Evening star., 1945-11-13
Letters to The Star
Mr.. Schwab Defends Recreation

Mr.. Schwab Defends Recreation
Boards Comprehensive Plan
To the Editor of The Star:
I have seen the letter written to
the Editor Of The Star by William H.
Hastie, and wish to reply as follows:
The purpose Of my letter in The
Star of october was to refute the con-
stantly reiterated statement of certain
groups and persons that the Recreation
Board has made change in the oper-
alton of the recreational system it con-
trolls. Mr.. HASTE is one of those per-
sons. The board has made no change!
Mr.. Hastie, at the August IA meeting
OF the Recreation Board, made the
statement that the board rule in ques-
tion makes 1t mandatory upon the ad-
ministrative personnel of this board to
prohibit and prevent any use of
recreational facility by colored and
white citizens, whether at the same
time or at different times" This Is an
all inclusive statement, inferring that
there are no recreational areas where
interracial use is permitted.
The rule applies only to such units
in the recreation system designated as
white or colored by the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission
which was charged by Congress with
the duty to develop comprehensive
plan" for recreation within the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The programs operated on the units
are in accordance with the "compre-
hensive plan" AS the board makes use
OF facilities under the primary con-
troll OF the Board of Education, the
District Commissioners, the National
Capital Parks and other agencies, the
use OF such facilities conform to the
policies Of those agencies.
Says Policy Has Not Changed.
MIR. HASTE also stated that the pres
ent interference with individual free
dom in the field of public recreation
goes beyond anything which has for
merly been done by this board or its
predecessors" This Is wholly untrue,
exactly the same type of operation has
been in effect for many years. Mr..
HASTE further stated, The effect of
the boards ruling is TO force a discon-
tinuance of unsegregated use of rec
reational facilities which has occurred
frequently and repeatedly under the
jurisdiction Of the board and its pred
ecessors in the National Capital Park
areas and various Government depart
ments and in countless privately spon-
sored commercial projects of public
recreation" This is untrue, as to the
first part and, of course, the board has no
control over recreation in the Gov
ernment departments or commercial
projects.
Mr.. Hasties letter states that the
Recreation Board refused to permit
the use of public park because Of
interracial participation. This is
misstatement of facts. National Cap
ital Parks controls the use of the Sylvan
Theater. Certain nights are allocated
to the Recreation Department for pro-
grams. The group requested the Rec
reation Department to sponsor its pro-
gram. This the department declined
to do and suggested the group apply
to the National Capital Parks for use
of the Sylvan Theater.
Mr.. HASTE refers to the action of
Senator Burton in striking out a sec
tion of the original Recreation Board
bill in such manner as to create the
impression that the bill had originally
contained section actually stating
there should be racial restrictions. The
section stricken provided for operation
in accordance with past practices. This
would havesarestrictedI the board on
policy, and the effect Of the removal Of
the section was TO leave the board free
as to policy. Left in the bill is the
reference to the comprehensive plan"
for recreation of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. At all
of the hearings on the bill the recrea-
ton plan" was explained by officials
of the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and the congressional
committees had full knowledge that
the plan" provided for dual system.
Senator Burton made no explanation
to the Senate for striking out the section
referred to, and the intent of Congress
Is open to any ones Interpretation. II
Congress intended to abolish the dual
system substitute section specifically
providing for such abolition would have
been in order.
Problem Regarded rs Complicated.
Mrs. Hunters proposed amendment
states: Provided, that nothing in these
regulations shall be deemed to make any
public facility unavailable to responsible
groups and organizations which may
wish, in their use of such facility, to per-
NIT the attendance and participation Of
any citizen belonging to the same, or to
prevent any citizen living in the
community served by a utility from
making voluntary use thereof, If they
so desire"
The latter part of this amendment
seems to make it possible for any citi-
zen to make use of facility regardless
OF any program being conducted
thereon. Let us assume an organized
game is taking place, all male or all
female, all children or all adults; a
citizen may decide he or she wants to
play regardless Of the conformity of the
citizen as to age, sex or race.
1t is not quite as simple as Mr.. Hastie
states the case to be as to facilities In
wholly white neighborhoods being un-
affected. For several years Negroes
Increasingly have migrated from their
own home areas to seek recreation in
wholly white neighborhoods. This is