Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-17
20 Witnesses
Ask Liftingo Of
Co|ored Ban
Recreation Bourd
Hears 5 Opposed
To School Meeting.


To School Meetings
The Recreation Board yester-
day heard representatives Of IS
civic and religious groups line
up 20-to-5 for opening white
schools to colored groups for
night meetings.
The board will decide on April
IS on the proposed change in
its bylaws. The new rule would
give the recreation superintend-
ent authority to issue permits
for the use Of any school facili-
ties at his own discretion.
Present policy permits inter-
racial groups to use the schools,
but does not allow Negro organ
izations to use white schools.
Supt. Milo r. Christensen has
said he will issue permits only,
on the basis of a groups re-
sponsibility. its community pur-
pose and the availability of the
place.
Holds Witnesses to Point.
Yesterdays hearing was inter-
rupted several times when Board
Chairman Henry F. Gichner
cautioned witnesses to "stick to
the point-are you for it or agin
it,"
Mrs. John S. Latimer of the
League of Women Voters, called
the proposal "a step in the right
direction, since the present linn
itation is in conflict with the
expressed policies of the board"
John H. Connaughton of the
North Washington Council of
Citizens Associations said the
change would aggravate resent
ment between racial groups,
already inflamed with the vilest
kind OF feeling-the bitterest
I've ever known in Washington.
The Rev. Frederick E. Reissig
of the Washington Federation of
Churches said the change would
be in keeping with trend to-
ward better inter group relations
and with religious principles.
Ernest Thomas of the Mich
igan Park Citizens Association
said racial groups should main
tain. their individuality" and 1.-The
Negro should avoid antagonizing
those who have striven to give
him his opportunities"
Catholic Groups Views.
Miss Patricia McGerr Of the
Catholic Inter-racial Council,
said American esteem abroad
depends on our handling OF
domestic problems.
I'VE should match our preach
ing with our practice. " she said.
Jesse B. Yaukey Of the WASH
ington Friends Meeting said
"the unwholesome, unchristian
influence of segregation" should
be removed from public recrea-
ton.
Most of the speakers against
the proposed change called it an
invasion of the jurisdiction Of
the Supreme Court. which is
considering the legality of the
dual school system.
Many of the speakers in favor
of the new rule referred to
President Eisenhower's pledges
to work for equal rights and an
end to segregation in the Dis
trict.
Others Speak.
Other speakers favoring the
change were:
DR. Caroline F. Ware. Wash
ington Urban League; Mrs.
Margery Ware. Washington Uni
tartan Fellowship: Mrs. Selma
Samols, Progressive Party: Mrs.
Eleanor Valentine, Women's In
ternational League; Isaac Frank,
Jewish Community Council;
Gordon Southall, Edgewood Civic
Association.
Also, Mrs. Dolores E. Powell.
American Council on Human
Rights; Paul Cook, American
Veterans Committee: Gardner L.
Bishop, Consolidated Parent
Group, Inc; Col. Robert L. Pol
lard. Federation of Civic Asso-
Citations: Walter B. Sanderson,
Bloomingdale Civic Association.
Also. Julius w. Hobson, Wood
ridge Civic Association: Mrs. |
Michael Shapiro, Anti-Defama-
ton League; Eugene Davidson,
National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People:
Larry Pausback. st. Peter Claver
Center, and Rufus G. Poole,
American Friends Service Com
mittee.
Other speakers opposed were:
Mrs. Alfred Smith, Rhode Is
land Avenue Citizens Associa-
ton; Bryant w. Bowles, Ma
tional Association for the Ad-
vancement of White People,
Inc, and James H. Prentice,
Michigan Park Parents Group.