Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-30
Segregated PLAY
PoIicyLeft TO
D. {. Officials
Planners Abandon
Playground Listing
Under Pressure

'oy9fouHo I'sln9
| Under Pressure
! Administration pressure was ad-
mitted today as being largely re-
sponsible for a surprise move by
Federal planners that overnight
put the decision 10 continue or
end racial discrimination on $50
Washington Fairgrounds up TO the
District Commissioners and the
Recreation Board.
/ The move was vote by the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission that directed
elimination of all racial designa-
lions from the Official Recreation
System Map ii prepares and
keeps up TO date for the District.
| AS the legal land purchasing
agency under the Capper- Cram
ton Act. NCPPC acquires all lands
needed for Fairgrounds. It's racial
designation Of areas on the map
is said to serve as a guide to the
Recreation Board. which sets
them aside for white or colored.
Interior Department officials
said the new action Of NCPPC is
| in line with the administration
policy opposed to racial segrega-
ton In recreation.
Held ID. c. Function.
The NCPPC has been unjustly
accused of enforcing a recreation
policy by making these racial des-
ignations on the recreation map.
explained A. E. Demaray. acting
director Of National Park Service
and ex-officio member OF the
Manning commission.
The action we took passes the
ball for maintaining or ending seq
regation where 1t belongs-to the
district Commissioners and the
Recreation Board. They are the
ones who are enforcing segrega-
ton"
Mai. Gen. U. s. Grant III. chair
man, in announcing adoption OF
the resolution at the close OF the
monthly planning session. added
this explanation:
THE action does not mean the
end Of racial segregation in Dis
trict recreational areas. It does.
however. make 1t an administra-
tive matter. leaving the decision TO
the agency that operates the play
grounds"
NCPPC, Gen. Grant explained.
will continue to buy land for play
grounds but. in adding them to
the map, will omit any racial
designation and wipe of existing
designations.
Gen. Grant said the matter came
I'D at the meeting when he pre-
seated an exchange ef correspond
encc between himself and Rep
Iresentative Klein. Democrat. OF
New York. who had demanded
that NCPPC abolish racial dis
crimiation in the District. The
New Yorker yesterday followed up
| his letter by another to the White
House, demanding that NCPPC
stop its practice Of making racial
designations on the map.
Demaray Admits Pressure.
The planning chairman declined
to divulge any of the arguments
used to bring about adoption OF
the resolution or to identify any
particular source that might have
brought pressure to bear. Others
were not so reticent. Mr.. Dema-
ray said the action was prompted
largely by Administration pres
sure"
Gen. Grant insisted that in his
opinion and the opinion Of the
commission that NCPPC has never
made any policy Of its own on the
matter of segregation. In acquir-
ing land for recreational purposes
the commission, he explained. was
guided by the situation as 1t ex-
listed here at the time.
Gen. Grant said he does not be-
lieve the resolution will materially
affect the long-awaited decision
of Attorney General Clark on
Questions of jurisdiction Of play
grounds raised by H. @. White.
solicitor Of the Interior Depart
ment. The latter contended the
department could ban segregation
on So Fairgrounds purchased with
funds under the Capper- Cranton
Act. The Recreation Board dis
agreed with his decision. and Mr..
Clark was called upon to settle the
dispute.