The entire nation loses a valuable source of skill and manpower as a result of racial discrimination in employment, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, president of the American Jewish Congress, declared today at a Senate subcommittee hearing on the Ives Bill for a Fair Employment Practices Commission.
In a vigorous appeal for passage of the legislation, Dr. Wise insisted that “despite all the talk in recent years about eqaulity and freedom, progress has been made only where that talk has resulted in the enactment of effective legislation to guarantee the democratic rights and equal treatment of all persons.” Referring to a study of the American Jewish Congress’ Commission on Law and Social Action of discrimination since the war’s end, he declared that it was on the increase and effected Negroes mainly, but also Jews to a large extent.
He stated that the report revealed that “insurance firms and financial houses uniformly maintain a closed-door policy with regard to Jews. Utility companies, despite their semi-public character, engage very few Jews for their staffs. A young Jew with a scientific bent who seeks a start in such new and expanding fields as the aircraft, chemical or electrical industries is almost always denied the opportunity of proving or demonstrating his merit and ability,” he said.
During Dr. Wise’s testimony, Sen. Allen J. Ellender of Louisianna asked him whether he thought an employer should be compelled to hire a man he does not want to employ. Dr. Wise replied in the affirmative, adding: “He shall be compelled to under the Ives law. He should be denied the right to deny employment because of race, creed or color.” Later, Ellender attempted to draw him into a discussion on interracial marriages, but Dr. Wise refused to testify on anything but the F.E.P.C. bill.
Others who spoke in favor of the Ives measure included: Joseph Kovner, Washington representative of the American Civil Liberties Union; Roy Wilkins, reading a statement for Walter White, executive secretary of the National Association for Colored People; and Gilbert Harrison, national vice-chairman of the American Veterans Committee.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
