Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-15

III its attempt to meet con-
ditions created by the Supreme
Courts desegregation decision,
the Gray Commission has rec
commended as the first step an
amendment to section l41 of the
State Constitution. This section
now prohibits private school
tuition grants from public funds.
Other portions of the commits
Ision's program would be enacted
at the regular session of the
General Assembly which con-
venes January II.
State Wide Group
Gov. Stanley drew on 80 mem
beers of the Legislature to serve
on the commission There were
lat least two from each of the
State 10 congressional districts.
At the time of the appoint
ments the Governol had told the
people, 81 shall use every legal
means at my command to con-
Itinue segregated schools in Vir-
Iginia."
He gave larger representation
to those sections Of Eastern and
Southside Virginia where the
Negro school enrollments and
POPULATION are heaviest.
The commission held its first
meeting September Is, 1854. 1t
selected as it's chairman State
Senator Garland Gray, whose
home county Of Sussex has 68
per cent Negro enrolment. tNe-
gro enrolment in the District Of
Colum 1ia is 81 per cent?.
At its first meeting. the Gray
Commission adopted a strict Sc
crecy rule that was to close its
doors to press and public at all
subsequent meetings during the
next IA months. except for one
public hearing.
Negroes Omitted
Gov. Stanley's failure to ap-
point Negroes to the commission
came in for criticism from both
major political parties.
Complaints in this regard were
expressed by Republican Stf ie
Senator Ted Dalton of Radford.
and Delegate Robert Whitehead
of Nelson County. anti-organiza-
tion Democrat-both likely can
didates for Governor in 1857.
Delegate Arrnistead L. Boothe
of Alexandria a leader of the
Young Turks in the House, who
led a successful rebellion against
the dominant organization at
the 1854 session, announced re-
suits of a QUESTIONABLE he had
sent to the l39 other members
Of the legislature. He got re-
plies from about a third, he said.
The answers, he said, indi-
Gated that enforced indignation
for either race was opposed 10
to /; retention Of a public school
system as required by Section
l29 of the State Constitution
was favored 2 to /. and more
than 10 to ! felt that no teach
ers should be assigned to schools
of the opposite race.
One of the highlights of this
period was action taken by The
Fairfax County Board of Super
.visors. After receiving a petit
ton of protest from 2,843 citi-
zens. the board rescinded an
earL-r resolution supporting a
free public school system and a
method Of local option to COM
ply with the Supreme Court de-
cision. The supervisors then
voted to abide by whatever poll
icv the State might establish.
Only Public Meeting
The Gray Commission held its
only open meeting "a public
'hearirg-on November Is. 1854.
About 1000 persons turned out
and the meeting was held in the
Mosque Auditorium at Rich
mond. During the IL hour
hearing, about 100 persons spoke.
Contrary to State law. the audi
'ence was not segregated.
The commission announced
that the governing bodies Of SO
counties out of Virginia's total
|of SO, had by then asked 1t to
CONF up with a plan to prevent
public school indignation. The
number was later to reach SIS.
On the same date-Noyember
|15-attorneys for Virginia and
Prince Edward County, Va. pre-
Isented arguments before the
supreme Court asking that the
case against the State be re-
turned to the lower court to per-
NIT gradual adjustment"
Attorney General j. Lindsay
Almond, jr., filed a brief with
the court warning that "the
spectre Of impending educa-
tional chaos" hangs over much
of Virginia.
BY this time. also, the De-
TENDERS of State Sovereignty and
Individual Liberties, which had
started in Prince Edward County
in October, was making itself
heard. 1t had sent spokesman
to the Gray Commissions pub
lie hearing to plead for main
Itenance Of segregation at all
costs. Defenders units in North
iern Virginia later were to fig
lure in political campaigns there
Chiefly in Arlington in the
County Board and School Board
races. Their candidates were de-
Ifeated.
Preliminary Report
On January 10 the Gray Com
mission filed a preliminary re-
port with the Cover nor. 1t
stated. in part, it will explore
avenues toward formulation of
a program. within the frame