Evening star., 1954-05-18
Reaction by States
ToSchooI Segregation
Voidinu Is Mixed

Ing PuV11C OC11OO1 TdCId1 SSSICBd"
ton settled mainly today on
problems yet to be solved in their
communities.
Comment ranged from express
sionS of shock to comparatively
calm acceptance. But there were
many -committal remarks
pending closer study Of the full
import of the ruling and the diff
f1culties of putting it into effect.
Governors Of practically every
State arranged special committee
meetings to look into moves that
might have to be made now, or
later when the court determines
exactly when and how integra.
ton is to be effected. Besides
seeking legal advice, several dis
cussed the advisability of sum-
n1oning State legislative sessions.
Georgia Votes in Fall.
Gov. Herman Talmadge Of
Georgia was the most outspoken
OF State officials who denounced
the decision. He said he would
call the State Commission on
Education at once ito map a pro-
gram to insure continued segre-
cation of the races"
Georgia voters next fall will
ballot on constitutional amend
ment backed by Gov. Talmadge
to abolish the States public
school system.
THE court has thrown down
the gauntlet before those who
believe the Constitution means
what it says when it reserves to
the individual States the right
to regulate their own internal
affairs" the Georgia Governor
declared. "Georgians accept the
challenge and will not tolerate
the mixing of the races in the
public schools or any of its pub
lie unsupported institutions.
The fact that the high tribunal
has seen fit to proclaim its views
on sociology as well as law will
not make any difference.
Byrnes Urges Restraint.
Gov. James F. Byrnes of South
Carolina, a former Supreme
Court Justice and Secretary of
State, said he was shocked" to
learn that the court has reversed
ITSELF" He refused to make fur
ther detailed comment, however,
until he has studied the opin-
ion and conferred with the chair
man Of a State committee ap-
pointed three years ago on the
segregation problem.
I'VE must await the final de-
cree of the Supreme Court and
in the meantime I earnestly urge
all Of our people. white and col
ored. to exercise restraint and
preserve order" Gov. Byrnes
said. II have always stated that
what course South Carolina
would follow in case of an ad-
verse decision was a question
which only the Legislature could
decide. What recommendation
I would make to the Legislature
I would decide only after I had
an opportunity to study the de-
cree of the Supreme Court"
Statements by Gov. Talmadge
and some other Southern po-
litical leaders that their States
would take measures to resist
the ruling were countered by
the promise of prompt legal &C
ton by officials of the National
Association for the Advancement
of Colored People.
Marshall Bans Alternatives.
Thurgood Marshall, NAACP
chief counsel who argued
several of the segregation cases
before the Supreme Court, said
he does not believe Georgia or
any other State will succeed in
any move such as turning public
schools over to private manage
ment.
If they put any plan into ef-
feet in the morning, we will have
them in court the next aftert
noon." Mr.. Marshall said. There
is no possibility of getting
around this clear-cut interpreta-
ton Of the Constitution"
The views of many Southern
public officials we're summed up
by Gov. Allan Shivers Of Texas
who observed that cit might take
years" to comply with the Su-
preme Court ruling.
Here is how other State Gov
ernors and political as well as
educational leaders reacted in
general to the Supreme Court
opinion:
Alabama - Gov. Gordon Per-
sons said he would not comment
until he had an opportunity to
study Cne Qec1SlOn.
ArkansaS-Gov. Francis Cher
ry also withheld comment at this
time.
Delaware-This State was di-
rectly involved in the specific
cases decided by the Supreme
Court. Gov. j. Caleb Boggs had
no comment.
FlOrida-Acting Gov. Charley
E. Johns announced that his
present inclination" was to call
an extraordinary session of the
State Legislature. He requested
Attorney General Richard Erwin
to make an exhaustive study"
He meanwhile called a special
meeting Of his cabinet today.
Hollis Rinehart, chairman of the
Florida Board of Control which
exercises supervision over the
States colleges and universities,
said Florida should begin pre-
pairing for integration Of Negroes
into our institutions of higher
learning" as well as elementary
schools.
KanSas-This State had a per-
missive law allowing school seq
regation in grade schools in
larger cities. One Of the five
test cases decided by the SUI