Evening star., 1945-08-12

regarding recreational facilities
which they control in the District is
IN marked contrast to the narrow
policy of the District Recreation
Board.
"The narrower policy is not only
unsportmanlike but an obstacle tc
world brotherhood. In its logic il
is on a par with denial of mixed box
ing bouts in the amateur field
while sanctioning them in the pro-
fessional field"
Other citizens have been as out
spoken in favor of the present segre-
CATION plan. Said Wilbur S. Finch
president Of the Federation of Citi-
zen's Associations:
There is no more reason fol-
changing the segregation program
now than there was for establishing
it in the first place. The whole
structure Is one based on laws and
tradition over the years and moth
ing that has happened in recent
years makes a change necessary"
Federation for Dual Plan.
The Federation to Citizens Asso-
Citations Executive Committee, rep
resenting 10 community groups
unanimously adopted resolution
urging continuation of the dual rec
reation program.
Milo F. Christensen, superintend-
ent of the Recreation Department
returned from vacation to find his
desk filled with letters protesting
a change in policy.
One letter from the Parent
Teacher Association of Francis
Scott Key School read:
The Parent Teacher Association
Of Francis Scott Key School wishes
to record its protest against the
proposed removal of current re-
strictions against the use of certain
Fairgrounds by children of Negro
descent.
I'VE feel that the mingling of
races at the present time would
cause more harm than good, and
that the solution of the problem lies
in the prompt appropriation of
funds to furnish additional play
ground and recreational facilities
for colored children and adults"
MOntrose Area Protests.
Residents of the Montrose Park
area, Thirtieth and r streets NV,
registered concern In a barrage of
protests.
Wrote Mrs. Marie H. Frisby, 3042
r street NV:
"As one of the residents whose
home faces on the Montrose Park
playground, and as a mother whose
two sons frequent the playground, I
am writing to protest the suggested
change in the regulations governing
the operation of it. . This is not
snobbishness, but a recognition of
facts, and it will not be to the best
interests of the playground system
nor the children themselves to re-
fuse to face them. If the condition
were reversed I am sure that the
parents of children in Fairgrounds
exclusively colored would feel the
same as I do"
A letter from Mrs. Hazel C. Heath,
3024k r street NV, pointed out
the impracticality of colored chill
dren crossing several streets to reach
MontrVe Park since "the colored
section is from Twenty-ninth street
on downtown" and suggested that
"the part of the public park system,
on both sides of the Parkway Drive
be used as a playground for Negro
residents"
Common Facilities Impractical.
Another woman wrote: Il wish to
make a vigorous protest against the
proposed nonsegregation OF colored
and white people in the parks of the
District. In solving any problem,
it Is most important to face facts,
and the fact Of this matter are that
free intermingling of these two races
is one of those beautiful ideals that
just don't work out. Every fair
minded person wants the colored
people to have the same rights and
facilities that the white have, but
because the two races are unassimil-
able, it is most impractical to have
these facilities in common"
One group of IA members of an
organized adult Bible class" petit
toned the Recreation Department
to exert its influence in retaining
the present ruling or law" for seq
regation.