Country Club Accused of Bias Against Jewish Applicants

The Tucson Jewish Community Council has accused the Tucson Country Club of discriminating against Jewish applicants. This has resulted in members withdrawing from the club and the canceling of some scheduled events. While the president of the country club has stated that the club has never refused to admit anyone on the grounds of religion, a member of the club has stamped the membership as “first class bigots.” The problem surfaced this July when an Amateur Athletic Union diving meet was scheduled at the club. In a letter to the A.A.U. of the United States, Jack J. Sarver, president of the Tucson Jewish Community Council wrote: “When an athletic event is scheduled at such an institution, those who are discriminated against are put in the position of either dropping out of competition or of attending the event at an Institution where they are not welcome and which they would not frequent except under compulsion.”

John B. Kelly Jr., the A.A.U. president wrote back that “it is not the A.A.U.’s job to police these clubs as to whether or not they discriminate in their membership policy.” Competition sanctioned by the A.A.U. must permit any registered A.A.U. regardless of race, creed or national origin to compete, Kelly wrote. He added, “I would assume that a prerequisite for membership in the Tucson Community Council would require an affiliation with the Jewish religion. Certainly the A.A.U. has no objection to this, or any of your members joining the A.A.U.” As a result of publicity about the event, the director of the county parks and recreation department was instructed not to use the Tucson Country Club for county-wide events in the future.

Last week a new car dealer in Tucson cancelled a cocktail party and previewing of 1972 models that was scheduled to be held at the club. James H. Click, head of Jim Click Ford, sent a telegram to the invited guests stating: “My wife and I regret to announce that due to conditions beyond our control, we find it necessary to cancel our cocktail party and preview at the Tucson Country Club.” Click was persuaded to cancel the previewing at the club by Sarver who showed him a copy of a letter sent to Henry Ford II stating the Council’s feeling towards having a public event at the Tucson Country Club.

A committee of Tucson Country Club members was formed several weeks ago to look into the alleged discriminatory policies of the club. The committee would like to incorporate in the club’s constitution that membership should be without regard to religious affiliation. At present the club’s constitution does not state this one way or the other. The board of the country club has refused to meet with its members, however.