Evening star., 1951-10-10
Segregated or Integroted Firemen? ~~
To the Editor Of The Star:


To the Editor Of The Stor:
AS q native Washingtonian whose
family has been six generations In this
city. cannot but view Representative
Davis statements concerning 1ntegra-
ton in the D. c. Fire Department with
alarm and displeasure His statements
that the proposed integration plan
would "jeopardize the safety OF the
city" and smack of dictatorship
methods" are purely asinine and COM
pletely unfounded No sensible, falr-
minded citizen can possibly see how
this democratic policy of integration
could in any way endanger public
safety. AS a matter Of fact, the Police
Department has been integrated Tor
years and as far know the safety OF
the city has not been jeopardized. Per-
haps Congressman Davis does not
realize that from 1867 to 1919 the Fire
Department was non segregated and at
no time during this period was WASH
ington menaced by the specter of white
and colored firemen working together.
In actual fact, an integrated Fire De-
partment would prove more economical,
would promote better understanding be-
tween white and colored firemen, and
would eliminate the problem Of over
stated colored companies and UNDER
stated white companies. Moreover in
this era of national and international
tensions and insecurity, this relatively
small. but important move toward inte-
grafton would help to show that we
"a shinnfnni211c ciY9nnrnlvr fY1farnCfpH
in providing f1rst-class rights for all
District residents.
On the other hand, Representative
Davis wishes. through his promulga-
ton Of unwarranted statements based
on emotion and prejudice. to keep the
status quo in Washington. He and many
other people like him are sincerely in
tent upon maintaining and upholding
the color line in the District. In his
own State of Georgia, colored citizens
are daily Inundated by rigid legally-en-
forced segregation laws To speak Of
the Commissioners being dictatorial is
extremely hypocritical, for in Georgia
is not legally-enforced racial segrega-
ton, which abrogates all human rights,
dictatorial and undemocratic?
The solution to the Districts problems
can be found in granting home rule to
the local citizens. Such a progressive
move by Congress would once and for
all' end the threat Of Capitol racists
interfering In our local affairs.
Henry S. Robinson.
A respect for the District Commits
sioners and Fire Chief Joseph A. May
hew reached new high in the minds of
thousands OF citizens, who believe IN
equal opportunity and the democratic
principles OF justice, when they refused
IN the face Of implied financial reprisals
TO alter their decision to remove segrega-
tion from the Fire Department.
AT the same time a new low was
reached by those in control Of Local SO.
international Association of Fire Fighters
when they ignored all rules Of official
procedure and went over the heads Of
their superior officers and the District
Commissioners and appealed to a biased
group OF a House Committee to force
their superlors to reverse their decision.
This act of apparent glaring insub-
ordination and disrespect on the part
OF employees Of department in seek
ing by political influence to intimidate
their superior officials under fear Of re-
prisals in curtailed appropriations, shows
dangerous lack of loyalty and disregard
for those in authority on the part of
city employees.
William d. Nixon.
President Oldest Inhabitants, Inc.
Mr.. Davis has been a most consci-
entious and faithful worker on the
District Committee. It must certainly
be difficult for him to oppose what he
must know is in the best interests of
the District Fire Department-but what
Is ne to do? The man who will run
against him at the next election in
Georgia will undoubtedly raise the white
supremacy bugaboo. celebrating and
exaggerating this fireman's issue, until
it will appear that all that Congressman
Davis did while in office is fight for
Negro rights.
OF Mississippi when some years ago he
was chairman OF District Appropriations.
The National Training School for Girls
(all colored) was undergoing extensive
repairs and the Juvenile Judge refused
to commit girls to the institution until
repairs were completed. The per capita
cost naturally went up because there
were fewer inmates. The man who ran
against Collins seized upon the figures
and proclaimed to his constituents, that
the maintenance per capita was higher
than it would cost his constituents to
send their daughters to Vassar. Mr..
Collins had no alternative but to with
hold all appropriations and close the
institution. The Commissioners were
faced with the problem Of providing
for these girls who were legally commit
ted to an institute. They threatened to
place them at Lorton-the community
pointed out that they were juveniles
and it was against the law to send
them there. The Senate included the
money to keep the institution open.
When the conferees met. Mr.. Collins
stated bluntly, that if the institution was
kept open he would not return to Con-
gress. The Senate and House then
voted to close the institution. Later
deficiency appropriation was requested
by the sorely tried Commissioners and
the training school money was restored.
Mr.. Collins, not unlike Mr.. Davis, had