Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-07-03
Mr.. MunsfieId's Park

ManSfield'S Park" not only
impugns Senator Mansfield's
motives in sponsoring legis-
lation to transfer administra-
ton Of a right of way across
the Glover Archbold Park
from the District to the De-
partment of Interior but also
attempts to distort the facts
by implying that the Senate,
in approving Senator Mans
fields proposal, acted con-
trary to the wishes of resi-
dents of the District.
Whereas it says that I'm
this situation the voteleSS res
idents of Washington have
had to stand helpleSsly by
while the Senate, without de-
bate, has given rubber stamp
approval to one Of Senator
Mansfield's pet projects" the
fact is that the Senate Dis
trict Committee heard teSti-
mony from the representa-
tives of seven citizens organ
izations and the Federation
of Citizens Organizations and
that all of them supported the
bill. A representative of this
Committee, which is the only
group elected to public office
by the registered Democrats
of the District, in response
to public sentiment against
many phases Of the highway
program. supported the bill.
The only witnesses in opposi-
ton to the bill we're Gen.
Clarke, a representative of
the American Automobile As
ISOLATION, and a lady who did
not claim to represent any
one but herself.
THE VoteleSS residents OF
Washington" have not stood
helplessly by but through the
organizations enumerated
above have spoken with a
clear voice against turning
this park into a speedway. If
the busy Senate M a jority
Leader had not taken the
time and effort to give eff
feet to the expressed wishes
of many "voteless residents"
of the District. the interests
of the Districts residents
might have been disregard
ed as they have so many
time in the past.
The statement that "Sena-
tor Mansfield, who lives close
to the park, doesn't want a
parkway running anywhere
near his house" and that "he
is putting his personal in
terest ahead of the public in
terest" impugns the good
faith of a fine public serv-
ant with no factual justifi-
cation. OF more importance
is the fact, which is unmen-
toned in the editorial, that
the National Capital Plan
ming Commission by a VOTE
of eight to two, with only
Gen. Clarke and the repre-
sentative of the Bureau O.
Public Roads dissenting, sup
ported the bill.
Fortunately the people o
this city and the Members o
the Congress are too familia
with Senator Mansfield's rec
ord to give credence to thes
unsupported charges. Man
of the residents of the Dis
trict are grateful that tn
Majority Leader of the Sen
ate has come to the supper
of our interests.
w. John Kenney,
Chairman, Democrat
Central Committee G
the District Of Colum
bia.
- -
Your editorial Of June l
called Glover-Archbold Par
Mr.. Mansfield's Park" Yo
claimed that his interest l
saving the park from road
builders was a personal on
because he lives near tn
park. You complained ths
the "voteless residents had I
stand helplessly by" viii
the Senate without debat
approved Senator Mil
Mansfield's bill to transft
the right-of-way through tt
park to the Park ServiC
from the District govern
ment.
Several months ago whe
the current campaign to SAL
the valuable park got undeI
way more than 1000 "vot,
less residents" refused
stand helplessly by. Tit
willingly signed a petition
save the park. 1t was pr,
Sented to the D. C. Commit
sioners and to Interior SCI
rotary Udall.
The organization I repr
sent did not stand helpless
by when the Mansfield b
was before a Senate subcon
mittee. Nor did 1t when Il
issue was before the Commi