The Tribune. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1951-19??, 1954-05-22
Court Decision Ends Era For SOuth.
Clear Heads Needed to Meet Pr0T,zom
The inevitable has happened.

Cte0F HeUdS Needed to Meet Problem
The inevitable has happened
BY a vote of 9 to the United States Supreme Court
mas ruled racial segregation in public schools unconst
tutional.
The South and several border states now are con-
ronted with crisis which has put off for &c
through effective efforts to nuly the 18th Amendment
overthrown are several past decisions of the same
court viewing segregation with tolerant eye The most
notable Oh these OF course, that of 1896 "separ
ATE but equal facilities Although it was directed at
Tram accommodations its principle has been dominant
feature OF the school systems of II states
1t is fully evident in the lengthy consideration piven
e problem arising from four appeals and from
the careful language of the ruling that the court recoe
nzes the farreachng effects The history the Souhs
struggle is reced in somewhat unusual one might say
sympathetic detail
Onethird of the court is composed of southerners-
Black of Alabama Reed of Kentucky and Clark of Texas
who are far more cognizant than their colleagues of
the consequences involved Yet it is obvious that they
oo were unable to escape the logic that segregated
cltes violate the intent of the amendment enacted in
Reconstruction Days. 1t reads as follows:
An persons born or naturalized IN the United States
ana subject to the jurisdiction thereof ere citizens of
the United States and of the State aUherein they reside
NO State shall n,0e enforce ann la2U avhich shall
Gbrdge the priUJeges 5anities of citizens of the
United States, shall any State deprive ann person
a0'tham ats jurisdiction the equal protection of the luaUs
In answer to petitions from Kansas, South Carolina
DeleWare and Virginia (Prnce Edward County, lis well
the District of Columbia the court held that "ecua
protection of the laws is being under present
dtions 1t concluded also that he doctrine of separate
but equal has place Separate educational facilities
inherently unequal"
1t matters little that the public school system grew
up long after the Civil War and after that amendment
was adopted.
The court has spoken and there is no argument
with the legality or legaty of the problem involved
But the decision is momentous in nature that the
court recognizes the serious problems involved putting
it into effect Hence has set Oct for filing
and hearing arguments before it lays down the regula
tions including time limit
Actually this change in the school system
of Virginia and its sister states for at least years
The 195556 terms will have started before the next court
action.
The most immediate standardization of const
tutiona clauses of 20 states hee have permssive seq
regation)wil be special legislative sessions and con-
sttutona conventions to deal with the problem and to
work out policy.
Officials of at least two states-souh Carolina and
Georgiahave threatened to wipe out the public school
system rather than comply Sober second thought prob
ably will reverse that Any effort turn the school sys-
TENS unquestionaby would be met with restraining
ton the courts Voluntary operation by race groups of
leased schools is doomed to failure, too
Governor Stanley takes the and sensible view in
declaring intention to appoint special commission to
study the matter presumably in advance of any special
legislative session
did not heed at least two requests for appointment of
just such body 1t could have been at work for several
weeks already anticipating the decision which just about
everyone felt coming.
The worst possible thing which could happen now
would be special session either the Governors call
or demand of the Assemblys membership. 1t would
meet in atmosphere of complete confusion, would
waste and time, and would most likely wind up
with haf-baked legislation
tt should be pointed out that concentration of
residences will continue to permit operation Of school dis
rics in cities like Roanoke Negroes already attending
far better high school than white children, would be