Evening star., 1954-04-21
Recreation Board Criticized

The news of the change in the Rec
reation Boards bylaws giving discre-
ton to it's superintendent to issue per-
mits for the use of facilities under this
board is disappointing. After the la
bors of the mountain. with its accom-
panying tensions, this mouse should
be clearly identified.
This bylaw limits itself to giving
discretionary power to the superintend-
ent in issuing permits for the use Of
facilities requiring permits. Since the
greater number of people using the ia
cilities Of the board are children re-
quiring no permits, segregation remains
the pattern for most of these play
grounds.
In these times when "new occasions
teach new duties" 1t seems tragic that
the Recreation Board should lag so far
behind in the elimination of segrega-
ton in our Nations Capital
1t has been the discretionary power
inherent in the present bylaws of the
Recreation Board and implemented by
its policy statement of June, 1949,
which has permitted the disgrace of
segregation in play areas to remain in
rapidly on to the goal of the President
of the United States. At no time is
gradualism the most effective method
of curing an evil Certainly in Wash
ington at this time there is no possible
excuse for fearing the results of direct
and immediate action. Without Incl
dent theaters have admitted all regard
less of race. The experience of the
Interior Department in recreational
areas under its jurisdiction has proved
that even in the most sensitive area of
swimming pools complete and immedi-
ate elimination Of segregation can
work.
It has been the policy statement of
June, 1949. embodying the gradualist
principle of making r'every possible and
realistic effort toward the removal of
racial segregation" which has per-
mitted the opening of only about a
dozen of more than 1876 of the play
areas administered by the board, all Of
them in neighborhoods populated pre-
dominantly by colored citizens. This
discretionary power clothed with the
tinsel Of the policy statement has al
lowed many of the play areas to remain
restricted to white citizens even though
in areas housing many colored people
This discretionary power has invited
community crises and warfares in
mixed neighborhoods.
The NAACP has urged since August,
1858, that these bylaws be amended to
promulgate the policy that there shall
be no discrimination by segregation or
otherwise against any person by reason
Of his race, religion, color, ancestry or
national origin.
The Commissioners have been urged
to direct their representative on the
board to make a motion, the effect of
which, If passed. would be this elimina-
ton of all segregation. The Commits
sioners have refused to direct their
representative on the matter Of segre-
CATION on the ground that they should
not influence board actions. We have
protested this viewpoint especially
since the President of the United
States who appoints them has not hesi-
tated to use his influence toward elimi-
mating every vestige of segregation in
the Nations Capital or in any Feder-
ally controlled area.
We have requested at least two other
members of the board to introduce this
motion. Several members have copies
of our justification and our suggested
motion.
The policy Of the President of the