Evening star., 1949-07-29
CiiviicGroupsAsk
Anacostia Pool
Be0penedAgain
Resolutions Propose
Resumption on Old
Segregated Bosis

/
Pool be reopened for white SWIM
mers.
The pool was closed a month
ago today on orders of Interior
Secretary Krug. His action fol-
lowed incidents occurring after
colored swimmers were admitted
to the pool, which had been used
only by white persons.
The four organizations are the
Eastern Branch Kiwanis Club.
Anacostia Lions Club and the Fort
Davis and Fort Dupont Citizens
Associations. In addition. chill
dren who used the Anacostia Pool
are reported circulating petitions
for it's reopening.
Officers Polled by Phone.
The Kiwanis Club action was
taken by its officers and directors
who were polled by telephone yes
terday by Adelbert w. Lee, club
president. Mr.. Lee said it was
the consensus that, with tensions
as they are, it would be mistake
to open the pool on any other
than a segregated basis and that
its former operation for white
swimmers had been attended by
no difficulties.
]. Louis Goldman, secretary OF
the AnacoStia Lions Club, said the
clubs action was taken at a meet
ing Wednesday night Of 81 of the
IS members at the First Methodist
Church of Bradbury Heights.
"We are sending letter to the
Secretary of the Interior and to
the Recreation Board voicing our
feeling that the pool should be re-
opened on a segregated basis" Mr..
Goldman said. I'VE feel it is
wrong to deprive the children Of
the use of the pool. Until such
time as matters take different
trend it should be operated on a
white basis
Four Point Resolution Adopted.
The Executive Committee of the
Fort Davis Citizens Association.
convened by Mrs. Edward B. Nor
ris, president, adopted four
point resolution.
| It stated that the closing of the
Anacostia Pool during excessive
hot weather worked hardship on
1.-The thousands of children accus-
8Aasned to use it. It asserted that
S4po6 ise in a white neighbor-
hood and adjacent to two white
high schools.
It also stated that previous
operation had brought no claims of
discrimination and that the move
IstQWard pppsegregation was insti-
\ n group which wanted
I'D 40fce the issue after similar
priots had occurred in st. Louis.
Would Resume Former Practice.
The Executive Committee of the
Fort Dupont Association held a
special meeting last night at the
home of the president, Richard L.
Shoap, 1855 Fort Davis place Sc.
Mr.. Shoap said its resolution
urged the operation of the six
Interior Department pools under
the former practice. Four pools
Anacostia, East Potomac, Takoma
and Mckinley - formerly were
patronized by whites, and two
Francis and Banneker-by colored
swimmers.
The resolution also looked for
ward to the eventual elimination
of segregation when circumstances
become favorable. Mr.. Shoap said.
Another point was the advocacy
of more pools and their allotment
to white and colored swimmers on
a basis of population.
Bylaws Were Changed.
After the Anacostia Pool was
closed, Secretary Krug moved to
turn over Interiors pools and
other recreation facilities to the
District Recreation Board. At his
insistence, the Recreation Board
changed its bylaws, eliminating
section providing for segregated
operation of play facilities and
adopting instead, on July 20. the
declaration of a policy looking
toward eventual elimination of
segregation.
The next day Harry S. Wender.
chairman of the Recreation Board;
James E. Schwab, vice-chairman.
and Milo F.. christensen, Superin-
tendent of recreation, began me-
gotiations with Interior Depart
ment officials to take over the OPP
Grafton of Interiors facilities. But
the swimming pool question was
not brought up.
Mr.. Wender said today that
since Secretary Krug wrote him
accepting the change in bylaws.
neither he nor the recreation de-
parcnlent had received any COM
mu1ication of any kind about the
swimming pools. He said the board
was ready to negotiate for the
pools at once.
Interracial Workshop Offers Plan.
A plan for reopening the pool
has been offered by the Interraciai
Workshop and % other organiza-
tions. They recommended opera
ton on a non-segregated basis
after careful preparations to
minimize and deal with racial
tensions.
Mr.. Schwab pointed out that the
Mckinley Pool. formerly patronized
by white swimmers, has been on a
non-segregated basis for more than
a month and that use of the pool
had dropped sharply.