Evening star., 1949-06-15
By Colt hendey, R.


/ The District Recreation Board
has pledged every possible and
realistic" effort to remove racial
segregation In recreation here Il
the future. but refused by S-to--
vote TO wipe out the race barrier.
that nov exist.
At q long and tense meeting
yesterday. the board adopted q
statement Of policy" and c.ns
actual change In the present poi
icy OF strict segregation.
/ The board voted unanimously ts
allow bi-racial public assemblies III
school buildings after sch0o
hours and in recreation buildings
/ The policy statement IL adopted
pledged the board to remove racial
segregation in such sequence anc
such progression" as consistent
with the public interest. publis
order and effective administration
! Root Move Fails
/ Irving c. Root. superintendent
OF National Capital Parks and In,
Interior Departments representa-
tive on the board. presented thu
amendment to the boards bylaw
which would have eliminated
segregation on the city's play
grounds.
/ He was backed only by Mrs
Alice c. Hunter, secretary OF ths
board and the only colored mem.
ber. who presented a similar
amendment.
| Harry s. Wender. board chair.
man. voted against complete
abolition Of segregation alonG
with four other members Of thu
! board-James E. Schwab. Mrs
Andrew Saul. Albert Z. Steinem
the Board of Education's repre-
sentative. and G. NJ. Thornett
who represented the Distric'
Commissioners.
Mr.. Root charged the boards
present rule of racial discrimina'
ton violates our ideals and oul
democratic assertions here ane
abroad" He said the rule feed!
the propaganda mill Of the Com
munists and the fascists all ovel
the world"
Mrs. Hunter Attacks Statement.
/ Mrs. Hunter made a biting at
tack on the policy statement
adopted by the board.
i She said 1t was in effect a pro-
posal Ito leave the compulsor,
segregation bylaw in full fore'
and effect" and is not new polio!
but "only an attempt to justif!
| the continuation Of the existing
segregation rule"
4 The meeting room of the boart
at 3149 Sixteenth street NV. wa
jammed with approximately loi
interested citizens. some Of whom
lapplauded statements made b.
mrs. Hunter and Mr.. Root In favo
of non-segregation In spite OF Mr
EWender's warning that no demon
;lstration would be tolerated.
H One spectator, Edgar q Brovn
.Ehead of the NatiohAl Negro cnua
icil. shouted that Mr.. Wende
fought to be with the Nazis" whcl
Ihe was refused permission tosNsl
fa question. s.
I Another stalked out Of the room,
shouting at Mr.. Wender. "Speal
flor yourself. mister" as Mr
IWender was making comment
about one part of Mrs. Hunter
statement in favor Of elimination
Iof segregation.
A third man left after beint
refused permission to ask a ques'
|tion. saying the board was q "finl
Example Of democracy"
| Wendcr Warns Spectators.
| Before the meeting started. Mr.
IWender warned the audience thai
|although the meeting was public
lit was not q public hearing anc
no speeches could be made ol
Questions asked.
MFR. Root said the boards rule.
arbitrarily denies to white citizen,
and to colored citizens the uss
OF public play facilities solely or
the basis Of their race. even wher
the people Of both races want te
|use them together
This board Is q Government
Iagency working for all the peo-
lple." he declared. 1T Is not oul
function to impose q compulsor,
racial pattern on any community.
Mrs. Hunter said the .nev
policy" of the board meant moth.
ing because four years ago q ma.
jority Of the board said they wers
sympathetic" to the ultimate
elimination Of segregation.
The board has done nothing
about 1t yet. except under pres.
sure of the Interior Department.
she declared. II do not believe
| that our record u such that w
can expect the public to rely or
general expressions Of good viii.
League Policy Explained.
After the policy statement was
adopted. Milo Christensen. recre-
alton superintendent. brought up
the fact that the National Asso-
ciation for the Advancement Of
lColored People had been making
inquiries about the policy followed
lin the baseball and softball leagues
sponsored by the Recreation Board
It was explained that the policy
was strict segregation-no team
could use players of another race
| ALEXANDRIA he