Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-08
BiRocio Use of School Audorius Advocated by Wender

by W.
the hbraries-are not segregated.
leaving only the schools ard re-
creation buildings Of the District
facilities with segregation
Other Racial Policies.
The report said the following
privately owned auditoriums do
not have a racial ban: Uline
Arena. Constitution Hall Except
Negroes may not appear on
stage. Lisner Auditorium, Tur-
1er's Arena. National Press Club
Auditorium, United States Cham
Der of Commerce Building. Board
OF Trade conference room. Csfr.t1
Auditorium in the Jewish Com
munity Center. Barker Hall IN
the YWCA. Pierce Hall OF All
Souls Church. Pythian Temple.
Odd Fellows Hall. st. Johns Par
isn Hall. Clendennen Gym at
American University. all OF the
CLIO labor halls and most Of the
AFL halls.
During recent years. hotels have
been permitting bi-racial meet
ings, Mr.. Wender declared. nam
ing among these the Statler,
Willard. Mayfiower. Shoreman.
Hamilton, Wardman Park. Har-
rington and Washington. The
Folger Shakespeare Library and
the Phillips Memorial Gallery also
are unsegregated.
The predominating practice in
local places Of public assembly
conflicts with the Recreation
Boards present policy. he stated,
Surely, the board should at
least conform with the established
mores of the community" he de-
clared.
Up to Sponsor OF Meetings.
In saying that the permits for
use of the recreation and school
buildings should be on bi-racial
basis, Mr.. Wender pointed out
that the determination Of the
policy as to segregation at a
particular meeting should be left
entirely to the group obtaining
the permit.
"Nonsegregation can thus be
permitted without being required" "
he stated, adding that it complied
with the proven philosophical
principle that voluntary action
constitutes the cornerstone OF
liberty"
Mr.. Wender said the other as
poets of segregation in recreation
needed frank discussion" at this
time. But. he said he would not
make any comments until the
second part of his study was re-
leased.
The Interior Department,
through C. Girard Davidson,
Assistant Interior Secretary. has
demanded that the Recreation
Board abolish segregation on all
of its facilities, following the
change in the master plan of the
planning commission.
Property Seizure Seen.
Mr.. Wender charged that the
Interior Department had seized
on the racial issue in an effort
p seize control of property
clearly beyond its Jurisdiction and
authority"
, He was referring to another
phase Of the Recreation Board
trouble. 1t was more than six
months ago that an Interior
Department solicitor held that
some So Fairgrounds In the Dis
trict should come under the juris-
diction of the Interior rather than
the Commissioners.
The opinion said the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission had the power only to
designate which Fairgrounds the
District used, not turn over con-
troll of them.
A decision on this matter has
been awaited from the Attorney
Generals office since that time.
All efforts to find out when the
decision will come down meet with
the answer. 1T is still in the
works"
Mr.. Wender said that If the
Interior is upheld in that par
ticular squabble, the Recreation
Board would have to change its
racial policy on two-thirds Of the
Fairgrounds in the city to conform
to the Interior Departments nom
segregated policy. Unless the
Commissioners test the ruling in
a court action or get legislation
to clear 1t up.
Mr.. Wender said he hoped both
races would recognize the neces-
sity of eliminating segregation in
recreation on a rational. work.
able and essentially voluntary
basis"
IF 1t will take more time to
accomplish the indignation. OF all