Evening star., 1947-10-17
Door Is Opened
ToBigtin1eRing
And TrackHere
Record Ballot on Issue
Is Decided by l2-4;;
Suit Is Dropped

The door was open to bigtime
track and field and amateur box
ing for Washington today following
action of the District chapter of
the Amateur Athletic Union in lift
ing its ban on inter-racial compe-
tition in these sports.
In special meeting at the Jewish
Community Center last night AAU
Board of Directors voted IL to 4
to modify a ban which had existed
for many years.
According to E. Joseph .Aranoff,
president of the District AAU, the
issue brought out a record ballot.
Although the inter racial sanction
was limited it was seen as a dis
tinct triumph for Negro leaders who
have fought long and persistently
for such recognition for their ath-
letes. s.
Henderson Lauds Move.
DR.. E. B. Henderson. chairman of
the Citizens Committee Against
Segregation in Recreation and long
a campaigner against the ban
against Negro athletes here, greeted
the AAU action with enthusiasm
II am very pleased, of course, at the
way the AAU has expressed ITSELF
he said this morning. Il hope that
those restrictions still on will be
taken off when the people here see
how we'll it will work.
For one thing, it means the re-
turn of big track meets here, meets
that will rival those in Madison
Square Garden. We can count on
the fair play of American people to
give evidence of democratic be-
havior when Negro and white ath-
letes compete here together.
It's also going to mean a great
deal in the fight against juvenile
delinquency by giving those boys a
chance who heretofore have been
able to compete only against mem
oers of their own race.
The entire colored population
Of Washington will greet this action
with hope that it will be a great
step forward. I personally want
to commend the sAAU officials for
finally coming to the conclusion
they did"
Among the other Negro leaders
expressing pleasure at the AAU
stand was Paul Cook, chairman of
the Recreation Committee of the
Committee on Racial Democracy
and president of Local 27, Ameri-
can Federation of Teachers. ITS a
very fine action, means of making
democracy work for all of U.s." he
said. Il don't like the escape
clause and I hope it won't be ap-
piled, but it's still a forward step"
The resolution voted on last night
read:
Moved, that the ban on interracial
competition be removed from boxing
and track. Further, that the Box
ing and Track Field Committees
have the privilege Of rejecting en-
tries in their respective champion
ship events, especially if interracial
competition is not allowed on the
premises where event or events are
held.
Two Sanctions Requested.
Organizations whose executives
participated in the balloting were:
Catholic University, Jewish Com
munity Center, Washington Canoe
Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Touchdown Club, Ambassador Club.
Prince Georges Golf and Country
Club. Washington Track and Field
Club, Dulin A. c., Washington Boys
Club, Times-Herald Welfare Asso-
citation, Agriculture and Recreation
Association, Indian Spring Golf and
Country Club. Merrick Boys Club,
Central &C" Club, Prince Georges
County Boys Club and the Knights
of Columbus.
Immediately after the meeting
applications were made for two
sanctions of inter-racial events, one
track meet to be held at the Ma
tional Guard Armory and the other
boxing event.
Last rights action resulted in the
withdrawal of a suit against the
AAU filed in 1945 by five Negro
boxers who charged the AAU had
registered them as amateurs then
barred them from the unions ring
championships. George E. G. Hayes,
the plaintiffs attorney announced
withdrawal of the suit.