Jackson Advocate

NAPE Official
Says Negro Postal
Purge On Again
In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA - Five local
Negro postal employees-all members
of the National Alliance of
Postal Employees-have been
brought into the spotlight as the
"postal purge" struck again this
time in the City of Brotherly Love.
All five had been charged with possible
disloyalty to the U. S., given
hearings, cleared and restored to
their jobs two years ago.
Now being given hearings by a
Federal Loyalty Review Board are:
Reese Brown, a clerk since 1936
and former president of the local
NAPE Branch; William E. Allen,
clerk and honorably discharged
from both Army and Navy in
World War II; Arthur L. Drayton,
clerk of over fifteen years' service
and recently transferred from New
York; Clarence H. Haughton, carrier
here since 1920, and Felix A.
Titus, a clerk with over thirty
years' service.
All the charges made in the new
"postal purge" are identical with
the charges made in the original
accusations in 1948 and 1949. All
five men were cleared of those
charges and when they sought information
as to any further charges
they were advised that there were
none. Titus was cleared Feb. 14.
1950; Allen and Haughton on May
1, 1950; Brown on June 16, 1950
and Drayton on July 3, 1950.
Officials of the NAPE in Washington
said the new hearings are
being conducted by an all-white
three-man board. On this board
are two men from the Deep South
and one from Minnesota. Chairman
is Edgar B. Jackson of Georgia
(also chairman of the P. O.
Dept. FEPC and the P. O. Loyalty
Board); members are Roy T. Frank
of Minnesota and Hugh E. Alford
of Mississippi, representing the Bureau
of Postal Operations.
Whether or not the accused Negro
postal workers will get a fair
trial is problematical, but NAPE
officials have frequently pointed
out that the failure to place a Negro
on the high echelon policy-making
and executing boards in
the P. O. Department created a
constant threat to the job welfare
and security of Negro employees.
While the names of only five
men have been released as being
involved in the new "purge," it is
known that there are others, not
only here but in other cities as
well. The men received "ten day"
notices citing them for removal on
the grounds that there was cause
to believe that they were disloyal
to the U. S.
The NAPE will, as heretofore,
continue its fight to clear its members
and restore them to their positions,
also seeking back pay for
the time lost while they are off the
Post Office payroll due to these
"purge" actions.