Evening star., 1949-10-02
FederationSp|its
On Central Use
As Negro School,
Rejects Proposal
Made by Member
By Voice Vote

A surprising sentiment in favor
Of transferring Central High
School to colored students to re-
lieve overcrowding at Cardozo
High School was voted down at
the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations. meeting last night.
The Federation went on record
as favoring transfer of the stu
dents at Wilson Teachers College
to Roosevelt High School so the
overflow from Cardozo could be
accommodated in the Wilson
building.
Just what to do about Cardozo's
jammed classrooms still is under
consideration by the Board OF
Education. A public hearing was
held the week before school open
ed, and although early action was
foreseen by c. Melvin Sharpe.
board president, nothing has been
done as yet.
The group was considering a
report of the education commit
tee, headed by Walter F. Wasson,
to transfer Wilson Teachers Col
lege to Roosevelt and use Wilson
for Cardozo when Ralph w. Dom
nelly of Brentwood Terrace
dropped what proved to be a
bombshell.
Urges Transfer Of School.
Mr.. Donnelly moved that Cen
trail High School be turned over
to colored students permanently.
He said the only reason the cry
was out to save Central for white
students was that the high school
had more alumni and more vocal
alumni than Wilson Teachers
College. He declared that mo
building is sacred. that school
is the people that attend it, not
a building.
1.-The best thing we can do for
the colored citizens is give them
Central permanently" he said.
He added:
IT you don't give them equal
opportunities. you will find equal
opportunities forced upon YOU"
His speech got fair amount OF
scattered applause but touched of
defenders of Central High School.
Mrs. Ernest w. Howard of the
Columbia Heights Citizens Asso-
citation said she resented very
much" Mr.. Donnelly's remarks
about the neighborhood of Gen.
trail. Mr.. Donnelly had COM
mented that it was no secret that
that area was populated mostly
by colored families.
Beaten by Voice Vote.
Mrs. Howard said IA citizens
groups in the Northwest section
would fight every move to trans
fer Central. but also would go to
Congress any time to get money
for new schools for colored chill
dren.
Mr.. Wasson stated that until
that moment he had high respect
for Mr.. Donnelly. Il myself am
LIBERAL" he stated. But this
would have never happened in a
colored association. They fight for
their rights and I think we should
fight for ours"
Mr.. Donnelly's motion was
beaten in a voice vote, but 1t was
far from an unanimous vote.
The motion to approve a trans
fer of Wilson Teachers College to
Roosevelt and use Wilson for the
Cardozo overflow then was passed.
but again the vote was far from
unanimous.
Nominations for officers. to be
elected at the November meeting,
were made by members. with John
L. C. Sullivan and Herbert p.
Leeman being nominated for pres
ident to succeed John H. Con-
naughton.
Mr.. Sullivan is the reading clerk
Of the Federation and is member
OF the Executive Board. He is
president of the Mid-City Citizens
Association. Mr.. Leeman is vice
president Of the Association of
Oldest Inhabitants, vice president
of the Washingtonians and is the
delegate from the Society of Ma
tives.
Babp Renominated.
George L. Gregg of Randle
Highlands and DR.. M. Virginia
O'Neil of Mount Pleasant were
nominated for first vice president.
while Mr.. Donnelly and Mrs.
Howard were nominated for second
vice president.
David Babp, who now is secre-
tary, was renominated with no op-
position. Mrs. Edward B. Morris
of Fort Davis and Vernis Absher,
of Southeast and the present
treasurer, were nominated for
treasurer. ~.
Nominated for the Executive
Board of the Federation were:
Thomas E. Lodge, Harry N. Stull,
Mr.. Connaughton, Eugene Ditto,
Clifford H. Newell, j. B. Dickman,
Harry s. Wender. Mr.. Gregg, Milo
H. Brinkley. DR.. J. Ross Veal. Mrs.
Henry A. Bartlett. Carl Cover,
Arthur B. McNerney and Mr..
WaSson.
Also, John A. Remon. Fred
Walker, Richard l.. Shoap. DR..
Benjamin Striner, Soterios Nichol-
son. Joseph D. Moran, j. s. Cor
rell. Chester Parker. Joe p.
Sharon, Charles G. Lueck, Mr..
Donnelly, DR.. O'Neil, Mr.. Leeman,
Mrs. Morris. Mr.. Sullivan and
Mrs. Howard.
In other actions, the Federation: