Evening star., 1949-06-15

ASs~S"I's~IS
and games between teams a cl.-
ierent races WAS .oroa6den.
Here's q chance 10 put or new
policy to work. Mr. werder sx-
claimed
Efforts by Mr. wendeF 10 frame
motion which would Rllow teams
/ 10 Use players o! any race we're
ssymled. however. with Nj, Sehwah
saying
u don, think We should leap
so quickly
II was agreed TO study the
matter.
j Experiment Mentioned.
! When questioned after the meet
/ ing by reporters about what
changes were In mind to iraple-
ment the policy. both Mr. wendeE
and Mr.. Schwab pointed 70 the
btraetai experiment which viii
open on two Fairgrounds this
week.
/ The biracial experiment on the
playgrounds-Rose Park and Gar
field-was approved a month aso
and Is to be conducted Jointly with
the American Friends Service
I Committee
/ The move by Mr.. Root 70
end segregation on the citys play
grounds was the latest In q series
/ of maneuvers by the Interior De-
partment to force the District
Recreation Board to change It's
policy.
/ About six months ago. after the
Interior Department had COM
mitted itself to President Truman .
civil rights program. an Interior
Department solicitor held that
some 65 Fairgrounds controlled
by the District actually were under
the Interior Department. These
areas were purchased by the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission and turned over TO
the District for recreation.
Boards Statement
The text OF the policy Of the
Recreation Board follows:
| "As a clarification OF the Recre-
alton Boards racial policy con-
cerning the use Of facilities under
its control. the board adopts the
following:
The board will make every pos
sible and realistic effort toward
the removal Of racial segregation
In public recreation In such Sc
ouence and at such rate Of pro-
gression. as may be consistent with
the public interest. public order
and effective administration.
The following statement Is
made in explanation OF the board 8
attitude and the conditions which
must govern 1t In implementins Its
policy.
I "On Its creation In ie47 the
board inherited . policy Of segre-
cation. providing equal facilities
under q dual system. according
to the pattern Of the public schools
iWhEh are an integral part OF the
\ sTecreational system. and In which
fsesregation Is required by law. Re.
cent actions Of the board have al.
lirsady indicated q departure from
Z thh policy. I
Authority Acknowledged.
4 Nov that the Board Of Educa-
tion has ackpowledged the Rec
reation Boards complete author
ity for determining policy in the
use of school facilities for recrea-
ton purposes. and the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission has eliminated all racial
designations Of recreation areas
in the District Of Columbia rec
reation system plan. the Recrea-
tion Board unquestionably has the
power TO create its own policy In
this respect.
"On February 3. i949. the board
unanimously removed racial desig-
nations from permits affecting 10
tennis courts. On March IL, 1919,
the board unanimously expressed
its willingness to operate public
golf courses on Q nonsegregated
basis If they were made available
by the Interior Department for
operation by the board.
"On May 10. ie49. the board
unanimously approved q proposal
Of the American Friends Service
Committee to experimentally op-
crate three Fairgrounds during
the summer period on an inte-
grated basis. At the June IL. is4e.
meeting the bylaws committee
win recommend that the bylaws
be amended, so as TO allow inter-
racial use OF community and
school buildings by permit for
public assembly purposes. BY
these actions the board is DEM
onstrating Its willingness TO re-
move racial barriers In the use
and operation Of facilities and
programs under It's administra-
ton.
Just as the board has pursued
aggressive and effective program
for expansion Of facilities. tn
creased appropriations and the
raising Of public recreation stand
ards. II Is similarly aware Of the
need for changing concepts and
practices In the administration
Of o progressive public recreation
] program
I'm efiectuating this conversion
the board must bear In mind the
following facts:
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