Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-23

This Is the lost Of o series Of artielei
exploring the Gray Commission pro-
erom. virsinio's answer to the ST.
I preme Court decisions on public schoo
segregation.
GINA President Colgate w. OAR
den: Representative Tuck and
John S. Battle of Charlottesville.
Men who have figured in spec
ulation for the 1857 guberna-
torial nomination and who have
given the referendum their in
dorsement include Attorney
General J. Lindsay Almond, jr.,
who told The Star several
months ago, I'm in the race;
Delegate Robert Whitehead OF
Nelson County, the anti-organ-
ization Democrat who has said
my sails are set" for 1857; State
Senator Charles r Fenwick of
Arlington, a member Of the Gray
Commission who ran in 1858 and
said he might be interested
again under certain conditions;
Lit. Gov. A. E. S. Stephens and
State Senator Garland Gray.
chairman of the commission,
both of whom have figured
prominently in speculation for
the 1857 race.
At the congressional level, Sen
| ator Byrd has been joined by
Senator Robertson In favoring
1.-THE referendum. Representatives
'ITuck and Abbitt previously came
! out in favor Of the program.
i Educators. who have added
their voices of support include
lDowell j. Howard. State SUPER
.Iintendent Of public instruction,
and his predecessors. G. Tyler
miller and DR.. Dabney s. Lam
.lcaster. DR.. Lancaster. president
Iemiritus of Longwood State
Teachers College. heads the Ref
erendum Information Center al
Richmond, the headquarters for
proponents of the Gray program
The State Board Of Education
has unanimously approved the
tuition grants proposal.
Another educator, DR.. Walter
oIS. Newman. president of the
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
serves on the referendum Gen.
iIter's advisory committee which /.
2 headed by Mr.. Battle. The two
other members Of the advisory
committee are State Senator
Thomas Blanton. chairman oil
! the Democratic Party. and State
!. Senator s. Floyd Landreth. Re.
publican chairman in Virginia.
Prior to release of the Gray
report, the commission said II
: had received requests from
boards of supervisors Of 81 oil
the States SO counties urging
: adoption of a plan to preserve
school segregation. Since the
report. a spokesman at the ref
erendum center says, the list has
grown to about 10.
: OF the five members OF the
) House of Delegates who voted
against the referendum at the
recent Assembly. four were from
nearby Virginia. Delegates Stone
HirSt and Webb were reelected
and Delegate Boothe-like Dele
gate Carter. the fifth House op-
ponent-will move up to the
Senate.
| Among proponents Of the ref
erendum, Senator Fenwick and
Delegate Harrison Mann. also Of
Arlington. were reelected. Dele
gate j. Maynard Magruder OF
Arlington did not seek re-elec-
tion, but has been replaced by
another proponent. william L
Winston.
In Alexandria, Gray plan pro-
lponents gained a vote when
James M. Thomson was elected
to fill Mr.. Boothe's House seat
AS previously indicated. Senator
Donovan of Fairfax voted to hold
the referendum. but now is
speaking for defeat Of the
Question.
Church Groups Opposed
Against such an array Of
IState officials, the opposition
has the backing Of many church
land civic organizations. It
Iopened its State headquarters
under the name Of the Virginia
Society for the Preservation OF
Public Schools one week after
the Gray plan hackers estab-
lished their base Of operations
lin the same hotel.
thIlObIlcT RIUup WIFI d olLiIl-
lar title. the Committee for the
Preservation of the Public
School System. was organized
with the opposite objective in
Hanover County,
Two organizations with oppo-
site views we're formed as d.
rect result of the Supreme Court
decisions. The Defenders oil
State Sovereignty and individual
Liberties, claiming about 5000
members. Is supporting the ref.
erendum. The Council on HUI.
man Relations. with about 30(
Imam hnt.c in ntaxaacixan IL