Evening star., 1949-08-04
Mr.. Krug's Own Version
OF the Recreation Issue

OF the Recreation Issue
To the Editor Of The Star:
Your editorial Of today august y on
the recreational problem in the District Of
Columbia is thoroughly confused.
The present negotiations with the Recre-
alton Board were not initiated as result
of the Anacostia pool incident. The depart
ment has sought at various times since 1912
to enter into agreement with the board, but
in every case the issue Of segregation was
a stumbling block. The current effort to
reach an agreement began in March with
new letter from me to the chairman of the
District of Columbia Recreation Board. dated
March %.
On July 81, the Park Service turned over
copy of our proposed agreement for oper-
alton of facilities on National Park lands
by the District Recreation Board. Today Is
August 2 and we have not had a response
from the Recreation Board Committee.
The July l Meeting.
At both of my conferences with the Dis
trict Commissioners and representatives Of
the Recreation Board on July and July II.
I said that as soon as the Recreation Board
eliminated its segregation bylaw the Park
Service would be in position to negotiate
an agreement, = as provided in the 1912 law,
for operation of facilities located on Ma
tional Park lands. That act provides that
the use of land by the Recreation Board
must be in accord with agreements reached
between the board and the agency having
Jurisdiction over the land Under that agree
ment, and pursuant to it, the board would
conduct all operations and determine all
questions Of general recreation operation and
policy.
With respect to the question of racial
segregation, the Recreation Board has prom
ised to make every possible and realistic
effort toward the removal Of racial segre-
CATION in public recreation" 1t has never
been in doubt about my position that the
agreements negotiated could not permit
backward steps in the move to eliminate
segregation. In its letter to me of July H.
advising me of the new bylaw to be sub
stituted for the old segregation bylaw. the
chairman of the board said the board con-
sidered not only my proposal for elimination
Of it's segregation bylaw but also my state
ment on the recreation problem in the Dis
trict of Columbia issued on July IL. inclose
copy of that statement which believe you
should print with this letter to provide your
readers with the whole picture.
It was clear to the board and the District
Commissioners as well as the Interior De-
partment, that our negotiations would be
promised on two things. First, it is desir-
able to get into the hands Of a local agency
those recreational facilities which are used
primarily for local and neighborhood recre-
alton. Second, it Is desirable to make all
possible progress, with no backward steps, In
effectuating the Presidents Civil Rights Pro-
gram both on park lands now administered
by the Park Service and on all other public
recreation facilities in the District of Co.
lumbia.
Restatement Of Objectives.
We adhere to these objectives. If we fail
in getting these local facilities into local
hands, it will not be because of lack Of
effort on our part to do so.
The Anacostia pool was closed, not he
cause was scared by organized young
demonstrators, but because tense racial
frictions stimulated by excited citizens and
newspaper coverage which emphasized the
racial aspects Of the problem, threatened to
erupt into serious violence. We closed the
pool to ease those tensions. Had we adopted
a compulsory rule excluding colored people
from the pool, the surrender to hoodlumism
would have encouraged hoodlumism through
out the city.
The press coverage Of the incidents lead
ing to the closing of the Anacostia pool was
frequently irresponsible and contributed to
rather than minimized racial tension. This
same treatment is now being extended to
editorials on what you admit are delicate
problems Of race relationships" in Wash
ington.
In the elimination Of the Recreation
Boards segregation bylaw, we have made
very substantial progress. I think we have
a good chance Of making even more progress
in the current negotiations between the Park
Service and the Recreation Board. That
chance is not helped by editorials such as
yours of today j. A. KRUG,
Secretary of the Interior.