Evening star., 1954-09-24
BY the Associated Press

MILFORD, Del, Sept. a.
Gov. j. Caleb Boggs demanded
today that the Milford High
School be reopened to both white
and Negro pupils without Incl
dent"
The Governor issued his order
as the State Board of Education
prepared to take over operation
of the Milford school district
after the local school board re-
signed last night amid mounting
tension over racial integration
at the conlmunity's only high
school.
Il must insist that no disor-
ders, threats Or violence take
place." Gov. Boggs said. IT call
upon every citizen, regardless of
his personal views, to see that
law and order and calmness pre-
vail"
Gov. Boggs also asked all or
ganizations in the school district
to call meetings so that I OF
other persons available may meet
and discuss calmly and fully the
situation -
Says Law Will Be Preserved.
This is important in uphold
ing law and order and the dig
nifty of the State and its citi-
zens," Gov. Boggs said.
II must say frankly that law
and order will be preserved un-
der the law and the American
way. I know that the citizens of
Milford and Delaware will have
it no other way"
Leaders of the anti-integra-
tion group were reported to be
planning mass meeting for
either tonight or tomorrow to
consider a course of action.
Leaders could not be reached for
comment, however.
The Milford School Board re-
signed last night at meeting
with the State Board in nearby
Dover, the State capital. The
local boards attempt to insti-
tute integration Of Negro and
white high school pupils at the
formerly all-white combination
elementary and grade school
had led to threats of violence.
Responsibility Refused.
"We feel we are too close to
the situation to accept the re-
sponsibility of opening the
schools Monday morning with
Negro Students" Attorney How
ard E. Lynch, speaking for the
Milford board, explained.
The State boards decision en-
countered "wait-and-see" at
titude in this Southeastern Della
ware community that has become
a focal point in the segregation
issue. Milford has population
of $500 but some $4,000 persons
reside within the school district.
Milford's schools originally
opened September z with II
Negro students registered along
with 686 white pupils for the
high school classes. However,
the school-along with an all
Negro elementary school-was
closed following the threat of
violence if the local board tried
to maintain integration.
The State Board said last
night the local school officials
had not followed procedure in
the integration. The State
Board had ordered local dis
tricts to submit integration
plans by october /. Milford was
the only district in the State
to put an integration plan into
effect prior to submitting it to
the State Board.
The spokesman for the anti
integration group. Russell v.
Bradley, had complained earlier
this week that some of the OBJ
lection resulted because the To-
cal board didn't tell us these
Negroes were to be admitted to
school this term. They could
have waited until the Supreme
Court figures out how they're
going to run this thing so it
won't be so much of a problem. :"
Yesterday. anti-desegregation
pamphlets appeared in Milford.
Signed by a person identified
only as Bryan Bowles." they
told of tour of Southern States
by "Bowles" to check reaction
to the United States Supreme
Courts recent decision ending
segregation in public schools.
They said:
81 found 80 per cent Of the
black and white people opposed
to mixing their children.
81 found people who are
threatened to move from their
States If the States adhere to
the court ruling.
II found people who threat