is the same one introduced by Dawson during the 79th Congress. It has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

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