Evening star., 1948-07-16
District AAUW
Wins Ruling in
Expulsion Fight
Laws Judgment Bors
Step by Parent Union
In Admission Dispute

IN ADMISSION OiSPute
Chief Justice Bolitha J. Laws of
District Court today ruled in favor
of the Washington branch of the
American Association of University
Women in it's fight against expulsion
by the national AAUW.
Justice Laws granted a summary
Judgment to the branch in its suit
to enjoin threatened expulsion
growing out of the Washington
groups refusal in October, 1916, to
admit a colored university graduate
to membership.
The Washington clubhouse OF the
organization is at 1884 I street NV.
The national group, holding that
persons should not be denied mem
bership on racial, religious or po-
litical grounds, declared the bylaws
of the local branch were in conflict
with the national bylaws with re-
spect to membership.
Cites eligibility" Rules.
The branch held there was moth
ing in the national charter or by
laws which prevented branches from
selecting members they desired from
applicants deemed eligible" by the
national bylaws.
In his opinion today, Justice Laws
pointed out the charter authorizing
formation of the association de-
scribed certain educa tional accom-
plishments as making a person
eligible" for membership in the
corporation.
The bylaws adopted by the asso-
cis ton. wherever they discuss ad-
mission to membership in either
the national organization or its
branches, used the term eligible,
he added.
Justice Laws defined the term as
meaning qualified to be chosen"
and commonly accepted as giving a
discretion to those making the
choice.
Have Choice of Admissions.
Thus, under the national bylaws
In existence when the Washington
branch was formed and still IN ex-
istance, both the national and
branch associations have choice as
TO whom they admit as members
the jurist wrote.
Justice Laws stated he found
nothing in the national bylaws say
ing there was any other require
ment that those generally having
certain educa tional degrees or train
ing must be received as members in
the branches, or that there was any
requirement that a national mem
ber must be admitted to branch
membership.
He added that the national asso-
citation until the last year tacitly
recognized the right of branches to
determine admission to their mem
bership.
Sponsorship Required.
He pointed out that for years
the Washington branch has had the
requirement that a new member
must be sponsored by member OF
the Washington branch.
BYLAWS of branches in Tulsa and
San Diego had set up requirements
with regard to membership. he
added.
The opinion said it appears mot
onlv that the national bylaws at
all times have indicated the
branches might pass upon eligibility
of their members without control by
the national association, but that
until the present controversy arose,
the national officers have so inter-
preted the bylaws"
Justice Laws also held that only
by the adoption of amended bylaws
bv a national convention in compli-
ance with regulations under the
present national bylaws, and sub
seouent refusal by branch to abide
bv such bylaws, may the branch be
lawfully expelled for refusal to
admit Negroes to its membership
Sees Powers Exceeded.
He added he considered that the
board of directors Of the national
association acted beyond it's powers
IN ordering expulsion of the Wash
ington branch.
In ruling in favor OF the Wash
ington branch, Justice Laws at the
same time denied motion by a
minority group in the Washington
branch for summary judgment on
suit in which it aligned itself with
the national association on the
membership question.
The minority members sought to
prevent the majority from denying
membership to any applicant on the
ground of lace color Or creed