Evening star., 1945-08-15

that stipulated respect for human
rights and fundamental freedom
without distinction based on race
sex, language or religion"
Sees Nation Laughing Stock"
The attempt to create fixed pat
tern of racial segregation in ths
public recreation facilities of Wash.
ington should make this Natior
the laughing stock of all those in.
dividuals and organizations in thu
United States and abroad who art
trying to lay the foundations for 9
just and lasting peace for all peo.
Piles, DR.. Logan said.
BY expressing appreciation to thu
board and It's chairman for tha
wholesome program of recreation
built for the good of the commu.
nifty spirit and moral" the Rev
Francis w. McPeek, later drew 9
commentary from Mr.. Wender a
being the only speaker present who
had acknowledged the progressive
work being done by the recreation
department.
Director of the department oi
social welfare in the Washington
Federation of Churches, Mr.. McPeek
said he would like to see the board
and department expand, but coul6
not understand the policy Of en-
forced segregation.
Labor Leaders Testify.
With the foreword that he spoke
for 10000 workers in the District
organized in the United Fedora,
Workers of America (CIO), Henry
Beitscher held the recreation board
primarily responsible for the lack
of adequate recreation programs fol
Federal workers and partly re-
sponsible for the heavy Govern
ment turnover, which so seriously
hampered efficient wartime oper'
ations."
"It is ironic, indeed, in a city sci
aside as the seat Of the United
States Government, that public
board should have a policy directly
contrary to the established policy ol
United States Government agencies
1t is even more ironic that these
Government agencies should be
obliged to curtail their desperately
needed employe recreation pro-
grams"
| Miss Betty Hays. chairman o.
the Washington Labor Canteer
(CIO). said the canteen had dem.
onstrated by its actions that non.
segregated recreation is feasible ane
desired "by a large number Of serv'
icemen."
Robert Sherman, president Of the
Washington Industrial Union Coun.
Gil (CIOO, said "the entire procedure
used by the board is contrary tt
normal practices and could only
occur in a city such as Washington
where citizens are deprived OF tht
franchise.
Hits Lack of Franchise.
The citizen members of the
board should be, and, I believe, are
aware of the fact that District resi-.
dents do not enjoy the norma
democratic rights of other American
citizens with regard to electing anC
influencing their Government ofi.
cials," MIR. Sherman said.
He said he was aware that some
members of the board had played
important parts in seeking the vote
for the District. Then he told how
white and colored r1en1bers of the
Organization he represented had
encouraged and enjoyed interracial
activities since 1887.
Appearing for the Northwest Citi-
zens' Association. Lillian Evanti
said it was significant that in the
Nations Capital it was impossible
to have mixed singing in the
shadow of the monument thai
stands for democracy"
Group Worker" Speaks.
Ruth S. Ralph, a group worker
representing the United ONCE ano
Professional Workers of America
(CIO), said that "all people deserve
to be judged as individuals.
'"It is very difficult to bring the
white children from their democratic
street play into a segregated atmos.
phere Of school, settlement house
or playground, and then tell then
their Negro friends are still theil
equals-still deserving of their re.
spect and admiration" she said.
The Rev. j. F. Whitfield, pastor
OF the Twelfth Street Christian
Church. said, Our recreation sys.
TEN should be one in which al
members Of the population are giver
the freedom of participation on tn,
basis Of choice. No good performer
should be denied the dement's O
enjoying these public facilities be.
cause of race"
Austin l.. Fickling, president o
the Brookland Civic Association, sal,
the board was without lawful au
thority" to adopt a policy of segre
cation. He said if Congress ha,
intended, in creating the board, tina
it should adopt policy Of segre
cation, ut could easily have S,
stated"
Also speaking against segregation
were F. Leroy Halbert, who said h
headed the Potomac Co-operativ
Federation, and Dorothy S. Strange
who spoke for the Communist party
i Statements Submitted.
At the invitation of Chairman
Wender, several persons who wer
to speak for the present form o
recreation administration submitte,
their statements to the board il
written form.
/ Gordon M. Atherholt, president o
the Macarthur Boulevard Citizens
Association and also Representing
the Northwest Council of Citizens
Associations, was one who spok
vigorously for segregation.
He said he was raised in Phila
delphia and was proud of his recor,
of having done much to help i'm
prove the working conditions Q
Negroes, but that it was his con
sidered opinion that the free mix
ing of the races in recreation woul
never work.
AS spokesman for the Federation
of Citizens Associations, the Pet
worth Citizens Association and tn
y Nxy IL