Evening star., 1945-10-17
Letters to The Star
Readers Disagree on OAR
Dec;s;on About Hall

! wish some one would explain why.
Every SO often controversy arises
over the manner in which the OAR
lease their hall. In the first place, those
who have been refused knew before they
applied that they would be, so why did
they apply? What is back Of all this?
Why, In city where segregation was
established by ofiicialdom years ago.
and when 1t is being retained by those
now in power, should one organization
be singled out for attack?
Why are those persons who blame the
OAR not big enough to say: I'm q city
OF segregation, the OAR could not be
expected to do otherwise, but we will
work to have laws passed opening our
schools, Fairgrounds, hotels, theaters,
etc, to all .groups?"
One thing not generally understood As
that colored artists have sung In Con-
stitution Hall. These singers were
brought in as paid entertainers, but the
hall is not leased for a colored or mixed
audience.
So many persons are fond of scofing
just enough to investigate they would
be surprised at the amount of good done
by this organization.
The members of the OAR stand for
Americanism in its highest FORM they
teach lit, they work. for it, and am
sure most of them practice it. They
are justly proud of the fact that they
descended from pioneers who came to
a new land, endured the terrible hard
ships incident to hewing homes out of
a wilderness, fought to secure freedom,
and so left for those who came after
the foundation on which this great
country is built.
The Daughters, In memory of these
brave men, built Constitution Hall with
their own funds, and so provided for
Washington a beautiful auditorium,
something neither the Federal nor the
city government had provided.
Now to all public officials, let me say:
BE fair Build the auditorium you
have so long talked OF. Open 1t. and
other public places to colored persons,
If you think best, and then. and only
then, criticize the OAR for following
the rules made by those who came be-
fore you.
MARY M. CRAWFORD.
To the Editor Of The Star:
What a tragic example of American
democracy the OAR sets before the
world. Over the doorway of the OAR
hall is inscribed: Let us set standards
to which the wise and honest can re-
pair; the event Is in the hands Of
God" These words were those Of
George Washington, patron saint Of
the OAR, on the occasion OF his ad-
dress to the Continental Congress in
Philadelphia in 1887. How inconsistent
is this guiding motto and the evasive
weakness of the late president general
Mrs. Robert, when she gave as her
excuse in denying Marion Anderson
the use of the hall that, I'VE, the
Daughters cannot but follow the stand
ards or pattern set by this community"
Today in refusing Hazel Scott. her sue.
cessor gives the same answer.
Just as Stain laughed when Mr..
Byrpes criticized the failure of democ-
racy to function in the suffrage Of the
Balkans, so must all of the world point
to the action of the OAR as the Amer
ican version of Naziism. 1t truly Is dis
get on the road to universal peace.
E. B. HENDERSON.
To the Editor Of The Star:
In their zeal for obtaining their
rights, the colored people don't realize
that they are demanding them with
no regard for the rights of the white
race. The private property of group
of white people certainly should be en-
tirely at their own disposal, and for
colored person to tell the wife of the
President Of the United States she
shouldn't 60 to OAR tea really is 60
ing . bit too far. This sort of thing
prejudices the people who would like to
help the colored, because of its rank
upfairness and effrontery. don't think
the colored people would like it If the
whites demanded to be allowed to get
into their private clubs and houses.
Up to date, mere association with the
whites has anything but improved the
colored. 1t has made many of them
lose their sweet kindliness that the
whites loved and admired them for and
caused them to become sullen and un-
cooperative. And the more advantages
they have been given, the more arrogant
and demanding they have become until
they have gone beyond all reason.
The cause of the. colored people never
will progress until they awaken to the
fact that it is not because of their race
that people are prejudiced against them
but because of the distasteful things
that are associated with their low
standards Of living. I. MOORE.
Separation and Mongrelization
To the Editor of The Star:
In The Star of October IA, Senator
Bilbo is recorded rs announcing that
he is about to publish book entitled:
Separation or Mongrelization: Take
Your Choice" The part of the coun-
try from which Senator Bilbo comes
has practiced complete social and po-
litical separation OF the races from the
beginning until this day. 1t also has
produced the highest rate of mongrel-
ization known in history. How come?
Did he really mean to write a book
entitled: Separation or Mongreliza-
ton: We Chose Both?
CARLETON r. BALL.
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Prom st. Louis Post-Dispatch.
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