Evening star., 1947-10-18
|Unitarians Vote Down
Move 10 Boycott D. {.
On Segregation Issue
By Cospor Nonnes

n AAotlOll W pOyCUtt WdSlllIlS LOll
and other cities refusing hotel and
restaurant accommodations for COL
ored delegates was defeated by the
narrow margin of eight votes yes
terday at hectic concluding session
Of the American Unitarian Associa-
ton general conference. The vote
was 100 for and 108 against.
The conference, which opened
Wednesday, was held in All Souls
Unitarian Church, Sixteenth and
Harvard streets NV. DR.. Winfred
overholser Of Washington, mod
orator of the association, presided.
The question producing a sharp
division of opinion among the dele
gates was an amendment to a seq
regation resolution. The amend
ment, proposed by James j. Mar
shall of Miami, Fla, said future
general conferences should not be
scheduled in Washington or any
other city unless the delegates, re-
gardless Of race, be afforded equal
access to all necessary conference
facilities, especially hotel and res
taurant facilities"
State Laws Cited.
The Rev. A. E. Van Still, Okla
homa City, told the delegates: II
hate to think the great Southwest
is being emasculated by such reso-
luton. The conference simply can
not meet in the Southwest because
we have State laws on the question
and we are laW-abiding citizens"
His position was supported by
Mrs. H. L. Beck, Atlanta, Ga, who
declared: Theoretically, am among
those who follow you, but I strongly
indorse what the minister of the
Southwest said. You are looking at
it from a viewpoint the South Is not
yet ready to accept. We are working
towards that goal through the inter-
racial groups that are genuinely
trying to solve It,"
Proponents of the amendment
took the position voiced by the Rev.
A. Gilmartin of Fort Wayne, Ind,
who insisted: "We must some time
take the stand Mr.. Marshall is ask
ing us to take. Let us do the things
we say and stand on integrity by
action and purpose"
Original Motion Passed.
Following defeat of the amend
ment, the original motion stating
segregation is a violation of the
principles implicit in the fatherhood
OF God and the brotherhood of man"
was passed by an overwhelming
vote. This resolution commended
those individuals, businesses and
institutions in the District which
are eliminating segregation and
urges those which are segregating to
cease such practices" 1t also called
on Congress Ito enact civil rights
statute for the District Of Co.
lumbia."
Another major fight centered
around a foreign affairs resolution
originally proposed by the Rev.
Stephen A. Friedman of Jamaica
Plains, Mass, former editor of the
associations magazine The Christian
Register. Mr.. Friedman and his
supporters charged the business COM
mittee of the association, through
which the resolutions must 20 be-
fore they are submitted to the gen.
eral conference, had radically
changed the intent of the motion
until 1t no longer expressed the aim
Of the author.
Calling for world unity and sup
port of the United Nations, Mr..
Fritchman's resolution included a
reputation Of some sections of our
Government and many sections of
our press to use American dollars
to dictate internal political and eco
nomic policy in countries seeking
aid for their war-devastated peo-
ples.'
Russian Veto Condemned.
The Business Committee added.
among other points, statements say
ing I'VE are expressly opposed to
any form of government dominated
by totalitarian methods" and I'VE
especially condemn Russian use OF
the veto power to block effective
action by the Security Council of
the United Nations in preventing
external domination OF Eastern Eu-
ropean countries"
A substitute motion brought to the
floor omitting the clause critical
OF the American Government and
press and the statement condemn
ing Russian use Of the veto power
was passed by 1T to 100 after at
tempts had been made by Mr..