Arkansas State press., 1951-02-02

lHERE WAS MEEllNG In lNDE-
PENDENCE COUNTY at Batesville, Fri
day night, when patrons of the Negro
school were summoned for the purpose of
deciding whether lands adjoining the pres
ent school site would be conveyed to the
school board that the board might proceed
with present plans to construct school
building at an estimated cost of $4,000.
The title to the property is said to be vested
in the trustees of the Mutual Association.
Heading such organization is Sam Finley,
native of Independence County who lives in
a very comfortable home in quite fashion
able section of mixed neighborhood. Be-
cause Of the suspicion of several leaders
that the school board might not play fair
with them should the land be conveyed to the
school board, meeting was called and the
members of the board and the Superintend-
ent of Schools attended.
1T WAS A DELIGHTFUL TRIP INTO
THE HIGH GROUND OF INDEPENDENCE
COUNTY, with my pastor, Rev. S. p Hol-
land doing most of the talking in his persist
ent effort to win me to entering the minis
try. We were unable to see much of the APP
parently beautiful mountainous countryside,
but no entering the City of Batesvlle one is
reminded of the descending air transport
plane on landing as we sped down the noun
tanside and watch the we'll lighted city
come closer upon us. Crossing the White
river made us think that we had made a safe
landing as we entered the city on a beau
tlful concrete carpet across the famed river
OF good fish. A committee was waiting for
q tod 4
of Mr.. and Mrs. Sam Finley, where we had
supper OF sugar cured ham, eggs, hot rolls,
Zig preserves, and coffee. 1t was a setting
Which took me back to the meals ate in
several homes in Virginia on the frequent
trips made to Washington by motor Mrs.
Finley is such cheerful hostess and made
us so much at ease after a nonstop drive
from Pine Bluff. After supper we went to
the Batesville Negro School. Its chief as
SET seems to be the land upon which it has
stood for many too many years. The par
titioned auditorium was roomy enough for
the crowd in attendance despite the short.
age of seats. The old desks in the school
together with the overall shabby interior
made me later wonder about the patrons and
certainly caused me to understand why the
school officials would leave before the meet.
ing got down to the serious matter for which
1t had been called. The physical appearance
OF the school certainly made the duly elect
ed and qualified school officials ashamed of
what mad transpired through the years, and
sincerely regret that they did not remain
IN the meeting to hear what the people were
saying. but ii could we'll be that what was
said In their absence would never have been
SAID in their presence. fear that is cor
rect assumption for certainly such voices
as were heard after the officials left must
have never been raised in the past fifty
years, II so. i cannot understand how the
school could be in such shape.
CHAIRMAN FINLEY CALLED TO
ORDER THE MEETING IN INDEPEN
DENCE, and forthwith the Superintend.
ent OF Schools told the crowd that plans
mad been drawn for the construction of a
School. lie presented the plans prepared by
the architect done in colors to make it at.
tractive either to the board or to the school
patrons, who might want to inquire about
specifications. Nevertheless, the chief admin.
istrative officer OF the Batesyile School
system lei II be known that the present plans
could not be carried out on the present land
owned by the board. The Negroes needed a
new school and the board needed the land
adjacent to the present site. The land was
owned by the Negro people through its or.
ganzation, and the matter was for them 70
decide quite succinct but apparently realiz-
ing that something more might be said he
Vehtufed into the realm of conveying with
restriction he must have known much about
Ies'r'ctlVe covenants or ne might
ave been thinking about fast and
unpredctable changes which move upon us
everyday. The complexion of the connun.
ity might change the social conditions I'm.
DER which we live might change there
might not be any more segregation in pub.
nc schools and maybe he thought ali of