Evening star., 1948-12-11
Critics Concede
Value Report
0nSegregation
Some of Statements
Denied, but Reaction
Of Leaders Is Slow

Some aspects of the report Of
the National Committee on
Segregation in the Nations
Capital brought scattered OBJ
jections and denials today as
Washington's general reaction to
the report developed slowly
while leaders studied it care
fully.
The most Rev. Patrick A. OBoyle,
Catholic Archbishop of Washington.
and Harry S. Wender, chairman of
the Recreation Board, objected to
statements in the report, while con-
ceding its social value. And DR..
George c. Rutland, District health
officer, denied statements about the
Health Department.
Distribution of the report was
made to many persons concerned.
the committee announced. But the
Washington Board of Trade said it
had not yet obtained a copy and
that any comment would have to
await study of the report itself.
4AAC COllll1AkIEC Od1N NOPy 1ldO
been sent to the board.
Trade Board Accused.
The report had asserted that the
city is run actually, but unofficially,
by ''the dominant real estate, COM
mercial and financial interests, for
mally organized as the Board Of
Trade"
Real estate men were separate
targets of attack in the report.
Charles j. Rush, executive secre-
tary of the Washington Real Es-
tate Board, said late yesterday he
had just received copy of the re-
port but had not had an opportu-
nifty to look into it.
He said he did not know when the
real estate board would have a
statement, adding: Il don't know
whether there is any comment to
make"
High Slum Rents Reported.
The report had said that the
same real estate interests that make
money by excluding colored people
from new subdivisions are able to
collect inflated rentals from this
slums into which they are driven.
A profit is made on the Negro go
ing and coming"
Archbishop O'Boyle issued stats-
ment in connection with a passage
in the report which had described
q Catholic from Panama being ap-
preached while at prayer by priest
who explained there were special
churches for Negro Catholics and
that he would be welcome there.
The Archbishop's statement said:
II never heard OF any such in
cident. If such thing happened
and I heard of it, would have
acted Immediately to correct the
situation and prevent 1t from hap
pening again.
IAN incident of this kind is con-
trary to the teachings of the Cath
olic Church. The doors Of every
Catholic Church are wide open to
all (this was underscoredD who wish
to come in to pray and worship
almighty God.
Held of Social Value.
THE report of the committee is
of great social value. I am sorry
that this part of the report jumped
to a general indictment based on
one incident"
The report had stated that "ex.
clusion of Negro Catholics from
white Catholic churches is one
Of the most disturbing aspects OF
segregation which Latin Americans
find In Washington"
To this was added yesterday, as
a footnote:
These incidents are few in num-
ber but have a symbolic Importance.
Recently action has been taken IN
the archdiocese of Washington to
eliminate discrimination"
Mr.. Wender said he had not stud
led the report carefully, but that q
good many things said about the
Recreation Board are not true.
Cites Statement in Report.
"It is a fine job" he said o. the
report generally, but it is too bad
it is not a better one. So far as I
can find there was no contact be-
tween that committee and any
member of our board"
Mr.. Wender cited a statement in
the report that a colored girl who
tried to play on the Park View
Playground for white children was
carried of bodily when she refused
to leave.
"The report says this was pub
lished in the Pittsburgh Courier IN
1s47. But never heard of this, and
Continued on Page Az, Col. g.