Evening star., 1954-10-03
FederationA Asks
Return Of Fire
Unit Race Ban
Citizens Also Oppose
Proposed lntegrution
Of Police Boys Clubs

Proposed d-lntegrution
Of Police Boys Clubs
The Federation Of Citizens
Associations last night called on
the Commissioners to restore
segregation to the, District Fire
Department, and opposed inte-
grafton of white and colored
units In the Police Boys Club.
The Fire Department resolu-
ton vigorously" opposed the
Commissioners action last
month ordering integration of
white and colored fire fighters.
1t said that the best interests
Of the firemen and Of the people
of the District cannot be served
by an arbitrary administrative
policy which ignores the facts of
life-that firefighters work and
live together as closely as any
family at home and that their
ability to maintain this spirit at
work is an essential part Of their
efficiency"
There is no discrimination in
the department in appointment.
working conditions and retire.
ment, the resolution declared,
and the integration order sis
only an effort to bring about a
change in the social order, at the
expense of a group whose loyalty
{. to their fellow citizens precludes
the use Of the normal avenues of
resistance"
Say Oflicials Ignore Majority.
The Commissioners and the
Fire Chief through their order
shave set aside democratic prin-
ciple by refusing to recognize the
expressed view Of 80 per cent of
the fire fighters Of the District"
1t declared.
In presenting the resolution,
Mrs. Ernest Howard. vice chair
man Of the police and fire COM
mittee, read a statement she said
was prepared by Local No. So of
the International Association of
Fire Fighters outlining the back
ground of the integration order.
The statement said that
although 80 per cent of the fire
fighters vigorously objected to
the integration order, their OBJ
jections were brushed aside by
the statement, If you don't like
It, quit"
The resolution on the Boys
Club was presented by Philip
Dolan of the Michigan Park As
sociation. 1t said pressure is
being brought to bear" on the
board of directors of the club to
end segregation of the $4,000
members.
Warn of Fund Drop.
Integration. it contended, not
only would decrease participa-
ton in the facilities of the club,
''but it is feared that integration
of the Police Boys Club units
would cause a decline in con-
tribution of funds by individuals
and firms"
Both resolutions were passed
BY overwhelming majorities.
A proposed resolution to con-
denim "any attempt by an out
side organization to incite to vio-
lence or to stir up racial ami
mosities" was referred to the
education committee after fail
ing to win the required majority
for consideration as new busi-
ness.
This proposal was presented by
John Ihlder Of the Progressive
Citizens Association of George
town, who referred to recent
difficulties in the progress of in
tegration ip Baltimore and in
Delaware.
Proposal Condemns Violence.
It said:
1.-The people Of the District of
Columbia have cause for pride
in the way they are dealing with
the problem Of integration in
our public schools. There Is divi-
sion Of opinion among us, but
we have expressed that opinion
by orderly means. by free dis
cussion and debate, and by re-
course to the courts"
It proposed that the fedora
ton condemn violence or the
intimidation of school children
or their parents" and affirm that
integration "is a matter to be
dealt with by the people Of the
District of Columbia and in ac-
cordance with law"
Mrs. Henry A. Bartlett, in her
report as president, outlined the
progress of the federation's cur
rent court action seeking re-
dress from precipitous and COM
pulsory aspects Of the present
desegregation policies.
She cited two advantages"
that have resulted so far from
the school segregation suit: Re-
versal by the Board Of Education
of a policy that no record of the
race of District students be kept,
and judicial recognition of the
creation of hardship cases
among minorities in schools
opened the door to adjusting
several hundred of these cases
based on psychological rea-
sons"
In other action, the federation
approved a resolution opposing
a proposed amendment to the
coming regulations to permit
space in apartment houses In
residential areas to be used for
commercial establishments. 1t
contended this would permit an
indirect form of So-called "Spot