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1306 An American Dilemma
instituted in the Office of Production Management, later the War Production Board.
During 1942 it was moved to the War Manpower Commission. (President’s Committee
on Fair Employment Practice, Negro Employment and Training Branch, Labor Divi-
sion, O.P.M., Minority Groups Branch, Labor Division, O.P.M., “Minorities in
Defense” [1941]) pp. 10-12.)
Brown, “American Negroes and the War,” pp. 548-550.
The President’s Committee on Fair Employment Practice was originally set up as
a division within the Office of Production Management. Later it became independent.
In 1942, it was moved over to the War Manpower Commission.
Lester Granger points out that allowing the Committee to fine employers who
discriminate would give them an effective method of control. (“Negroes in War Produc-
tion, p. 470.)
Brown and Leighton, of. cit.y pp. 26-27.
On September 6, 1941, the President issued a second, and much stronger, condem-
nation of discrimination, but this one applied to federal government agencies only.
Mr. Roosevelt’s new letter “to heads of all departments and independent establish-
ments” read:
“It has come to my attention that there is in the Federal establishment a lack of
uniformity and possibly some lack of sympathetic attitude toward the problems of
minority groups, particularly those relating to the employment and assignment of
Negroes in the Federal civil service.
“With a view to improving the situation, it is my desire that all departments and
independent establishments in the Federal Government make a thorough examination
of their personnel policies and practices to the end that they may be able to assure me
that in the Federal service the doors of employment are open to all loyal and qualified
workers regardless of creed, race or national origin.
“It is imperative that we deal with this problem speedily and effectively. I shall look
for immediate steps to be taken by all departments and independent establishments of
the government to facilitate and put into effect this policy of non-discrimination in
Federal employment,”
Brown and Leighton, of. «/., p. 27. During the winter of 1941 it happened that
about 200 Negro stenographers and typists hired by the War Department had to spend
their time in enforced idleness since most office heads refused to use their services.
(/3»V., p. 19.)
It seems that many hiring officials in federal offices have recourse to various tricks
when they find out that they have employed a Negro. There are numerous stories told
by Negroes about how, when they report for work, they are told that “some mistake
must have been made,” and a technical excuse is found for dismissing them. Hiring
officials have even been accused of asking the Negro for the letter of employment—^and
then keeping it, leaving the employee without proof of his employment. According to
one white informant who has collected material on practices in various federal offices,
one of the most usual tricks is based on the fact that job descriptions are often oral. They
can simply be changed when the hired persons turns out to be a Negro. (For instance, a
secretary who is good at typing, but less well trained in taking dictation, is told that
dictation is the main part of the job.) The use of detailed, written job descriptions is
the only answer in such cases. The same informant believed that it would not be impos-
sible even to overcome the discriminations in dismissals made possible by the stipula-
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