Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-05
Police Boys Clubs

Among the things Of which
Washington has a right to be
proud is a work which is OUT
standing among the cities Of
our country. It is the organ
lied action Of members Of our
Police Department, working
much of their spare time to
sponsor Boys Clubs to develop
In the boys interest in whole
some activities and in becom-
ing good and law-abiding
citizens.
Beginning in 1884, the work
has grown to a present MEM
bership Of about $4,000 boys.
requiring large amount OF
effort. thought and planning.
This growth has been made
possible through the co-opera-
ton and financial support OF
the civic-minded people Of
Washington and vicinity.
Furthermore, the police. in
terested in all boys, have ex-
tended their work across racial
lines and organized clubs
among boys of all races. The
benefits of this work Of 81
years have accrued to every
resident Of the District, and
the amount can never be
added UP on paper.
In view OF all this. it Is keenly
disappointing to read In The
Star of August %. In a re-
newed plea, the District Com
missioners today we're asked
to withdraw the city govern
ment's support from the Met
ropolitan Police Boys Club,
because it has refused to
abandon racial segregation"
Are we to believe that the
protesting organizations would
rather this work should not be
done than that it should be
done not in their pattern?
Shall the work established by
so much effort be wiped out
because the object Of these 81
organizations. however laud-
able. cannot be achieved in a
day? (And it cannot.)
I wonder If these good peo-
pie have lost sight of the fact
that true indignation comes
from the heart, and this can
not be changed by strait
jacket methods. The police, In
starting and carrying on this
work for so long. have not
originated or created segrega-
ton: they have merely &C
cepted the facts of life as they
existed by consent Of the peo-
pie of Washington, and on
that basis they have en-
deayored to do, successfully, q
job of helping boys to be
better boys. The Supreme
Court, in its latest decision on
this subject, has also taken
into account the necessity Of
facing the facts Of life.
For 40 years have been a
sponsor Of youth groups. and
in that capacity have many
times brought the subject Of
race friendship into the pro-
grams, together with practic-
ing it. The churches have
been educating their youth on
this matter for some years,
and the effects have been
gratifying beyond expectation.
But neither friendship nor
love can be commanded: they
must be cultivated. In the
South the crime of lynching
has been exterminated by the
good people there. What other
form of murder has been
nearly as well controlled by
the laws against it?
I believe we can count on
the men who have created
this constructive and altruistic
work to make progress toward
Indignation when their con-
stituency can receive it with
benefit to the boys.
Meantime. let us hope that
the Commissioners will not be
swayed by the clamor of pres
sure groups, whose interest in
Boys Clubs began with the
issue of Indignation. I have
learned that it is much easier
to tear down constructive
movements than to build them
up.
Harold Z. Ramsey.