Evening star., 1954-10-20
With the Candidates
Byrd Tells Voters
He Opposes Any
School lntegrotion
By Alex r. Preston
BY Stor Stoff Correspondent

represent MS pOSlClOn Oh the
segregation issue just before the
November 2 election, DR.. H. c.
Byrd said last night.
At the same time, the Demo-
cratic candidate against Re-
publican Gov. McKeldin removed
all doubt about his position on
the question of segregating
white and Negro children in
public schools by declaring fatty.
81 made a statement to the
press that I favored separate
but equal facilities. I said I
thought it would not be wise to
end that system Immediately"
Statement Appla uded.
About 400 Kent County Demo-
Gratis applauded the statement
concerning a subject which got
DR.. Byrd into considerable
trouble during his primary
battle with George P. Mahoney.
At that time literature referred
to as "the pink slips" was cir
culated through the Eastern
Shore indicating that the former
University of Maryland president
was inclined to go along with in
tegration. Dr.. Byrd lost three of
his nine Shore counties to Mr..
Mahoney.
Last night DR.. Byrd distributed
white slips" which quoted his
views expressed in an interview
with the press.
Let me leave a warning" he
told the residents of this COM
mercial fishing community. You
know that before the primary, a
great deal of material came down
on the Eastern Shore that
turned a great many votes
against me.
Forecasts 100000 Copies.
propaganda is now being cir
culated in Baltimore that I hate
the Negro. And have it on good
authority that a story published
IN a newspaper indicating the
opposite is being picked up by
two members of the palace guard
of the Republican opposition
They are bringing 100000 copies
of that paper over to distribute
here on the Eastern Shore.
They have obtained a photo
graph taken of me with a Negro
to bring over here. ! don't know
where it was taken-possibly at
some education meeting some
where.
The segregation question is
expected to swing most of the
Negro vote to Gov. McKeldin,
who has appointed members of
that race and other minority
groups to key government po-
sitions during his four-year term.
But advisers to DR.. Byrd be-
lieve the Democrat will pick up
more votes than he loses, partic-
ularly in this section and in
Southern Maryland, where there
is strong sentiment to continue
segregation.
Cites Traditional Policy.
The white slips" placed at
each dinner plate and several
thousand more left at various
campaign headquarters for dis
tribution to voters. quote DR..
Byrd as saying it has long been
the policy to maintain separate
but equal school facilities.
1T therefore seems to me to
be unwise to take such drastic
steps as to end Immediately an
educational plan that has worked
with increasing benefits to all
concerned for many years, and
particularly unwise to take such
steps where there is strong and
sincere opposition to such a
change" the Byrd statement
said.
"All problems involving public
education should be handled as
far as legally possible on a local
basis by the school boards Of
each county"
Also distributed was a four
page political leaflet for State
Senator Edward Turner, Demo-
crat. who seeks the seat of Rep
resentative Miller in this 1st
District. The leaf1et was devoted
almost entirely to the segrega-
ton issue.
Separate but Equal Schools.
II absolutely favor equal but
separate schools. ;" the leaflet
says. If 7 am elected to Con-
<yesS. ! shall dedicate myself to
4 viking closely with my coll
le tues from the other Southern
ST; 's in an effort to solve this
problem in a fashion that will
preserve our heritage and tradi-
tions."
DR.. Byrd. the last to speak
after his running mates. Millard
Tawes for controller, C. Ferdi-
nand Seibert for attorney gen.
eral, and others for lesser offices,
spent the time "doodling" on a
paper table cloth in front of
him.
Examination later showed he
had abstractly outlined the main
points Of his speech and a re-
minder to present a Maryland
State flag to the Rock Hall Fire
Department.
Defends University Record.
AS he had the previous night,
DR.. Byrd began his talk by de-
Tending his record as president
of the University Of Maryland.
This record has been the prin-
cipal target of Gov. McKeldin's
thrusts in recent campaign ut
terances.
.- -
DR.. Byrd said nothing is
further from the truth" than
the report that the university
is about to lose its accredited