Evening star., 1952-10-14
Roseda|e Issue
Aired al Public
Hearing Today
Spokesman Fuvorinq
End to Segregation
Heard This Morning
BY Jones 6. Deone

To-Day py SpokeSmen for large
number Of civic organizations.
Thirty-seven speakers urged
lifting the racial ban at public
hearing this morning. Spokesman
for 80 groups favoring continued
segregation were to be heard after
a recess for lunch.
The Recreation Boards Transi-
ton Committee has recommended
the change, subject to final de-
clsion after today's hearing. Frank
H. Collins who heads both the
board and the committee, ex-
pressed doubt the decision would
be reached today.
Some supporters of non-segre-
cation urged that the board go
farther than the transition COM
mittee's proposal by opening Rose
dale's swimming pool along with
the playground. A number of
speakers also called for integra-
ton of all the city's Fairgrounds
and swimming pools.
Charges Against Staffers.
Board members also heard
charges that Rosedale staff men,
bers have been partisan" and
have melted some of the opposi-
tion by white citizens which re-
Gently caused violence at the play
ground.
Rosedale is in a neighborhood
about equally divided between
Negro and white residents. Now
closed to Negro children, it has
been picketed frequently by segre-
cation opponents.
The playground has been closed
since an exchange of blows last
month between a white man and
Negro in a segregation dispute
there.
Several speakers criticized the
board for calling today's hearing
The Rev. Smallwood Williams
president Of Browne Junior High
School Parent-Teacher Associa-
ton, called the hearing "both un-
necessary and unwise in view of
the known facts and the long
length of time devoted to study
OF the Rosedale situation.
Attacks Recreation Chief.
Mr.. Williams attacked Recre-
alton Supt. Milo F.. Christensen,
asserting that he doubts that MI.
Christensen sis capable of max
ing fortnight recommendations"
to carry out the boards declared
anti-segregation policy. He also
accused the board of moving at q
snaifs pace in ending segregation.
Several speakers urged that be-
sides opening Rosedale on a nom
segregated basis, both the play
grounds staff and policemen as
signed there be given special train
ing in psychology to facilitate the
changeover. Mrs. Walter N. Tro-
briner, representing the League of
Women Voters, also urged inte-
grafton of the entire staff of the
Recreation Department and ap-
pointment of q Negro assistant
superintendent.
Mrs. Tobriner was one of sew
eral speakers who cited the anti
segregation stand of both major
parties in the national election
campaign in opposing continued
segregation.
Other speakers included:
Ben Segal, d. C. Industrial
Union Council (CIO) Urged
opening Rosedales swimming
pool and warned that continu-
alton of a gradual integration
policy would cause repetition of
the Rosedale problem.
LynwOod Cundiff, Progressive
Party-Called segregation shame
full and said it is disgracing the
National capital.
Albert Mindlin, Washington
Interracial Workshop Urged
opening Rosedale's swimming pool
and predicted little difficulty in
working out non-segregation rec
reation.
Joseph M. Stone, Americans for |
Democratic Action-Called Rose
dale's opening long overdue" and
urged a program of community
education to aid integration.
Mrs. Inez West, Kingman Park
Civic ASSOCiatiOn-Warn that
''peaceable" efforts to open Rose
dale would be continued unless
segregation is ended.
E. B. Henderson, Washington
Fellowship - Urged hiring a.
trained sociologist to instruct rec
reation personnel. Both presi-
dental candidates have an
nounced they favor non-segrega-
ton, he pointed out.
Mrs. Ruth B. Shirley, Charles
Young PTA-Said mostly Negro
children have been injured in
traffic accidents and drowned in
nearby Kingman Lake.
Mrs. Emily Tyson, Webb PTA-
Urged restricting Rosedale to
neighborhood children for the
first few months after the race
ban is ended. Also asked for
bi-racial playground staff.
Mrs. LOrena Savoy, Blow PTA-
Predicted tension, malice and
hate will completely vanish" with
integration.
Mrs. Margery T. Ware, Wash
ingtOn Urban League-Said in
tegrated Fairgrounds should be
made as attractive as others and
urged a sincere effort by the Rec
reation Board to carry out it's
integration policy.
S. Walter Shine, American
Jewish Criticized the
reasons for not making Rosedale
interracial until now as mis-
guided"
Mrs. ErneStine w.. Fleming,
Edgewood Civic Association-De-
clared that most of our children
are more democratic than we."
Miss Mary Houston, st. Peter