Evening star., 1955-06-07

assembly, whenever in his opin-
ion, the interest of the State
may require it.
The constitution provides that
there must be a public free
school system on a segregated
basis. The Public Education
Commission, headed by State
Senator Garland Gray, has set
as its objective the finding Of
a legal formula for preventing
enforced integration.
Mr.. Davis told reporters that
final decisions yet are to be made
but if the constitution is to be
amended, it should be started by
special session of the Legisla-
ture so that the second step can
be accomplished by the next reg
ular session in January.
It requires approval by two
successive assembly sessions and
a vote of the people to amend
Cne cOnSClCuCl0n.
Formal Request Made
A formal request for such a
session was made yesterday by
the Nottoway County Board of
Supervisors, which also delayed
action on school budget for
next year and assured teachers
their salaries would be paid.
The action by the Nottoway
board-at which the only mat
ter of record was the resolu-
tion asking a special legislative
session-came during a continu-
alton of a May 81 meeting. The
board agreed to continue the
session again until June 20.
Board Chairman w. S. Kinch-
eloe of Crewe told about 100
persons in the courtroom at
Nottoway the delay was voted
"in the hope that some break
may come through the State or
otherwise by which we could
see what to do. I believe the
State has delayed too long. :"
The county has two choices
schools and segrega-
ton or public schools and in
tegration." Mr.. Kincheloe said.
He said the board intends to
open the schools this fall, but
is trying to "hold control of the
finances of the county"
Declaring Negroes would have
to be admitted to the public
schools if they sought admis-
sion, Mr.. Kincheloe said that
"if white students get up and
walk out, we want to be in a
position to close the schools-all
the schools in the county" He
said, however, the teachers will
be taken care of" and their
salaries paid even if the schools
are closed.
Moderate Approach Urged
Delegate Robert Whitehead of
Nelson County said in Roanoke
that abolition of Virginia's pub
lie schools would Simply mean
that over three-fourths of our
children will get no form of sys-
tematic education"
The leader of the antiorgani-
cation wing of the State Demo-
cratic Party told the Virginia
Federation of Labor convention
here yesterday a moderate ap-
proach is needed to the Supreme
Courts DEGREES outlawing segre-
cation in the public schools.
Mr.. Whitehead urged that the
bublic schools be retained and
advised parents not to 'let the
radicals and the extremists Of
both races rob your children of
their educational birthright.
He also criticized the Prince Ed
ward County Board of Supervis-
ers for withholding funds for
public schools.
1T seems reasonably clear"
Mr.. Whitehead declared, from
the language of the Supreme
Courts opinion that the, schools
in Prince Edward can be lawfully
maintained on the present basis
for another school year."
Mr.. Whitehead said he is
"squarely opposed to a special
session" of the Legislature. He
said time is on the side of those
who seek an orderly, lawful and
effective solution of our prob
lems."
NAACP Meeting Called
Meantime, the Virginia State
conference Of the National As
sociation for the Advancement
of Colored People took steps to
carry out its own policy-already
clearly defined.
w Lester Banks, executive Sec
retary of the NAACP's Virginia
Conference, sent out a call for
representatives of the NAACP's
10ra1 hronnhnS in Uiroi,io &o
meet at Petersburg next Sun
day.
Mapping the next move in
the campaign to bring about
prompt integration is the
NAACP's objective at its meet
ing Sunday. Mr.. Banks said lead
ers OF lot local branches in vir-
ginia will be asked to petition
the various school boards to be-
gin integration of their classes