FICTION

Non-Discrimination

by Alice - Va.

"Mr. Thompson, what am I going to do? This man came into the office and says he's answering our ad for a salesgirl in the ladies' dresses and coats depart- ment. And he won't leave! I told him we advertised for women only. "

"Well, why won't he leave?" asked the big, friendly man behind the desk marked "Personnel Manager.

"

"Well," continued the obviously excited little se- cretary, "He sayd he's had experience in managing a clothing store, he needs the work, and he claims we can't discriminate against him on account of sex.

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"Oh my God, that's right," moaned the personnel manager. "You know, Miss Mitchell, this new civil rights' law went into effect July 1 and we can't dis- criminate against him on account of sex.

"That's what I said, Mr. Thompson, what are we going to do?"

"Let me think about this. Oh, this is terrible. We don't want any trouble over this. Goodness knows we don't want to be the first business establishment in the city accused of illegal discrimination on employment. We could offer him another job, but we don't have any other jobs open. We've just got to discourage him, that's what. We've just got to discourage him."

"How" I certainly couldn't do it. I told him to but he's still waiting out there."

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