Woody Denies Armory Makes Discrimination
On the Contrary, Commander Cites Past Record of 700 Negro Employees
Quick denial
that there has been any discrimination against Negroes at Springfield Armory
was voiced last night by Col. George A. Woody, commanding officer, who said that
the 700 employed there have received the same treatment as any other employee.
Replies
to Pastor’s Charge
His statement
came as a result of publication of a charge to be made by Rev. M. N. Ward of
the A.M.E.-Zion Church that his wife had been “mistreated without provocation,
cause or reason” at the Armory where she had been employed as a factory
hand.
Rev. Ward’s
charge came as a major surprise, for the Armory has acquired the reputation in
industrial circles not only of being the largest employer of Negroes in Western
Massachusetts, but also of having given them the fairest treatment.
The complaint
of the Wards apparently stems from the fact that Mrs. Ward was changed from a
machine operator’s job on piecework to a filing job on day work during
the reorganization of certain production, which has been taking place at Springfield
Armory as a result of recent changes [in layout] made necessary by war [conditions].
Rev. Mr. Ward
had protested the change without result, but it was learned that M. W. Cruze,
head of the industrial relations department, twice had made appointments with
Mrs. Ward to talk over her complaint, only to have her postpone both meetings.
On the first occasion, he went to her house, it was stated, but she sent word
that she was too sick to see him. A third appointment has been made for next
Saturday.
In his statement,
Col. Woody said:
“We
have approximately 700 Negroes in our employ and they receive the same treatment
as any others being given the same opportunities for advancement as rapidly as
their skills and experience admit. We have one Negro foreman in the Hill shops
whose advice and opinion are respected and sought after by others besides myself.
There are
tool grinders and other skilled operators among our Negro employees. No color
line has ever been drawn in our cafeterias, rest rooms, or other departments
of the Armory and Negroes are welcomed along with whites in all our recreational
activities. No barrier was ever raised against the Negro at the Armory. We have
employed them for a great many years and found among them many faithful and industrious
workers.”
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