Evening star., 1949-09-15
Abolition of Service Days
Deplored as Invasion of Peoples Rights

To the Editor Of The Star:
AS one of the sovereign people of these
United States, vigorously protest the dis
continuance of the days dedicated to our
various branches of arms. In particular, I
protest the abolition, this year. of what we
have known honored and observed for many
years as Navy Day. Since the first intima
tion that these days were to be abolished,
both Army Day and Air Force Day have been
observed; failure decently to complete the
cycle stands as evidence of deliberate, fla
grant and indefensible discrimination against
a service that deserves at least as we'll of
the Nation as any other. To force the
Nation to be a party to this discrimination,
to deny us the right and the occasion to rec
ognize and pay tribute to our Navy is out
rageouS.
These days have existed for a purpose.
They did not originate as occasions for
boaSting, as Secretary of Defense Louis
Johnson has called them, and custom
arily have not been used as such. They have
been the days on which each branch of the
Nations arms reported directly to the Ma
tion. giving an accounting OF its develop
ment and progress, demonstrating its capac-
ity to serve, opening it's establishments and
offering it's weapons for our inspection, &C
knoWledging and passing in review before
its real communicative people.
These days were designed to stimulate
public interest, understanding, and a greater
awareness of responsibility; to establish that
close, intimate relationship between the Ma
tion and its arms which is a requisite OF
government by the people-and which can
not be allowed to lapse if the country is to
remain free. This is what is meant, what
is constitutionally intended, by Civilian con-
troll; not one-man control civilian or other
wise nor yet control wholly within one de-
partment. Internal security demands that
there be checks and limitations, that there
be divided authority. and that control be
retained, directly and firmly, in the hands
of the people.
1t is our duty as well as our right to exer-
else that control; no officer of government,
elective or appointive may-n this is still a
democratic constitutional republic - inter
fere. We must be able to examine our armed
forces, severally. separately and in detail:
we must hear from them directly, receive
from them honest factual reports without
fear, favor or arbitrary censorship. There
is no place in the system. which we assume
still obtains, for iron curtain methods, star
chamber proceedings or decisions in camera
from which there is no appeal. Any attempt
to deprive us of rightful information, to in
fluence. sway or regulate our response, or
otherwise impede our normal relations with
our services, is an egregious and intolerable
violation of our sovereign rights.
DOROTHY FORD MAYHEM.
Cambridge, Mass.
Readers Continue Discussion of Need
For High Schools for Colored Pupils
To the Editor Of The Star
I note that in your editorial of September
g. entitled "Overcrowded Colored Schools. Z"
fat in hot ha fro af
Central High School to the Negro divisions
would result in the abandonment of con-
siderable part Of this building program"
I would like to ask what part of what
building program do you refer to? Do you
mean Cardozo only? Or are you referring
to the building Of three new Negro high
schools-Spingarn. Cardozo and Armstrong?
Editors Note: The building program
referred to was outlined to the Board of
Education last June by Superintendent
Corning)
We seriously have considered the warning
that the transfer Of Central might impede
or otherwise jeopardize the building pro-
gram. In this connection it should be OBJ
served. however that immediate relief for
Cardozo is absolutely necessary. Moreover,
in view of the history of building and reno
vation of Negro high schools, we can hardly
convince ourselves that a belated program
for all three Negro high schools (Spingarn,
Armstrong and Cardozo) will or could ma
terialize in the near future. For instance,
after 20 long years, all of the plans for
Spingarn are not quite complete; and any
bodys guess may be as good as mine with
respect to new Armstrong. Further, we
know Of no real and organized plans for q
new Cardozo. Actually, there is implied op-
position to a new Cardozo (Strayer report).
Y~s ,>%~ A~x..x Is1r
necessary - not of the Wilson or Miner
Teachers College type; and from all appear
ances, such relief will be needed for long
number of years. Thus. If the building of
Negro high schools continues at the present
discouraging rate, we can hardly expect more
than Spingarn before approximately 1875.
Moreover, to depend on the completion of
Spingarn to Qbviate the necessity of tempo
rary measures is wholly inconsistent with
the facts. It is estimated, for instance, that
the Negro high school population will reach
5,706 in 1851 (Strayer), at which time Spin
garn should be completed. School statistics
indicate, however. that the total pupil sta
tion capacity of Spingarn d.600l, Arm
strong (875) and Dunbar is only 3.787. If
we retain Cardozo (845) the total pupil sta
ton capacity would then be 1852, or indi-
eating a need for more than 1000 additional
seats for Negro pupils. On the other hand.
If the 1850 pupil stations at Central are
made available, by transferring Central.
capacity will more nearly approximate en-
rollment. Actually. therefore, the compile
ton of Spingarn and the transfer of Central
will barely provide Negro students with ade
quate space in 1851. To say the least, the
real building program can hardly be i'm
peded, for there is none, and the transfer of
Central is imperative-that is, if we intend
to provide real and immediate temporary
relief. JOHN B. DUNCAN,
Vice president, District of Columbia Fed
Grafton of Civic Associations.
To the Editor of The Star:
Reference is hereby made to your editorial
of September 8. in which you discuss the
high schools of the District of Columbia
and the proposed plan of transfer to relieve
conditions at Cardozo High School.
We agree with the statement that "colored
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