Evening star., 1947-11-25
Club Federation
Criticizes Report
On Grill Rigbts

~
The District Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs today was preparing to
send President Truman and mem
bers of Congress copies of a resolu-
ton opposing the immediate" end
ing of segregation in the District
and criticizing the report of the
Presidents Committee on Civil
Rights for misleading and inaccu-
rate statements" regarding the Dis
trict.
The resolution, which was adopt
ed at a meeting yesterday at the
Hamilton Hotel, also will be sent
to Mrs. J L. Blair Buck, president
of the General Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs.
| Miss Lottie Anderson, assistant
recording secretary, who was the
only delegate to oppose the measure
when it was put to voice vote, told
reporter later that she felt the
measure was too controversial" to
be taken up at this time.
In spirited discussion which pre-
ceded adoption of the resolution.
Miss Anderson identified herself as
native of the South and expressed
the opinion that discriminatory
practices are not an example of
Christian democracy"
Mrs. Harvey w. Wiley, legislative
chairman, who introduced the
resolution, emphasized that the
civil rights report also recommended
national representation for the Dis
trict. The resolution expressed the
opinion that such a radical change"
as the immediate ending of segrega-
ton should not be forced upon the
citizens here unless they have
elected representatives in the House
and Senate to speak for them
when legislation affecting their
most vital interests is being dis
cussed."
In presenting the resolution, Mrs.
Wiley cited examples of inaccuracies
which she said give a distorted pic
ture of racial conditions in the Dis
trict.
THE report states that Washing
ton is the point at which all public |
transportation into the South be-
comes Jim Crow" she declared.
The inference is, by use of the
word becomes that the city of
Washington practices Jim Crowism,
whereas the report should state that
Washington is the last station, 60
ing from North to South, which |
does not practice segregation in
transportation"
School Statement Untrue
Mrs. Wiley also branded as "un-
true" statements that Negro schools
are inferior to white schools in al
most every respect" and that Ne
groes are increasingly being forced
into a few over r-crowded slums."
She continued that the report
states that the Capital Transit Co.
would not employ qualified Negroes
as operators during the war. The
truth is she maintained, that it
was the union member employees who
refused to train Negro applicants
for jobs in the street cars
Mrs. Wiley also took issue with
of a statement that
Negroes are refused service in down.
town restaurants, may not attend a
downtown movie or play and have
to go into the poorer section of the
city to find nights lodging.
Negroes can find restaurants and
movie theaterS all along U street
from Eighteenth to Seventh and
down Seventh to K Streets" she
asserted The downtown part of
the city referred to by the report
is made up of white merchants who
naturally cater to white customers
and who must secure a return on
their investments. There are, more
over, several Negro hotels operated
by Negroes for Negroes. There is
neither law nor private covenant
preventing the establishment of any
legal business enterprise on a non
segregated basis anywhere in the
commercial areas of the city. The
only thing which prevents such
eSta blishments is lack of initiative
and lack of the possibility of sue
cess"
Mrs Edward c. Magdeburger, fed
Grafton president. presided at the
business session, which was followed .
oy an afternoon address by Mrs.
Betty Jacobs, special assistant to
the director of the International |
Fund of the United Ma t
lions. Mrs. Harry De Lung, inter- ]
national relations chairman, intro !
iuced the speaker
Ihanukah Lunche0n-