Evening star., 1947-01-05

we have stated heretofore. it got
far afield.
It is the considered opinion of
this committee that excellent prog
ress has been made in Washington
in establishing. proper relations be-
,ween the two predominant races.
It is a progress that Is based upon
developments and education. This
has been accomplished without a
fortnight condemnation of existing
relationships. There are probably
many relationships in this city and
this country as whole against
which we might complain, and
which have some Of the character
istics as this one. 1t has not been
too long in the past when religious
groups segregated themselves from
those who differed from them, and
with a great amount of antagonism
manifest in their separate positions.
Segregation Is not something new.
1t has existed for ages. It viii con-
tinue to exist, in our opinion, so
long as time shall last, because there
are so many different personalities
in the world. some of which are
Incompatible with others.
Multiple Illustrations.
In the field of religion, I think
that we will all assume, that it would
be ideal If we were all Of one faith,
but we know that will never happen
There will always be a certain
amount of segregation based upon
religious convictions. Probably the
best that we can expect is that we
will be broad -minded enough to re-
spect the opinion of the other, and
permit him to segregate himself
without arousing any condemnation
on our part.
We might multiply these illustra
tions many times. and in so doine
we will find that segregation is one
Of the commonest experiences of life
The law-abiding citizen separates
himself from the criminal, the edu.
Gated from the uneducated, not be.
cause he dislikes him, but because
they do not desire the same things
Those with like club relationships
separate themselves in various activ.
tiles from others not so concerned
and finally Republicans separate
themselves from Democrats, and .se
ad infintum.
We do not know why God in hi
infinite wisdom made of us many
households, or why he. equipped us
with certain tendencies which differ
so much from others, or why hi
made some white, some black, soms
yellow and some brown. We de
know that there are fine traits ir
every race, and fine attributes ir
every individual. The principa
problem for all of us is to learn how
to live together, recognizing that
separation which will be the result
OF our conflicting reactions, emo.
tlonS and racial peculiarities.
Washington has fine relationship.
among its various groups. Condi.
tions are not perfect; we never ex.
pect them to be. It is difficult fol
us to avoid discrimination amons
the members of our own families
and this difficulty seems larger a.
the group enlarges itself into 8
neighborhood, city, a nation. TIL,
conditions which have caused criti.
cism are not the creation of a day
or a year, or a decade. Recognizin.
that fact, we certainly do not expect
to solve them in a day. In all prob.
ability, the difference in race ane
racial habits land tendencies will
always dictate a certain amount ot
separation, as is true in politics
education and religion. Certainly 6
certain amount of separation il
desirable, because of the attendan,
differences. There would be de.
cidedly more friction were separa.
tion to ceasesate once, and there will
be frictiorIt unless itsis judiciouslJ
maintained. ssa
No Merit in Complaints.
= Wedo not believe that you can
solve the proper relationship ot
racial different groups without sep.
aration properly applied. Certainly
1t cannot be done through the stroke
OF a pen, the filing of committee
reports, or the determination o1
some individual or group of indi-
viduals.
We believe that clearer better
understanding between the two pre-.
dominant races in Washington /.
better served at the present tim,
and for many years to come b,
separation. Certainly, we will moi
better the feeling between the two
races by the hurting of anathema.
in committee reports. Neither car
we drive the public to a program
approved by some unrepresentatiyt
committee, when the predominant
public sentiment is to the contrary
There is no merit in complaint.
OF discrimination as detailed b,
this Racial Relations Committee
There may be isolated cases of dis.
elimination by both white and col.
ored against the other. These art
the private action of misguided in.
dividuals. There is no evidence
of program of racial discrimina.
ton by either group against thu
other, or by public authoritie.
against colored. Such individual
determinations as do exist may al
be eliminated by proper admins.
tration. and by education and sant
consideration on the part of all in.
dividuals and groups involved
These can every one be adjusted
by proper administrative action
without abolishing the program o.
separation now existing. In fac
to abolish the present segregation
would lead to more distressing re.
suits than now obtain. We NEAR
by segregation. a program of sep,
aration in which both races CO.