DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 2 of 2) | 1953-08-17 Des Moines Register Article: "A Strong Endorsement of Fair Employment"

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

1953-08-17 Des Moines Register Article: "A Strong Endorsement of Fair Employment"

8
Mon., Aug. 17, 1953
Des Moines Register
FOUNDED 1849.

Published every weekday morning by THE REGISTER AND TRIBUNE CO. 713-715 Locust St., Des Moines 4, Ia.

REGISTER SUBSCRIPTION RATES
(Outside of Des Moines.)
By mail or by carrier in towns where carrier delivery is maintained, and by mail outside of Iowa, 30c a week -- $15.60 a year.
By mail on R.F.D. Routes and in Iowa Towns where carrier delivery is not maintained, $13.00 a year -- $1.25 per month for periods less than one year, or when paid by the week 25c per week.
Sunday Register in Iowa 20c a copy. By mail outside of Iowa 25c a copy.

Average Circulation Year Ending Mar. 31, 1953.
Register and Tribune
Daily 372,025
Daily Register ............... 226,389
Daily Tribune .............. 145,636
Des Moines Register
Sunday 530,827
In Des Moines.
Daily Register and Tribune ............. 104,966
Sunday Register .............. 64,926

Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all local news printed in this newspaper as well as (A. P.) news dispatches. Rights of republication of all other matter published in this newspaper are also reserved. 

A Strong Endorsement Of Fair Employment.
In the nation generally, "fair employment" (that is, free from racial and religious discrimination) has been an explosive issue ever since 1941. There has been an enormous amount of talk and agitation -- and relatively little action. 
In Iowa, almost the reverse is true. It is very hard to get most people to talk about it, or even to admit that such a problem exists (though surveys in a number of Iowa cities have shown that there is quite a bit of it here).
The Iowa state legislature passed a ringing endorsement of the principle of fair employment in the closing weeks of the 1953 session. But it attracted little attention in the legislature or outside, and the resolution did not get printed in Acts of the 55th General Assembly, though it was listed, with page references to the house and senate journals, which confirm its passage in identical form. 
Here is the text, as passed in the Iowa house Apr. 14 and the Iowa senate Apr. 24:
WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Iowa says: "All men are by nature free and equal, and have certain inalienable rights -- among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness", and
WHEREAS, surveys taken in the State of Iowa indicate that racial or religious discrimination in employment does exist:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, That it shall be the policy of the State of Iowa that no person within its boundaries shall be deprived of the right to work at his chosen occupation for any employer, public or private, because of race, creed, color, national origin or ancestry. 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Governor is requested to appoint a commission, which shall serve without compensation, to study the extent of such discrimination in Iowa and recommend remedies therefor, for the consideration of the next General Assembly. 

President Eisenhower is convinced that the states can do more about this problem than the federal government can, though he is taking some steps federally.
Iowa is in a particularly favourable position to get real results with only a little push. Its minorities are few in number. Its habits of discrimination are pretty much like the rest of the North, but there is little real conviction or feeling behind them. In quite a few places, they have begun crumbling in the last few years. 
Most opposition now takes the form of (1) "there ain't no such animal", or (2) "if we don't look at it, maybe it will go away." But experience is now multiplying to show that you DO have to take a look at it and then DO something about it.

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8 Mon., Aug. 17, 1953 Des Moines Register FOUNDED 1849. Published every weekday morning by THE REGISTER AND TRIBUNE CO. 713-715 Locust St., Des Moines 4, Ia. REGISTER SUBSCRIPTION RATES (Outside of Des Moines.) By mail or by carrier in towns where carrier delivery is maintained, and by mail outside of Iowa, 30c a week -- $15.60 a year. By mail on R.F.D. Routes and in Iowa Towns where carrier delivery is not maintained, $13.00 a year -- $1.25 per month for periods less than one year, or when paid by the week 25c per week. Sunday Register in Iowa 20c a copy. By mail outside of Iowa 25c a copy. Average Circulation Year Ending Mar. 31, 1953. Register and Tribune Daily 372,025 Daily Register ............... 226,389 Daily Tribune .............. 145,636 Des Moines Register Sunday 530,827 In Des Moines. Daily Register and Tribune ............. 104,966 Sunday Register .............. 64,926 Member of the Associated Press. The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all local news printed in this newspaper as well as (A. P.) news dispatches. Rights of republication of all other matter published in this newspaper are also reserved. A Strong Endorsement Of Fair Employment. In the nation generally, "fair employment" (that is, free from racial and religious discrimination) has been an explosive issue ever since 1941. There has been an enormous amount of talk and agitation -- and relatively little action. In Iowa, almost the reverse is true. It is very hard to get most people to talk about it, or even to admit that such a problem exists (though surveys in a number of Iowa cities have shown that there is quite a bit of it here). The Iowa state legislature passed a ringing endorsement of the principle of fair employment in the closing weeks of the 1953 session. But it attracted little attention in the legislature or outside, and the resolution did not get printed in Acts of the 55th General Assembly, though it was listed, with page references to the house and senate journals, which confirm its passage in identical form. Here is the text, as passed in the Iowa house Apr. 14 and the Iowa senate Apr. 24: WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of Iowa says: "All men are by nature free and equal, and have certain inalienable rights -- among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness", and WHEREAS, surveys taken in the State of Iowa indicate that racial or religious discrimination in employment does exist: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE, THE SENATE CONCURRING, That it shall be the policy of the State of Iowa that no person within its boundaries shall be deprived of the right to work at his chosen occupation for any employer, public or private, because of race, creed, color, national origin or ancestry. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Governor is requested to appoint a commission, which shall serve without compensation, to study the extent of such discrimination in Iowa and recommend remedies therefor, for the consideration of the next General Assembly. President Eisenhower is convinced that the states can do more about this problem than the federal government can, though he is taking some steps federally. Iowa is in a particularly favourable position to get real results with only a little push. Its minorities are few in number. Its habits of discrimination are pretty much like the rest of the North, but there is little real conviction or feeling behind them. In quite a few places, they have begun crumbling in the last few years. Most opposition now takes the form of (1) "there ain't no such animal", or (2) "if we don't look at it, maybe it will go away." But experience is now multiplying to show that you DO have to take a look at it and then DO something about it.