DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 1 of 2) | 1951-09-09 Des Moines Register Article: "Poll Reveals Wide Variety Of Prejudices" Page 1

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Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 1 of 2)

1951-09-09 Des Moines Register Article: "Poll Reveals Wide Variety Of Prejudices" Page 1

[[Hand writing]]
Please return to D. Schramm
[[Bold subheading]]
Racial Bias Leads List in D. M.
[[End bold subheading]]
A city-wide survey on racial and religious prejudice has been completed in Des Moines as a guide in furthering fair employment practices.
[[Bold]]Approximately 85 per cent of those interviewed showed no feeling of racial prejudice about employees in department stores, banks and in clerical and secretarial positions generally.[[end bold]]
Of the remaining 15 per cent only a small number indicated they would make any complaint about employees in those positions.
[[Bold subheading]]
Color the Major Factor
[[End bold subheading]]
There is more prejudice, according to the survey, against persons from minority groups employed in restaurants, meat markets and beauty parlors. Here about 70 to 80 per cent of those interviewed expressed no feeling of prejudice.
Skin coloring appears to be the dominant factor for prejudice in the city, according to the survey, which was conducted by 30 members of the Des Moines League of Women Voters.
[[Bold]]All parts of the city were surveyed by scientific polling methods, and 1,055 persons were interviewed.[[end bold]]
Questions in the survey concerned six groups and of these, greatest prejudice was expressed against Negroes. Persons of Mexican descent ranked second, with Italians third.
The other three groups were, Catholics, Protestants and Jews.
[[Bold subheading]]
Found Inconsistencies.
[[End bold subheading]]
Interviewers said the inconsistencies expressed were among the most unusual factors in the poll. Some persons, while being interviewed, sensed their inconsistencies and remarked about them.
[[Bold]]Some persons interviewed would express acceptance of a Negro restaurant waiter and then give a prejudiced answer when asked if they would want a Negro to wait on them in a meat market.[[end bold]]
It was this type of consistency which occasionally caused those interviewed to remark about the illogical nature of their own prejudices.
[[Bold subheading]]Given to Commission.[[end bold subheading]]
Mrs. J. J. Mallon was in charge of the survey, a League of Women Voters "workshop project."
[[Bold]]The results have been turned over to Mayor A. B. Chambers' commission on human rights, which began operation in January as an advisory group dealing with fair employment practices in this city.[[end bold]]
The Rev. Ben C. Bobbit, chair-
[[Bold]]POLL--[[end bold]]
[[italics]]Continued on Page Eight.[[end italics]]

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[[Hand writing]] Please return to D. Schramm [[Bold subheading]] Racial Bias Leads List in D. M. [[End bold subheading]] A city-wide survey on racial and religious prejudice has been completed in Des Moines as a guide in furthering fair employment practices. [[Bold]]Approximately 85 per cent of those interviewed showed no feeling of racial prejudice about employees in department stores, banks and in clerical and secretarial positions generally.[[end bold]] Of the remaining 15 per cent only a small number indicated they would make any complaint about employees in those positions. [[Bold subheading]] Color the Major Factor [[End bold subheading]] There is more prejudice, according to the survey, against persons from minority groups employed in restaurants, meat markets and beauty parlors. Here about 70 to 80 per cent of those interviewed expressed no feeling of prejudice. Skin coloring appears to be the dominant factor for prejudice in the city, according to the survey, which was conducted by 30 members of the Des Moines League of Women Voters. [[Bold]]All parts of the city were surveyed by scientific polling methods, and 1,055 persons were interviewed.[[end bold]] Questions in the survey concerned six groups and of these, greatest prejudice was expressed against Negroes. Persons of Mexican descent ranked second, with Italians third. The other three groups were, Catholics, Protestants and Jews. [[Bold subheading]] Found Inconsistencies. [[End bold subheading]] Interviewers said the inconsistencies expressed were among the most unusual factors in the poll. Some persons, while being interviewed, sensed their inconsistencies and remarked about them. [[Bold]]Some persons interviewed would express acceptance of a Negro restaurant waiter and then give a prejudiced answer when asked if they would want a Negro to wait on them in a meat market.[[end bold]] It was this type of consistency which occasionally caused those interviewed to remark about the illogical nature of their own prejudices. [[Bold subheading]]Given to Commission.[[end bold subheading]] Mrs. J. J. Mallon was in charge of the survey, a League of Women Voters "workshop project." [[Bold]]The results have been turned over to Mayor A. B. Chambers' commission on human rights, which began operation in January as an advisory group dealing with fair employment practices in this city.[[end bold]] The Rev. Ben C. Bobbit, chair- [[Bold]]POLL--[[end bold]] [[italics]]Continued on Page Eight.[[end italics]]