Evening star., 1948-09-10
Negroes Plan
School Suits .
In Virginia
End of Segregation
To Be Sought After
Pupils Are Banned
By John V. Horner
Sfer SteH Correspondent

Ny SVuU v. ttutUSF
s,er sseff Correspondent
RICHMOND, Sept. lo.-Negro
attorneys today moved openly
to abolish racial segregation In
the Virginia schools.
Counsel for 80 colored pupils, who
were denied permission yesterday to
enroll in white schools In King
George and Gloucester Counties, in
dicated they would turn again to the
Federal courts in an effort to obtain
equal education facilities and OPP
portunities.
But. said one Of the lawyers, the
problem can be solved only by
abolition of the dual school system.
What actually needs to be done"
declared Oliver w. Hill. lis to abol-
ish segregation, The time has come
for responsible individuals to begin
preparing the people emotionally for
1t. The situation will never be
solved otherwise"
"Unfortunate." Tuck Says.
Gov. Tuck asserted, meanwhile,
that the attempt to enroll the Negro
pupils at white schools was an 'un-
fortunate agitation Of the racial is
sue He called for "the utmoss
calmness and tolerance" in handling
the problem of equalizing school ia
cilities, His statement said segrega-
tion will continue to be observed in
accordance with the State consti-
tuition.
Mr.. Hill was spokesman for 4
delegation which sought unsuccess-
fully to register 20 Negro pupils at
Gloucester County's white Botetourt
School. They were turned down at
the same time another group was
refused request to enroll 10 Negro
pupils at the white King George
High School.
The Negroes claimed a right to
enter the white schools. because
the counties have failed to comply
with Federal Court order for
equal school facilities. In each
case, the school authorities rejected
the plea on the ground the vir-
einia Constitution and the Virginia
Code, under which they took oaths,
require separation of the races.
Suit Demands Equal Pay.
Martin A. Martin, a law partner
OF Mr.. Hill, announced today he
would file new anti-discriminatio ton
suit against King George officials.
demanding equal poy for white and
Negro teachers. The move was seen
as directly counter to a transfer
Wednesday in which the principal
and two teachers at the colored
training school were made assist
ants to their opposite numbers at
the white school.
Mr. Martin, who led the King
George delegation, said the shift
shows that the school authorities
intend deliberately to violate the
court order enjoining them from
discrimination" OfficialS have said
the administrative change becams
advisable on enlargement OF the
training school curriculum. .~
Enroll In Own Schools.
After their appearances ut the
King George and Gloucester white
schools, the two groups of colored
pupils returned to their training
schools and enrolled for the new
semester. Their principals said
school work was preceding normally.
Mr.. Martin indicated that Judge
Sterling Hutcheson of the United
States District Court for the East
ern District OF Virginia will bs
asked to cite the county school au-
thorities for contempt. for failure
to obey the equalization orders OF
late July.
School Supt. T. Benton Gayle, Of
King George told Mr.. Martin yes
terday that Judge Hutcheson's Or
Ger was received August 5, much
too late to permit extensive i'm
provemerts at the King George
Training School before the start OF
the present term. He said the
county supervisors and School Board
met Immediately and undertook to
make some Improvements in facii-
ties.
Mr.. Gayle expressed the opinion
that Mr.. Martin had been "unrea-
sonable" in pressing for equal ia
cilities in months time.
The attorney replied that Judge
Hutcheson reached his decision in
April and that. although the decree
was entered late in July, the King
George authorities knew what was
coming.
The two men also Offered on the
point OF Mr.. Gayle's obligations to
observe the Federal Court ruling or
comply with the Virginia segrega-
ton laws.
In Gloucester. School Supt. J.
Walter Kenney claimed a technical
victory because, he said. Mr.. Hill
conceded that numerous improve
ments have been made at the
Gloucester Training School and that
the chief need, If the races remain
segregated. is new school.
Mr.. Kenney displayed Gloucester's
plans for new Negro high school
building and a new white school.
He pointed out that the construc-
ton program Is dependent upon
the outcome OF proposed S750,000
bond issue referendum.
Enumerating the changes made in
favor of GloucesterS colored school
system, Mr.. Kenney said the same
courses now are offered to colored
and whites. and teachers salaries
have been equalized. He said physi-
cal improvements to the plant in
clude a better water system. paint
ing, electric wiring. the addition of
900 State-approved volumes to the
library, new desks and more equip
ment for the home economics de-
partment.
Mr.. Hill said he regarded the fa-
cilities as still inadequate and not
to those In the white
school.
Rule to Bor Reds Urged
By Washington AVG