Evening star., 1948-12-20

Report TO Offer
Remedies Here
To Be More Dynamic,
More Controversial,
Dr.. Reissig Asserts

Defending the recent report Of the
National Committee on SEGREGATION
in the Nations Capital, Dr.. Fred
erick E. Reissig, executive secretary
OF the Washington Federation Of
Churches, last night told of plans
to get action on the report.
He addressed a meeting of the
Washington branch of the National
Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, held at the John
Wesley A. M. E. Zion Church. DR..
ReisSig was member of the com.
mittee which put out the report.
ccndemning the segregated social
system which exists in Washington.
DR.. Reissig told the group that
churchmen would see that each
member of the House and Senate
was made aware of the report as the
first step in getting action on a
civil rights program. He explained
that the report only set forth the
facts but that another report, to
appear soon, would recommend q
course of action.
1t will be more dynamic, more
controversial" he declared.
Ideals Should Be Spread.
DR.. Reissig said three groups
have the responsibility to spread
truly democratic" ideals In this
country the Government, the
educational institutions and the
churches.
Some of these are living up to
these American ideals as they
should" he declared. He said that
all around the world people are
watching 'our American experiment
in democracy" and that all errors
are played up"
Speaking of his personal stand
against continuing the segregated
social system. he said as a Chris
tian minister" he could do nothing
else. The religion he believes In
makes this mandatory, he added.
Il in a church live In a glass
house" he said.
Interviewed earlier on a radio
program by DR.. Tomlinson D. Todd,
president of the Institute of Race
Relations, Dr. Reissig said he
thought the committee should pub
lish another more encouraging"
report, emphasizing the progress
which has been made in Washing
ton toward the solution of the
segregation problem. Such a report
would spur workers to greater efforts
in improving race relations, he said.
The program was heard over Sta
tion WOOK.
The group also heard DR.. Howard
jenkins of Howard University's law
school faculty, discuss aspects Of
the survey of school building needs
in the District which was made by
DR.. George D. Strayer of Columbia
University for Congress.
Basic Error Cited. -..-'
The survey recommended nearly
S38 900 900 of construction to bring
the Districts schools up to a mini
mum level.
DR., jenkins said the survey con-
tanned one basic error-it did not
show to what extent the present
schools were being utilized. He said
that the report should have shown
how many children needed to be
taught and how many classrooms
were available.
Instead, the report stuck to the
segregated pattern of white and
colored schools and did not give a
true picture, he said. The report
showed the usual "unwillingness to
accept the fact that children can
learn side by siGe" without regard to
color, he declared.
He praised the report for showing
the 'inadequacy" of colored schools
as compared to the white schools.
declaring it disputed that "taciS
assumption" that schools can be
equal but separate.
Members of Committee. =
The group reelected the Rev,
Stephen G. Spottswood president for
a third term and also reelected e.
B. Henderson, vice president; Joseph
H. B. Evans, secretary, and Thomas
j. Frazier, treasurer.
Named to the Executive Commits
tee. in addition to the four officers.
were:
William S. Anderson, Clayton c.
Bannister, Gardner L. Bishop, Lloyd
Won Blaine, Vincent Browne, Leon
Calhoun, A. Powell Davies, Maynard
De Witt, John B. Duncan, Marie
Punches, Roy Garvin, Joseph H.
Greene, James Harrington, George
E. G. HAYES. Charles s. Hill, Elmer
&c. House, Joseph L. johnson, Bel
fort V. Lawson, jr.; Andrew Lindsay,
Matthew McKavitt. C. Herbert Mar
shall, Harry Merican. William D.
Nixon, Ida G. Reid, Gertrude Rod
man, Nancy Straus, Robert l.. Tay-
lor, Leon Thompson. James Whyte,
Emerson Williams, Smallwood Will
liams.
MI II