Evening star., 1947-10-05
Wender Denies Intent
To Censor Discussions
By Federation Groups


Chairman Harry S. Wender of the
Recreation Board assured the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations last
night that the board had no inten-
ton of attempting to limit the
range of subjects discussed by citi-
zens at meetings in school buildings.
Mr.. Wender said the board had
not adopted any new policy with
respect to such meetings, for which
it issues permits. Specifically. he
declared, there was no rule against
discussing real estate covenants
He deplored what he said was the
mistaken impression obtained by
some groups from letter sent them
by Recreation Supt. Milo F. Chris
tiansen calling attention to estab-
lished rules with respect 70 discus
sions held on school property.
Bound by Earlier Policy.
The Recreation Board was bound
by policy against inf1ammatory
and un-American remarks in such
sessions adopted many years age
by the Board of Education, he ex-
planned.
Mr.. Wender defended Mr. Chris
tiansen's letter and said he had
discussed it with him before it
was mailed. He complained that
the Recreation Board had been
tried, convicted and hanged or
the basis of some groups belief ii
had adopted new policy as a re-
suit of protest based on a news
paper report of citizens gathering
II feel very deeply about this. anc
am little hurt that some of my
best friends didn't call me about it,
he said.
Information Was 'Hearsay."
Mr.. Wender explained the only in.
formation the Recreation Depart
ment had received on supposed re.
marks concerning a racial issue as.
sertedly made at a citizens meet
ing were in the nature of "hearsay
evidence"
He said Mr. Christiansen's letter
took no notice of the reported state
ments but defended it as justified
reiteration of policy which the Rec
reation Board could not change.
"We are not ruling on what yor
may discuss" he emphasized.
Arthur B. McNerney of the Brook
land Citizens Association took the
floor to declare he made the state
ments which prompted a complaint
to Mr.. Christensen. He said he
considered he had been quoted i'm
properly in a newspaper report Of
the meeting at which he spoke
asserting he prefaced the remark:
complained of with the statement,
Il know how you feel; you fee
like doing thus and So"
Cautioning Against Violence.
Mr.. McNerney said he was eau.
tioning against violence in his re-
marks
People had been harrassed te
such an extent that they were
almost Wild" he said.
Charles M. Maize Of the Kenil.
worth Citizens Association said hi
felt Mr.. Christensen had gone tot
far in writing the letter and added
I'm going to cut his wings, If
get chance, when Congress meets.
The federation voted to concur
in the action of its Executive Boart
in approving minority report o
the Citizens Survey Committee OF
the Community Chest. The repor
had been signed by Survey Com
mittee representatives Of the feder'
alton and the Federation of Busi
nessmen's Associations.
Subversive Study Approved.
Mrs. Ernest Howard. chairman
of the federation Public Welfar'
Committee, who asked approval o
the report, said it actually repre-
sented the feeling of majority o
the Survey Committee and had beer
indorsed privately by some Ches
officials.
In another action, the federation
approved a report on study o
subversive groups made by its Com
mittee on Membership and Creden
tials.
The report included commenda
ton of the House Un-America1
Activities Committee, a provision
that study of subvarsive groups b.
continued by the federation commit
tee, a request that the Attorne!
General compile new list of such
groups and referral to the Consti
tuition and Rules Amendment Com
mittee of a proposed Tightening o
the federation's control over quail.
flcations of it's members.
The federation also authorized it!
Public Utilities Committee to op-
pose any "unwarranted" increase ii
telephone rates at a public hearing
before the Public Utilities Commits.
sion, and instructed the COMMITTEE
on Taxation and Fiscal Relations tt
tell the Commissioners at their bud