Evening star., 1949-07-02

money for the down payment on home.
Now, believe it was all a mirage. The pic
ture is too complex and too simple all at
the same time. It is no secret that there
Is no supply of suitable housing for family
man earning between $4,000 and $4,000
year. It is beyond me as to just what or
who is responsible for the inequality in the
rise in prices as compared to the increase
in the salaries upon which the whole econ
omy of this town is supposed to be based.
For some time your paper has printed state
ments that full force depression is not
in the cards. However, since housing IS
such a big problem to so many OF us,
don't see how any other thing can result
N' ' A FAMILY MAN.
Autonomy Held Real Issue
In University Womens Conflict of Opinion
To the Editor of The Star:
A press association dispatch date-lined
Seattle, June %, and printed in some Wash
ington papers June "a, contains misstate-
ments regarding the former Washington
branch of the American Association OF
University Women. AS I have always found
The Star fair and unbiased, I am submit
ting the correction to you.
In dealing with a dispute between TWO
groups, it is desirable that information from
both sides to the controversy be presented.
The dispatch, by its context. would appear
to be drawn mainly from data supplied oy
officials of the National Board OF the
AAUW. 1t is colored by the views they
seek to have accepted. 1t does not give
true picture of the situation.
II those wishing to write about the mat
ter would acquaint themselves with tne
testimony given under oath by ofncers OF
the national association and by those OF
the Washington branch in the case OF WASH
ington Branch VS.. National Board. Amerl-
can Association of University Women. u s.
District Court, June 1948, they would be in
position to discuss 1t more intelllgently, ana
also in less biased manner.
The fact that Justice Bolitha Laws In his
decision in the above cited case upheld the
WASHINGTON branch, and that this decision
again was upheld by the Court OF Appeals
in June Of the present year. should suggest
to unprcjudiced persons that there are other
questions involved than the one which Ger
tain officials of the National Board endeavor
to persuade the public is the issue.
The Washington branch did not "secede"
from the National Association. 1t withdrew.
Formerly it had been separate organlza-
ton. 1t returns to its status as the Uni
versity Women's Club of Washington. This
action was not taken because the AAUW
voted to admit Negroes to membership in
the Association. Negroes are and have been
members of the Association for number OF
years. The Washington branch never has
objected to such membership. Some Of the
members of the branch, which has been
maintained in part as social club. were
opposed to mixed membership in the club.
That was the occasion, but not the cause Of
the split with the national body.
"IlIegaI Methods" Charged.
Corne Of tina rnernhorS of tho ma i0rifv
group in the Washington branch had no
objection to the admission Of properly quail
fled colored women to the group. They do
not, however sanction illegal methods as
the way to do it. They object to the theory
that the end justif1es the means. They hold
that such policies intensity prejudices in
stead of removing them. They believe that
education rather than force and fraud is the
method to employ In order to achieve lasting
results.
The real reason for the break with the
National Association was an attempt on the
part of certain Of the present national Off
cials to destroy the autonomy Of the branch.
When the College Club. which became the
Washington branch, joined the national
body some years ago. it was with the UNDER
standing that it should maintain its au-
tonomy, continuing its practices and pro-
cedures as in the past. This agreement al
ways was honored until the present national
officials came into power.
The board of directors of the Washington
branch. at meeting prior to the Seattle
convention, instructed its president to with
draw the branch from membership in the
national association If the proposed revision
of the national bylaws, which the national
officials were advocating. was adopted in the
form presented; or in such form as to de-
stroy or seriously impair the autonomy of
the branch.
Other branches besides Washington OBJ
jected to the proposed revision of the by
laws. In the form presented by the national
officials. they would have destroyed any
semblance of democracy in the association.
They would have given to the national board
autocratic authority over the finances and
property. the policies and procedures of the
branches as well as establishing conditions
which could enable the Board to perpetuate
its own powers.
The Washington branch was not the only
one that considered Withdrawing from the
association. The Berkeley, California, branch,
prior to the convention, had authorized
withdrawal If the bylaws were adopted in
the form originally submitted. It is not un-
likely. If the present policies of the national
officials are continued, that other branches
may withdraw and that eventually q new
association or federation of university
women may be formed In such federation.
the branches, instead of being an assembly
line of rubber stamps for a power jealous
national board to use, should be free and
autonomous members Of q democratically
administered organization.
ETHEL M. JOHNSON,
Member of the University Women's Club
Of Washington.
BroWnf1eld, Maine.
Office Of Rent Control
Suggested for Discontinuance
To the Editor Of The Star:
Now that it is necessary for the welfare
Of our country that unnecessary government
expenditures be discontinued, allow me to
suggest one that would be well to start with,