Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1948-01-31
Southern Governors Get Offer To Take
Over Meharry Medical College
Directors Say State Support Needed II
School Is To Remain Open


nor's conference, meeting to dis
cuss a proposal to establish SOU
thern regional graduate and pro-
fessional colleges for both white
and Negro students, received an
offer to take over Meharry med
ical school, lock, stock and bar
rel here last week. The offer
came from the board of trustees
of the school who said the offer
was made in order to forestall
the necessity of closing the Sc
hool for lack of finance.
The school, valued at $S,0O0,-
600, not including private en-
downment fund, receives no state
support. Current earning rates
from the existing endowment
fund Approximately $5,000,000)
are held to be insufficient to
maintain the school. Trustees
say they are using the endown-
ment principal to keep the doors
open.
Other factors which might nee
essitate the closing of the Sc
hool are that tuition paid by
students cover less than 10 per-
cent of the cost of their edu-
cation, and operating expenses
have jumped nearly 100 percent,
while income has decreased by
nearly a similar amount.
In making the offer, the trus-
tees laid down a condition that
the southern states either con-
tinue to operate the school on an
equal level, or on higher one
than in the past. The school
would revert to the southern
states control Immediately and
free of charge.
The governors committee, con-
sisting of Willard t. Caldwell OF
Florida, chairman; William Tuck,
Virginia; NJ. E. Thompson, Geor-
gia; Conference Chairman w.
Preston Lane, Maryland; and Jim
McCord, Tennessee; inspected the
school plant and indicated unan-
imously that they approved the
offer. They revealed that meet
ing with the entire conference
will be held within six weeks to
present recommendations inyol-
wing the broad framework Of the
regional educational plan and the
immediate availability of Meharry
for the program.
According to Gov. Caldwell,
'Trustees Of lIeharry have rea-
cle1 tie conclusion that unless
the south takes over the oper-
alton of the school its doors must
close. IF that should happen, so
far as the south is concerned, the
education Of Negro physicians.
dentists and nurses, would suffer
a demoralizing blow. We cannot
let that happen. We must see that
it maintenance is preserved"
If the conference accepts the
Meharry offer, an interstate COM
pact will be drawn up and sub
mitted to congress for approval
If approved, each state legislat-
ture will receive the compact for
ratification.
One thing the governors made
clear was that the regional plan
antedated the recent supreme
court decision ordering southern
states TO provide equal educat-
ional opportunities for Negroes
and whites at the same time. II
had been under consideration
since 1914. Gov. Thompson point
ed out the decision has no bear.
ing on this conference.
eve are convinced that the
elononiis future of this regior
will run hand in hand with the
degree of education it's citizens =
regardless of race - enjoy
The committee was formed las
October after Gov. McCord hat
warned the coaafarence that sup
RENE court decisions involving
provision by states of adequate
educational facilities for all rae
es left thF south with only three
alternatives: % admit Negroes
to white schools; CD close white
schools; CD or set up separate
but equal institutions for Negro