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

which led to the Groy Commissions
recommendations.
statesman of the Revolutionary
period.
In March an organization with
detectives opposite to those OF
the Defenders was chartered I'M
Richmond. 1t was the Virginia
Council on Human Relations.
backed by the Ford Foundation
and was formed to promote
gradual indignation in the
schools.
It's goal is to foster greater
unity in the South" 1t is one of
nine similar units established in
Southern States. The Rev. John
H. Marion of the Bon Air Pres
byterian Church, Richmond
soon became its executive di-I
rector. Today the council claims
about 800 members. The De-
tenders claim about 5000.
Supreme Court Hearings
On April II. the Supreme
Court sat for four days to hear
final arguments in the segrega-
ton cases. including that against
Prince Edward County. pending
before it. Mr.. Almond said the
preliminary report Of the Gray
Commission to prevent enforced
intergation. within the frame
work of law" was consistent
with his stand before the high
court.
The attorney general told the
tribunal that by not issuing an
order for immediate integration
in 1854. 'the court recognized
that the decision involved the
rights, the mode of life, the Gus
toms. the mores of so million
people and II million school
children.
A. G. Robertson. counsel for
Prince Edward, argued, "VIr-
ginia has no plan. no panacea
for the complete solution of the
seg1 cgation problem. We cannot
foreSee any definite future date
when IL can be completely
solved. =.
What We are up against is.
that neither a court decree for
that matter. nor an executive
order can produce the result
which is opposed by d united ma j
jority in the place where IL must
be enforced"
The court handed down Its
final decree TO abandon racial
segregation with all deliberate
speed" on May 81.
Funds Delayed
Boards OF Supervisors In
Prince Edward, Sussex, James
City and Nottoway Counties i'm
mediately held up funds for their
school operating budgets. Later
they released the funds when the
State Board of Education reiter-
ated its intention to operate
schools on segregated basis in
the fall.
The day after the Supreme
Courts final decree. the Norfolk
School Board issued a statement
which said, Eve intend, without
mental reservation, to uphold
and abide by the laws of the
land"
Later. a school board member
Clarified" the matter by ex-I
planning the board meant it
would uphold the laws Of Vir-I
ginia as well as the Federal laws.
On June 4. parents Of white
children in Prince Edward
County announced plans to raise
100000 for a non-profit cor
poration to operate a private
school If their public schools were
ordered to migrate. Later they
succee ted in obtaining this
amount in pledges and dona-
tons.
Soon afterward. Judge Leon
Bazile of Hanover County Cir
cult Court ruled, in effect, that
81 million in bonds previously
approved by the voters were no,
longer valid. He said the voters
had acted before the Supreme
Courts final decree. but the court
had changed the situation.
Park Indignation Ordered
In July. Federal Judge Walter
E. Hoffman Of Norfolk decided
a case that had been pending
for several years. He enjoined
the State from preventing
Negroes the use of Seashore
State Park near Virginia Beach.
The previous February, Conser-
walton Director Raymond v. Long
had said the State intended to
lease the park to a private
operator.
Judge Hoffman ruled that the
State could not lease--and he
limited strongly it could not
sell--its public property" If it
knew it was TO be put to segre-
gated use. His ruling was taken
to apply to public school build
ings by those who previously had
advocated their lease to private
operators. The State has APP
pealed.
In September public schools
opened on a segregated basis.
Some parochial schools were
integrated.
In October State Controller
Sidney C. Day instituted a suit
that directly led to the referen-
dunn to be held next month on
amending Section 14l. He
questioned whether he had the
authority to pay pubic funds
for the education Of certain war
orphans enrolled in private
schools.
Held in Violation
The Attorney General filed a
mandamus petition against Mr..
Day in the State Supreme Court.
The court ruled on November Z