Evening star., 1939-03-04
Board Rescinds
Ban on Concert
Al Central
Gives Understanding
That in Future Would
Bar Marian Anderson

nut III TutuIS VVOuIO
Bar Marian Anderson
Marian Anderson, famed colored
contralto, may sing in Central High
School Auditorium on Easter Sum-
day with the definite understanding
that the sponsors of the concert
the Howard University School of
Music-will not again make a SINH
lar request.
The Board of Education late yes
terday reversed its earlier position
and by vote of 6-2 agreed to allow
Miss Anderson to sing in the audi
torium under waiver of rules in con-
nection with the use of school build
ings for profit-making enterprises.
1t was dramatic session from be-
ginning to end as under the eyes of
some 200 persons sympathetic to the
singers cause, the board members
one by one made clear their attitude
on the subject And before it was
over Mrs. Virginia Mcclure, a COL
ored board member who left sick
bed to be present, was openly
weeping
Emergency Status Seen.
In consenting to the use of the
high school auditorium, the board
took cognizance of an emergency"
status of the proposed concert be-
cause no other adequate concert hall
was available. according to the plea
of the sponsors.
The earlier refusal was based on
the rule against the use of public
buildings for profit-making enter
prizes and because, in the opinion
of the board, interchange of facilities
was not contemplated in the dual
school system for the white and COL
ored children of the District. The
case was reopened Wednesday when
new evidence showing school build
ings had been used in similar events
was referred to the boards Commit
tee on Community Use of Buildings
The atmosphere was tense as c..
Melvin Sharpe, committee chairman,
entered the room and raped for
quiet. A member of the board only
since Wednesday, he was making his
first report on question which had
aroused Nationwide interest.
Mr.. Sharpe cited the responsibility
OF the board for maintaining dual
school system and on the need for a
waiver of the rules if Miss Anderson
were to sing.
But, he said, such waiver should
only be made under positive and
definite assurance and agreement
that the concession will not be taken
as a precedent and that the Board
of Education will not in future
again be asked to depart from the
principle of dual system of
schools" If the request is to be con-
strued as step toward ipter-
changeable use of white and colored
schools, he said, then it should be
denied
Protests Against Strings"
Mrs. Mcclure made an imme-
dlate plea for removal of the
"strings" attached to the suggestion
and asked for unequivocal reversal
of the boards previous stand.
Then you would not subscribe to
this report as it now stands?" asked
Robert A. Maurer, the other men,
Der of the committee
Il wouldn't say that" replied Mrs
Mcclure hesitantly, but I would
like to see the board do the finer
and bigger thing and reconsider the
matter with no strings attached.
After that policy controlling use of
the buildings in future could be
worked out Immediately in a clean
cut American way"
Amid whispered injunctions from
some persons in the audience, Don t
sign it." the three committee men,
bers finally approved the report and
1t was placed before the board.
Opposition Immediately developed
to the restrictions suggested in the
report and Charles H Houston,
former member of the board and
spokesman for the Marian Anderson
committee, declared that though
they wanted the concert they wanted
it with "our self-respect He was
warmly applauded by the spectators
Col West A. Hamilton, a colored
board member, protested against
''mortgaging the future"
Members Hesitate.
Board members, however, imme-
diately showed signs of unwilling
ness to vote for reconsideration of
the matter. Mr.. Maurer said it was
'obvious" to him that those inter-
ested in the concert did not intend
that the matter should be closed.
Charles D. Drayton, a lawyer
member, also indicated that from
"the turn things are taking he
would not support motion to re-
consider. Remarks of the audience
and of others present, including
Mrs. Mcclure, he said, showed they
were unwilling to accept the report
in the spirit in which it was in
tended-a compromise ''in good
faith" He filed a lengthy report
giving his reasons.
Board Member Gratz E. Dunkum
announced his fiat conviction that
the board had acted properly in the
first instance and that he could not
support reconsideration.
Mrs. Philip Sidney Smith, board
member, said she was unwilling to
see Marian Anderson "martyred'
and she hoped she could accept the
final solution.
Wilson Supports Conditions.
John H. Wilson, another colorad
member, however, intervened and
said he was primarily interested m
seeing Miss Anderson sing He add
ed that he saw nothing wrong with
the conditions
While Mrs. MCGUIRE sat weeping
in her chair. the members voted to
reconsider with only Mr.. Dunkum
dissenting. But another motion was
necessary to waive the rules. Mrs
Henry Grattan Doyle, presiding
called for the question. 1t was ap-
proved 60 with Mr.. Dunkum and
IL Wi