Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-20

ttOH U Hts - Tue StAtH " q SCtteS u
articles deoIins with recommends
Of the Gray Commission to prevent
enforced public school indignation.
Commonwealth or by the United
States Government.
This course of action de-
signed to circumvent the ruling
of the United States Supreme
Court =. can produce only
harmful results"
The Rev. John H. Marion. ex-
lecurive director of the Virginia
Council on Human Relations,
testified, They (members of the
Icommission) could not COM
Ipletely satisfy everybody. Yet
we are glad the Gray Commits
sion did not entirely shut the
door in the face of certain coun-
ties that may wish to move to-
ward public school Indignation.
This part of their report we
view as a possible step in the
right direction. -. The Supreme
Court clearly stated that obvious
efforts to circumvent the law
would not be permitted"
illegal Intentions"
Last week Rabbi Emmett A.
Frank. spiritual leader of Tenn
I pie Beth Ell. Alexandria, charged
Gov. Stanley had made no bones
aoout his illegal intentions" to
circumvent the Supreme Court.
The main part of his talk, how
ever. was directed against next
months referendum.
In Roanoke. a committee rep
resenting Ave districts of the
Church of the Brethren drew up
a statement. It said the moral
issues which inhere to the situa-
ton have been blurred the
commission has weighed the bal
ances on the side of prejudice"
The churchmen concluded,
Let us face the issue of equal
opportunity for all children in
Virginia calmly and fairly In
the light of true democracy and
Christian grace"
Last week, the State Board
Iof Education adopted a resolu-
ton stating. in part:
The board strongly favors the
proposals Of the commission
providing for a high degree Of
local autonomy in the operation
Iof their schools. The board IA
vors the authorization Of the
use of powers Of assignment Of
pupils and teachers as proposed.
It favors the principle stated in
the report of preventing en-
forced indignation. :"
Compared to ID. C.
In a recent televised address,
Mr.. Fenwick said. THE question
for you parents and other citi-
zens to decide Is whether you
want conditions comparable to
those in the District of Columbia
or a plan of assignment which
will result in a minimum Of
mixed schools and no person re-
quired to attend a mixed school
against the will of the parents. >
Republican State Senator Ted
Dalton of Radford was the only
member of the upper branch to
vote against the constitutional
convention. He is among those
who think the assignment plan
is sufficient to meet the problem
Here is what he told the Senate:
This plan carries a practical
note. To me. 1t is the most
effective measure suggested to
keep segregation IN the public
schools and, at the same time,
! it has a slight element Of elias
ITCHY or fiexibility whereby it
may be pointed out that we in
Virginia are proceeding in a
way that will not do violence
to our customs and traditions
in handling the matter"
Offcial answers to questions
released by Gov. SANKEY'S ad-
ministration include these state
ments:
1T is conceivable that the
operation of the assignment
plan will mean some indignation
/ in certain parts of the State.
If the assignment of pupil
plan is operated in good faith
there is no reason why there
should be constant litigation
against the school board or the
superintendent Of schools. -
/ The next article in this series
will appear tomorrow. II will
be written by Mr.. BOothe, who
Is State Senator elect from
Alexandria, and will give his
reasons why the people should
vote against the constitutional
amendment referendum on jan
nary O