Evening star., 1949-06-29
Mckinley Pool Opens
For Free Period After
Segregation Dispute


Government Services, Inc, per-
sonnel opened the Mckinley pool
this morning for the regular free
swimming period. following Dis
trict Recreation Board withdrawal
OF lifeguards because Of the segre-
cation issue.
The Recreation Department
normally operates the free SWIM
ming periods each morning at Nc
Kinley pool, as well as at i've
other Interior Department con-
trolled-GS1 operated swimming
pools.
GSI agreed to open the pool for
the free period-fees are charged
in the afternoon and evening
after a last-minute conference
with Interior Department officials
last night.
Recreation Supt. Milo r. Chris
tiansen said the boards personnel
will report as usual to five other
GSI-operated pools at which the
board supervises morning instruc-
ton and recreational swimming.
Withdrawal Notice Served.
The board has served notice 1t
will withdraw from pools which
are not operated on q segregated
basis. It promptly announced no
board employees will stan the Nc
Kinley pool. after colored children
showed up yesterday morning.
GSI trustees yesterday voted to
operate pools from which the Rec
reation Board withGraws, II such
action Is requested formally by
Interior and assurance Is given
that Interior will reimburse GSI
for the expense.
An Interior spokesman said the
GSI resolution still is under con-
sideration. but that Interior "does
not intend to eliminate the morn
ing service" The Department. he
said, will "step in." when and If
the Recreation Board takes steps
to leave the pools unattended.
Meanwhile. two persons were in
1ured slightly. In an altercauop
yesterday afternoon at the Ana
costa pool between a group OF
white and colored boys. Treated
for abrasions at Casualty Hospital
and released. officials there said.
were Lewis Grover. 20, Of the 2700
block Of N street Sc, and Donald
Beverly. 16, colored, Of the 1000
block Of Sumner road Sc.
White Girl Questioned.
Capt. Mark H. Raspberry, COM
mander OF the park police, said
fighting broke out In the pool
locker room and continued outside
the pool building. The officer said
about six or eight persons were
fighting and that "a lot of fists
were thrown" BY the time a
score Of police arrived. a crowd
Of 200 or 800. mostly children. :"
had gathered. he said.
Capt. Raspberry said q large
amount of the crowds hostility
was directed toward a 2o-year-
old white girl. who, onlookers said.
had been seen talking to Negroes
outside the pool. The girl, identi-
fed as Ida Jane Galpert, OF the
first block of Randolph place
NV, was led. amid boos, to a
police car and taken to park
police headquarters. She was re-
leased after about two hours
questioning, Capt. Raspberry said.
Miss Galpert was interviewed
last night at a meeting Of the Dis
trict Young Progressives. Mrs.
Mariana Majchrzyk, who de-
scribed herself as chairman OF the
group, said Miss Galpert was sent
to the pool "as an observer to see
that incidents like this did not
happen.
Held Under Shower.
Miss Galpert. who said she was
an art student, said she talked to
a few Negroes before buying her
own ticket and entering the pool
locker room. Inside, she said. she
was surrounded by q group OF girls
who held her under shower, and
then told her she would have to
leave. The crowd had formed by
the time she dressed and left the
building. she said.
In his statement to the GSI
trustees yesterday, r. D. Lewis.
GSI associate general manager.
said the "colored people have
practically taken over the Nc
Kinley pool" and that there are
''only q handful Of white people
who present themselves for ad-
mission there,
"At Anacostia." the statement
said. "it is apparent that the white
people will try to prevent the col
ored people from making an in
vasion of the pool.
1.-TWO white boys were arrested
with knives on them on Friday;
however, no serious trouble en-
sued and nobody was hurt. :
A fist fight took place yesterday
(Monday) between colored and
white boys in the locker room at
Anacostia, which was broken up
by the park police"
Meanwhile, the Executive Board
Of the District Progressive Party
sent q night letter last night to
Secretary Of Interior Krug. COM
mending the anti-segregation
stand. The letter was signed by
Harry c. Lamberton. co-vice chair
man of the party.
PorIey on Race Problems
Urged at Youngstown
YOUNGSTOWN. Ohio. June 90
49,