Evening star., 1945-08-09

sllQ tllC UO&IQ ID WAtAkOOt AC6dA Au-
ONE play areas to white persons and
10 fight 1t out in the courts If neces-
is firmly convinced 1t has acted in
edict by the Interior Department
flying the stand taken by Mr.. Root
at the bylaws adoption meeting.
Regretting the board had incor-
porated In its by-laws provisions of
the segregation of white and Negro
recreation programs" < Mr.. Fortas
wrote that .. policy Of nonsegre-
cation has been In effect In areas
under the Jurisdiction of the United
States Department of the Interior
for a considerable period of time
and has operated satisfactorily,
within the District of Columbia as
we'll as outside thereof"
"This harmonious use of park
areas by members of both races has
demonstrated the practicability OF
adherence to the principle of equal
rights which is affirmed by the
Federal Constitution" Mr.. Fortas
continued.
II hereby advise you that the
United States Department of the
Interior reafIirms its policy of non
segregation. This policy will be con-
tinued in all areas under the juris-
diction Of this department. 1t ap-
plies to areas under the policy con-
troll of the Secretary of the In
terror, even though programs utiliz-
ing facilities within those areas are
administered by the Recreation
Board.
Citizens Committee Born.
Ten days later the Citizens Com
mittee Against Segregation in Rec
reation was born. A meeting was
called July 20 by the Recreation
Committee Of the District branch
of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People
Twenty-Five organizations became
afiliated with the committee and
named as chairman DR.. E. B. Hen
derson, chairman Of the NAACP
Recreation Committee and director
of health, physical education and
safety for Negro schools since 1921.
The committee set as its goal:
"The abolition Of the rule adopted
by the District Recreation Board
on June IL providing for racial seq
regation in public recreation ia
cilities."
In addition to the NAACP, the
original member organizations are
the Washington Industrial Union
Council (CIO), Fraternal Council
of Negro Churches. Washington
Chapter of the Southern Confer
ence for Human Welfare. Fedora
ton OF Civic Associations, Inc; Dis
trict of Columbia Council United
Fe9qal Workers Of America: United
OqEt and Professional Workers,
Local n; National Womens, Trade
Union League washington League), /,
CIOv Maritime tCommittee, Wash
ington Chapter. National Lawyers
Guild: Washington Division Of the
Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Por-
ters, Council Of Negro Labor Leaders.
Other Groups Claimed.
Also the Cooperative Bookshop,
Capital View Civic Association, Far
Northeast Council, Rock Greek Civic
Association, lie Droit Park Civic As
ISOLATION, National Sorority of Phi
Delta Kappa, District Once of the
Supreme Liberty Life Insurance
Co., John Wesley Methodist Church,
Mall Tennis Club and the Hotel and
Restaurant Workers Union, Local
80 (AFL).
Other organizations claimed by
the committee are the Improved
Benevolent and Protective Order
Of Elks of the World, Interna-
tional Longshoremen and Ware
house Workers, Local 222 tCIO /;
Washington Labor Canteen, United
Cafeteria Workers, Local Al (CIO) ;
Citizens Committee on Race Rela-
tions and Sigma Delta Tau Legal
Fraternity.
Since July II when the Recrea-
ton Board voted to hear the pro-
tests of IL persons, the movement
has grown so that Mrs. Annette
w. Urciolo, clerk of the board, has
kept a running list" of complain
ants.
Added Hearings Asked.
Additional hearings have beer
asked by Dorothy s. Strange, vice
president, Communist Political As
ISOLATION; Austin L. Fickling, presi-
dent, Brookland Civic Association;
Charles S. Hill, Hotel Service Work
ers Local 80 and chairman, Council
of United Negro Labor Leaders os
Washington; Billy Jones, chief JUS
tice, Court of Peers, Howard Uni
versity Law School; Elliot Lynch
secretary, Inter-racial Unity Com
mittee, United Federal Workers oi
America Local /; George L. p
Weaver, director, National CIC
Committee to Abolish Discrimina-
ton, and Lewis W.. Grove, presi.
dent, Ivy City Citizens Association
Sharp and vitriolic have beer
some of the letters Of denuncia-
tion to the board, Telephones ir
the law ofice of Chairman Wendel
have tangled steadily with what hi
terms "a, planned pattern of .agi-
tation." His secretary advises the
voices to call the Recreation De.
partment.
The letters to the board generally
charged as did that of U. Simpson
Tate, secretary of the CCASR, that
the ruling dor segregation In rec.
reation) is arbitrary, capriciou,
and contrary. to any existing need
| in our community"
. Answers Charges.
In answer to these charges, Mr.
Wender said:
"The board in adopting the con-
troversial rule did not IN any way
deviate from the policy and law ap-
proved by Congress in the act o1
April 20, 1912, creating the board
It Is the same policy adhered to BY
the board since Its flrst meeting oi