Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-19
Race Discrimination Issue

Race Discrimination Issue
If the issue of racial discrimina-
ton In Washington could be resolved
by admitting Negroes to the Ma
tional Theater and the Lisner Audi
torium the solution would be simple.
That, however. is not the case. The
groups working for unrestricted adj
mittance practices at these theaters
have no intention of stopping there;
they will press on to break down
comparable barriers in the moving
picture theaters. the public schools,
the Fairgrounds and the dwelling
places. That Is wholly within their
rights and there is logic in support
of the principle.
The reason the National Theater
and the Lisner Auditorium have
been singled out for exploitation of
the issue is understandable. They
are, in relation to other things, easy
marks. They offer an exceptional
opportunity for the type of publicity
which makes people think. While it
Is an opinion unsupported by precise
evidence and is contested by others
who have given it earnest considera-
ton, it Is probable that had these
places quietly adopted, of their own
volition and in advance of the latest
fiare-up, policy of unrestricted adj
mittance, the policy would have been
accepted without much public con-
troversy. The practice of manage
ment and the exemplary conduct
of the colored patrons at Griffith
Stadium, the summer Water Gate
concerts and Constitution Hahn
so far as the audience is concerned
strengthen this opinion.
But the vigorous and even bellig-
erent manner by which the issue is
being pressed in the case of the Ma
tional Theater and Lisner Audito-
rum makes it more difficult for the
responsible administrators to recede
from or even to modify their posi-
ton. There are certain advantages
In abandoning restrained yet per-
sistent appeals to reason in favor Of
the more spectacular methods Of
the pressure groups-picketing, ridi-
culing, boycotting and name-calling
There are also disadvantages. More
hearts are apt to be hardened than
softened. In tanning one emotion,
others are ignited. More snakes are
likely to be stirred up than are killed.
The implications of the controversy
magnify and tend to distort the
specific issue which created them.
The wisdom of such tactics as
an approach to the problem is not
only questionable but the approach
itself is weakened by the fact
that the dramatists who say they
will boycott the National with
their plays are careful to narrow
their contract stipulations to WASH
ington. They are not so completely
consistent as Paul Robson, in
othello, who applied the condition of
nondiscrimination to every theater
In America. The forces combined in
the drive on the National and the
Lisner Auditorium rely to a consid-
cradle extent on the principles of
democracy; yet an essentially demo-
cratic Principle, as we understand
democracy in this country, is the
choice by the majority of the condi-
tions and customs. subject to law,
under which it chooses to live.
This latter point is not altogether
Ignored, although there are reasons
to question the validity of some of
the claims based on it. In Mr.. Sher-
woods letter to The Star and in the
manifesto of the DramatistS' Guild,
reference is made to "only small
minority of the people of Washing
ton" who want theater admittance
restricted and to "the sentiments
and principles of large majority of
theater-goers" who oppose theater
restrictions.
We should be candid and accurate
about this. If the case is to be
rested so broadly on the principles OF
democracy, an important application
OF the principle is to find out what
the people who live here do believe
In and what they prefer. If the
dramatiSts and others are correct in
claiming that they are supported by
local public sentiment, those who
argue for restrictive practices in
Washington do not have a leg to
stand on. If they are not correct,
then they are themselves misapply-
ing democratic principles by the use
of coercive and provocative sane
tions to impose acceptance of the
desires of minority. The Star does
not believe that local sentiment sup
ports the elimination at this time OF
restrictive practices. It does believe
that sentiment is growing in that
direction and is better cultivated by
friendlinesS and good will than by
attempting to line up one section of
the population against the other, or
one section of the country against
the other. as in battle array.
But there are ways to find out
what local sentiment does in reality.
support-by polls conducted by dis
interested professionals in the poll
ing business, or by an official
referendum on the subject under