Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-19
More on AAUW Controversy

American ASSOCIATION OF University women
are within their legal rights in appealing Is
they have just announced they are doing, the
decision of the United States District Court
in the case involving their attempt to expel the
Washington Branch from the National Asso-
citation for declining to change its bylaws to
conform to their wishes.
As the final decision in any event will be
made by the national convention Of the asso-
citation; and as the outcome of the appeal,
which cannot be heard before the October
session Of the courts. may not be known much
before the convention next spring, the reason
for the action is somewhat dificult to under
stand. Possibly, it may be an effort to prevent
the branch from presenting its case to the
convention. If the national officers believe in
the justice of their cause, 1t would seem that
they need not fear on those grounds.
The court proceedings renewed by the APP
peal mean heavy expense, not only directly to
the Washington branch, but indirectly to all
AAUW branches For the National Asso-
citation is financed by the dues from the
branches. These funds are supposed to be
used for educational purposes, fellowships, re-
search and the various activities Of the asso-
citation in the field of education. They were
not intended to finance continuous litigation.
1nasmuch as the national officers are quoted in
the press as stating that the issue with which
they are concerned will be resolved COM
pletely" by the convention their expenditure in
litigation Of the contributions made by the
branches for other purposes would appear to
be an unnecessary and unwarranted waste
There also is an element Of irony in the situa-
ton which enables the present national board
to spend the funds from the branches In their
campaign to destroy the autonomy of the
branches
That Is the real issue-reasonable autonomy
for the branches, such as they have exercised
IN the past; or complete subservience to the
national board. That is the issue, not racial
discrimination. The action of the Washing
ing branch, by majority vote of the member
ship, in declining the application of a Negro
was merely the occasion which pfecipitated
the clash. In that majority are women who
do not approve Of racial prejudice, but who
believe that the way to overcome 1t is by edu-
cational methods not by force or by illegal
tactics. They believe in democratic procedures,
and are opposed to totalitarian techniques
Tor any purpose whatsoever, whether in the
Government or in private organizations.
On the matter of membership, the Wash.
ington branch is opposed to the view spon-
sored by Officers of the present national board
that the right degree from the right college
and the necessary cash are all that may be
required of any applicant for admission to any
branch; and that no question may be raised as
to character, integrity, loyalty.
1t would be well If persons interested in the
controversy could read the dispositions made
under oath by officers of the present national
board of the AAUW. In these dispositions they
state that under the bylaws chat is, under the
Interpretation they are trying to force upon
the branches) perverts ex-felons, Communists
and persons known to be seeking the over
throw of the Government OF the United States
would have to be admitted to any branch to
which they made application, provided only
they held AN AAUW approved degree from an
AAUW approved college, The records are
open for anyone to consult
ETHEL NJ JOHNSON,
Member Of Washington Branch Of the Amer
lean Association of University Women.
The Blessing of Forgetting
To the Editor OF The Star:
George Frederick Miller, in his letter Of
August s, is correct in reminding us of our
faulty memories 1t would be almost inn
possible though for any one to remember
everything (even the cordial reception given
the Communist Youth group by the White
House, that has happened during the past
is years. And, since the average person is
helpless with respect to remedying the condi-
tons mentioned by Mr.. Miller, it is just as
well land perhaps q blessing that he can
forget some things. A. L. A.
Democratic Committee on Initiation
To the Editor Of The Star:
We have noted the recent column Of Gould
Lincoln, in which he attempts to pin the pres
ent imitation upon President Truman. The
facts belle his conclusion, and we believe q re-
view Of them Is in order for your columns.
In the spring of 1896 President Truman re-
peatedly called upon Congress to continue OPA
and price controls. Instead Congress passed a
bill so weak that Mr.. Truman had to veto it.
As ne said at that time, the only choice offered
him was between imitation with statute and
imitation without one" He exposed the weak
ness of the bill to the public.
As q result, Congress passed a second bill
which was slightly better than the first. Again
President Truman pointed out its weaknesses
But he signed it because 1t was the best bill
that Congress would pass.
the Price De-Control Board and the defiance
Of the meat packing companies which actually
went on strike. They hid such livestock n
they had In out-of-the-way places; refused to
buy more from the farmers; offered nothing
through legitimate channels to the public. The
Act Of Congress gave the President no power
to fight the packers, and he was forced to
yield.
We all know the boasts Of the Republicans
that they had killed OPA. dispute even arose
between Senators Taft and Wherry as to who
had butchered it most
In November of 1947 President Truman
called Congress into special session on the
problems Of imitation and foreign affairs. But
Congress did next to nothing and prices con
tinued to rise Then he again called Congress
back and again asked for control of imitation
and Congress again refused to respond with