Evening star., 1947-11-09
500 al Closed Session
Discuss Covenants
In Congress Heights

1t was touch and 60 for a few
minutes yesterday for two reporters
who were wondering whether they
we're going to be elected bodily from
a meeting of some 600 residents Of
Southeast Washington, called to
discuss covenants to protect prop
erty owners in Congress Heights. "
1t came about after newspapers
were informed of the meeting
through a telephone call to the
Congress Heights theater. The re-
porters got in unannounced. At
the close of the meeting two citizens
threatened to get them out" as
they sought to question the speak
ers.
One of the speakers, Edward J.
Newcomb, interceded. The news
papermen went on asking questions.
A reporter from The Star had
gone to the meeting feeling the
views of the citizens of Congress
Heights on segregation would be
open to the public.
REFUSES 10 GlVe Name.
Harry Leibrand, president of the
Congress Heights Citizens Associa-
ton, who called the meeting, re-
fused to give a reporter his name.
He was identified by Mr.. Newcomb.
Earlier, he had welcomed the
gathering, and congratulated Con-
gress Heights citizens on their 100
per cent backing of covenants
there.
Clifford N. Newell, former presi-
dent of the Federation of Citizens
Associations, was invited as guest
speaker. Mr.. Newcomb, Southeast
real estate broker, represented non
member citizens of Southeast.
IF colored person gets in your
block" Mr.. Newell said, do not get
panicky and sell out. just remain
where you are, and through segre-
cation it will be taken care of. The
colored person will move away.
''It is the scheme of some un-
scrupulous real estate brokers'" he
said. to buy a place for more than
its worth, sell it, and make his
profit on other houses in the block
This can be stopped if the other
home owners will not sell.
Special watch" Urged.
If we refuse to sell, this agitation
will cease and the agitators
will 20 back to the country where
they came from"
Mr.. Newell urged members of the
group to have ""at least one person
in each block keep an eye on things
and know what's going on-and
then tell the president of the
association
Mr.. Newcomb told the group he
did not believe "any respectable
colored person would move into the
area if he knew the conditions
there"
Il came here in the early 1900s, y
he said, land worked with Col.
Arthur E. Randle, founder Of the
Congress Heights area, to make this
area white and keep it strictly a
white neighbprhood 1t had been
up until about two months ago,
when a home in the 5000 block of
avenue Sc. was sold to a
colored person. 1t was bought back.
he said, "by the agent
who sold it.
About a month ago property in
the 500 block of Trenton street
Sc. was sold to Negro. I raised
the money myself to buy that back .
he added.
Some Sections Only Covered.
He pointed out that only some
sections of Congress Heights. with
a population of some $1,000 per-
sons. now are restricted by cove
nants. The area includes both sides
of Nichols avenue from st. Eliza
oeths Hospital to the District line;
both sides of Alabama avenue from
Fifteenth street west to the point
where Alabama avenue converges
with Nichols avenue, and all side
streets leading into Nichols and Ala
bama avenues.
Cards to be signed by persons
TO sign @ covenant, when