Evening star., 1949-08-13
More on Inter- Racial Use
OF Swimming Pools

To the Edto. of The Star:
As an old resident Of Washington, am
deeply interested in the letter from Secretary
Of the Interior the Honorable J. A. Krug,
setting forth his version of the recreation
issue and also of your editorial relating
thereto. which appear in the issue Of The
Star for August 4.
We have paid great price for the pres
ervation Of the democratic way of life. Our
American heritage Of freedom and and
equality has given us prestige among the
nations Of the world and q strong feeling
of national pride at home. However there
Is too great disparity between principle
and action, and we have come to the point
where we shall have to make up our minds
either to live in q democracy and make 1t a
reality. or to accept the fact that we are not
capable of meeting this challenge
The proposal Of the Department Of the
Interior for the operation Of all recreationa
facilities on q nonsegregation basis is COM
mendable and offers challenge to show
that we sincerely believe In the democratic
way Of life. Many residents of the District
OF Columbia are not impressed by the
Recreation Boards proposal for the elimina-
tion Of segregation on gradual basis. The
time to do thing which we know to be
right and Just is now.
The swimming pools and other recreational
facilities can be operated on a nonsegreea-
ton basis without friction If every one will
work toward that end. It Is my firm belief
that there are many white residents who
are anxious to have this done. The pro-
posa1 of the Department of the Interior
should be supported Fundamentally BY the
Recreation Board and our churches, news
papers and civic organizations should lend
their support. II democracy is right. let US
dare to make 1t true DAVID T. WELLS.
To the Editor Of Thestar:
In your editorial entitled. "Progress--The
Wrong Way" you are continuing your
attempt to convince the public that segreea-
ton must exist in the Districts public pools.
In your treatment Of this subject you resort
to emitting pertinent facts which do not
support youl position.
First. you implied that persons attempting
to put into effect fonsegregation at the
Anaeostia pool precipitated ugly incidents
and for this reason segregation should obtain
in the pool as the present solution to the
problem. However. you have neglected to
mention that Negroes have q right to swim
in this poo1 and that few white hoodlums
were the real cause of the disturbances. Also.
you found no reason to mention that the
policemen, even when they were present.
were ineffective although according to re-
pOEtS tIley ulu eLAAc w dAICeV q AeW
Negroes who were defending themselves.
persons who ventured on park grounds while
passing out leaflets intended to inform white
youth that public pools are for the use Of
all citizens and even Negroes IA Job which
The Star could have done more effectively
and few others.
Second, your attack on Mr. Krug was ur-
fair and unjustified. It now is evident from
his press release dated July II that his policy
of nonsegregation in park areas was the
same even before he was scared by pressure
groups" into breaking his agreement with
the Recreation Board to keep from making
q backward step in race relations.
STANLEY D. GRANT, Jr.