Detroit evening times., 1945-10-30
WESTBROOK
.PEGLER
-FohH
Enough

THE national society of the
Daughters of the American
Revolution Is private organiza-
ton Of restricted membership,
devoted to patriotic and educa-
tional works.
II has never been accused of
allegiance or subservience TO
any foreign political or national
interest. but twice in recent
years it has been the victim OF
savage propaganda, promoted by
New Deal biologists because
the rules for the management OF
its privately owned concert hall
in Washington. d. c.. pSoyide
that it may be leased for per-
formances by white artists,
only"
On the first OF these occas-
ions, Marian Anderson. the
Negro singer, came under the
ban and Harold lckeS, in the
department of the interior,
took a leading part in agita-
ton which made Miss Anderson
famous whereas, up to that
time. she had been compara-
lively obscure to the public IN
the United States, although
celebrated among artists.
MRS. ELEANOR ROOSE-
NA WELT. by way Of personal
protest and personal political
promotion, resigned her honor
AIRY membership in the OAR
by contrast with the course of
conduct which she urged on
American members Of the
American Newspaper Guild who :
resigned or thought of resigning
in revolt against the domination
of the guild by Communists.
Mrs. Roosevelt held in that
case that the thing TO do was
not resign but fight for reform
and control within the Guild.
DECENTLY another applica-
IL ton on behalf OF a colored
woman performer for a date at
the OARS Constitution Hall
in Washington was denied for
the same reason that prevailed
in the Anderson case.
The subject was Hazel Scott,
a night club pianist OF debatable
artistic status, who recently
married New York Negro con-
gresham named Powell soon
after a divorce from his first
wife.
Powell is a political oppor-
tunIst with some OF the charac.
teristicS Of the late Huey Long
not including Hueys intelli-
gence. whose following includes
the Negro Communist element
in Harlem.
THE situation now is such that
any Negro jug-band or muSl-
cal saw VirtuoSo from any cat.
hsh Jolnt or any troup express
ing the degenerate and alto
gether discreditable litter and
llVe themes, given nimble
PFess-agent and the cooperation
OF any congressman, may make
publicity al the expense Of the
OAR and its honorable repu-
tation as a patriotic group Of
American women.
In this connection the OAR
nHs cited a decision OF the
court OF appeals of the District
OF Washington which takes
judicial notice Of the fact that
these accepted practices arc
not Intended To imply the In
feriority OF either race to the
other"
The court observed their ex-
istence in public housing and
public schools in Washington
and that separate churches are
universal and are approved by
both races"
N THIS propaganda, however.
the fine patriotic principles Of
the Daughters are ignored or
jeered by persons and groups
whose own policies and associa-
tons have been responsible for
riots. the teaching Of dirty doc
trineS in the schools. in print
and on the air and the penetra-
ton OF unmistakable Commu-
nists INTO positions of dangerous
power in the government.
The impression cannot be es-
capped, therefore, that among
those who have attacked the
OAR for its enforcement OF
familiar Washington custom, the
motive OF some is not so much
10 protest against discrimination
or 'liberate" art as TO discredt
an institution which is more
purely A mer can than most
others OF our time because II In
purely and serenely American
and unashamed Of its patriotism.
THERE are other halls to be
Il had and the fact naturally
comes TO mind that If artistic
freedom were the issue in these
disputes those who thirst for
such music and abhor discrim-
ination could solve the problem
in some edifice owned by any Of
the many offshoots OF the Com
munist party.
On the record the OAR IL
incomparably more worthy Of