Evening star., 1948-05-13
Hearing Opens
In University
Women Slight
Packed Courtroom
Listens to Arguments
In Race Dispute

Counsel for the American AsSo-
citation of University Women argued
today that the dispute between the
national group and its Washington
branch is a matter of the internal
workings of the organization with
which the court should not inter-
fere.
The national-local controversy,
which began Is months ago. over
the Washington branch's refusal to
admit colored college graduate,
was aired for the first time in court
this morning In room packed with
university women. Other women
waited in the hall as Chief Justice
Bolitha j. Laws of District Court
began the hearing.
The local group is seeking a pre-
liminary injunction to keep the
national organization from carrying
out what a Washington branch
attorney described as IAN unmitl-
gated threat" to oust the branch
from the national organization.
The national group, in turn, is
seeking dismissal of the case.
Motion to Dismiss Filed.
For a while this morning 1t ap-
peared that the women who had
spent hours in line had waited in
vain. Shortly after John A. Crog-
han, representing the Washington
branch, began his argument, Charles
A. Horsky, counsel for the national
group. told the court he had f1leo
a motion to dismiss.
When Justice Laws said he should
hear the dismissal motion first, Mr..
Croghan said he was not prepared
to argue that one. Justice Laws
proposed continuing the case until
both motions could be heard to-
gether, providing that the national
group would agree in writing not to
evict the branch or bar its men,
bers from the clubhouse before the
hearing.
At that point Mr.. Croghan agreed
to go ahead with both motions and
Mr.. Horsky began his argument on
the motion to dismiss.
Objection Is Offered.
Early in his argument he began
to say that Mrs. Mary Church Ter
rell, colored college graduate, ap-
piled for membership in the Wash
ington branch. Mr.. Croghan i'm
mediately objected to bringing in
dividuals or the question OF dis
elimination into the case, since no
mention of discrimination was con-
tained in the papers.
Justice Laws sustained the objec-
ton.
Mrs. Terrell, who was an interested
spectator today, applied 18 months
ago for admission. Her application |
was refused. Last month the ma
tional group told the Washington
branch that unless it changed its
bylaws to make an approved degree
from an approved institution the
sole requirement for admission, 1t
would be automatically excluded
from the organization.
Before the case was called today,
Mrs. Terrell told a reporter that AL
I ever asked was that the national
insist that the loca lobserve the
constitution. Now they've done that
I'm perfectly happy"
Mr.. Horsky said the dispute CEN
tered on whether the local bylaws
regarding membership were in con-
7ict with the national bylaws. He
pointed out the statement in the
Washington branch's complaint that
the branch did comply with the
national bylaws.
Bylaws Called Conflicting.
Arguing that the local bylaws
were in conflict, he cited an amend
ment to the local bylaws adopted
in April 1947, which provided that
the local Board of Directors had to
pass on application OF eligible
members.
The national bylaws, he said,
provide no such power for veto
or control" of membership.
He argued further that the branch
complaint on which it pinned its
request for preliminary injunction
made no charge that the national
group had been unfair or improper
In it's method of handling this case.
He said the complaint challenged
the decision but not the way it was
arrived at.
The court can act, he contended,
il an organizations procedures are
faulty, but where a decision is made
in good faith, "the whole nature OF
voluntary organizations is defeated
il the court reviews the decision.
Officials of the national organiza-
tion were expected to testify after
the luncheon recess.