Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-30

Suhverslve influence
In School lnfegraiion
The Federation Of Citizens
Associations has given the FBI
and Congressional investigators
charges that subversive individ-
uals and groups have had more
influence on the Board Of Educa-
ton and the Superintendent OF
Schools in desegregation matters
than loyal District citizens.
The group also has retained
an attorney to file suit for an
Injunction against the board and
superintendent to prohibit them
from putting into effect current
plans for partial degeneration
this fall.
These actions were announced
last night at a special meeting
of the Federation with other
white civic leaders.
Question Raises Issue.
) The subversive influence mat
ter came up in a question from
the floor by Philip A. Dolan, Of
the Michigan Park Citizens
Association.
HAS there been any SEM
biance Of subversiveness in
this?" he asked.
1.-THE answer to your question
is yes" Mrs. Henry A. Bartlett,
Federation president, said. your
executive board is aware OF this
problem and will pursue 1t. We
have turned over the question to
the proper authorities. She
later told reporters those authori-
ties are the FBI and Congress
sional committees. She refused
to name the committees. .
Mrs. Bartlett would not say
the individuals and organiza-
tons influencing the desegrega-
ton decisions are Communist.
"I'd say more un-American
than Communist" she declared.
The group asked for volunteer
parents and children who are
Hardship cases" under the
school boundary map as drawn
by School Supt. Hobart NJ. Corn
ing to become parties to the
suit, which the Federation can
not file in its own name. Either
white or colored petitioners
would be welcomed. Mrs. Bart
let said.
Minority Seen as Hardship.
She defined hardship cases as
those in which a child would be
forced by the boundaries to go
to a school where he would be
in a NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. colored
or white.
He might feel hostility and re-
lection, which would interfere
with his education, she said. If
there were only eight or 10 chill
dren in the school of his own
race.
Mrs. Bartlett emphasized that
"this is not race issue. 1--WE are
trying to carry out the intent
of the Supreme Court"
The Federation's legal ground,
as explained by past president
Harry N. Stull, is this:
The Supreme Court. in ruling
segregated public schools uncon-
stitutional, asked for discussion
before it next October as to
how desegregation shall be han
died.
DR.. Corning, with his elabo-
rate plan ready to go into effect
in September. Is violating the
clear intent of the court and
evading the legislative branch
of Government. which set up the
segregated schools of Washing
ton.
Violation Seen
Such compulsion on children
10 attend a given school Is al
much deprivation of life. liberty
and property without due proc
ess of law as is segregation, ane
thus violates the Fifth Amend
ment to the Constitution. under
which the Districts schools hav,
been ordered racially mixed.
Members of the executive com
mittee refused to name the at
torney who is handling the case
except to say that he Is capable
and we'll known.
"If we had to pay for the serv'
ice he's doing, we'd never be abl'
to afford it as a civic organiza
ton" Mrs. Bartlett declared.
His identity is secret for tn
time being. members said. II
avoid having pressure brought OF
him to drop the case.
William K. Norwood, treasure
of the Federation. said it will no
ask for funds to fight the cas-
at this time but may do so Il
the fall.
Three policemen. requested b
Mrs. Bartlett to put down an
disturbance which might arts
from hecklers at the meeting
found nothing to put down.
FOR ALL THOSE !.