Evening star., 1953-11-28
BrowneII AssaiIed
By Southerners on
Segregation Brief
BY the Associofed Press

ATLANTA, Nov. 28.-Many
Southern political leaders have
taken prompt combative issue
with Attorney General Herbert
Brownelrs recommendation to
the United States Supreme Court
to ban racial segregation in pub
lie schools.
An immediate challenge came
from Representative Gathings,
Democrat, of Arkansas. Mr..
Gathings declared that the JUS
tice Department. through the
188-page brief which Mr.. Brow
nell filed with the high court
yesterday, was an attempt to
skirt "the will of the people. !"
Mr.. Gathings said the Consti-
tuition does not give the Federal
Government any jurisdiction
over educational systems of the
States and that the States alone
have the right to exercise such
jurisdiction.
He declared also that the
power to enact or amend laws
was the exclusive right of the
legislative department and not
of the judicial branch of the
Government. And he added:
Congress has refused con-
sistently. year in and year out,
to pass laws destroying segrega-
ton"
Talmadge Statement.
Gov. Talmadge of Georgia
described Mr.. Brownell's brief as
wholly political" and predicted
that the South would be lost
forever" to the Republican Party
because of it.
Radical elements" said the
Georgia Governor, "are vieing
with each other to see who can
plunge the dagger deepest in the
back of the South"
A bill backed by Gov. Tai
madge and pending before the
Georgia Legislature calls for the
abandonment of the States pub
lie school system if the Supreme
| Court bans segregation.
Leaders in South Carolina like
wise have said that a ruling
against segregation would bring
about the end of the public
school system in those States.
Mr.. Brownell suggested that a
one-year transition period be
granted in the wake of ruling
against segregation and that al
loWance be made for a further
reasonable" extension.
From DR.. M. D. Collins, Georgia
S "a tie school superintendent
came the trenchant comment
that such transition period in
Georgia would require from now
to Judgment day"
No Comment by Byrnes.
Immediate comment was not
forthcoming from Gov. Byrnes OF
South Carolina and Gov. Ken
non of Louisiana, both Demo
Gratis for Eisenhower" in the
1852 presidential campaign.
Gov. Talmadge has said deci-
sion against segregation would
be followed by bloodshed.
James S. Peters, State Demo-
cratic chairman in Georgia. who
is also vice chairman of the
State Board of Education. called
Mr.. Brownell's action "divisive
reckless and political" and added
in statement:
IF the court follows Mr.
Brownell's reasoning, our 5000
Negro teachers and 1000 Negro
school bus drivers will be jobless
and our State school program in
a turmoil"
The Attorney Generals brief
in the belief of Frank Twitty
floor leader of Georgia's House
OF Representatives, represented
reckless, blind hatred of the
South"
Sees Infringement on Rights.
"An infringement on States
rights" was the reaction of Mis-
sissippi's Gov. White, who called
the current special session OF
the State Legislature to put his
States schools on a separate
but equal basis"
Mr.. Brownell, Gov. White
said, stretched the Constitution
a great deal" in recommending
that the high court outlaw racial
segregation in public schools.
Il feel like there is bound tC
be a great deal of disappoint.
ment on the part of the people
OF the South who supported the
Eisenhower administration" the
/ Governor added.
| Despite a strong Democrats.
/ for Eisenhower movement, Gov
White played a major role il
keeping Mississippi in the Dem.
ocratic column in last November
presidential election.
Two Senators Voice Complaints
Senator Olin D. Johnston
Democrat, of South Carolina ant
Senator Hoey, Democrat, o
North Carolina joined the choru
of Southern protests. Senate
Johnston declared Mr.. Brownel
should have stayed clear" of tn
issue.
Il can't see why the Attorne,
Generals office should enter tn
I