The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-04-22
Supreme Court
Must Answer Soon

Should the schools of the South hp required to
end race segregation forthwith" next fall or at
the latest, the fall term " 1856 as spokesmen for
the nations largest Negro organization contend?
Should they be given extra time for administrative
and financial readjustment, but with delay
permitted "for the sake of delay" the
Department of Justice hollis? Or should the States
be allowed to work out the problem in their
own way with no time limit as lawyers for the
southern states request?
These questions and their various ramifieatons,
are the ones the nine Justices of the United States
Supreme Court now concentrating their dellb'
eratons on. The high court has just wound up four
days of oral argument how ITS decree of last
May f7-declaring race segregation in the pubhc
schools unconstitutionalahouldb be put into effect.
When il ruled that the separate but equal' doc
trne has no place" in the leld of public education,
the tribunal called for rehearing on impementa-
tion OF the decision Originally slated for last fall,
the hearing postponed indefinitely following
the death OF Justice Robert H. Jackson and pend
ing Sengtc confirmation of Justice John Nj. Harlan
as his successor But even though the arguments
were not heard until April the Court is generally
expected TO. issue its decision before 1t sd-
journs for the summer
The State attorneys general involved all urged
the court not to put any time limit on the desegre.
cation holding that the eases should Je sent back
TO the local Federal district courts for action, Cir
cunStanccs are so different from place 10 place,
they claimed, that only the local judges can fully
understand the situation.
Attorneys speaking in behalf Of Negro children
argued however, that SER cation should be ended
Immediately 1hurgood Marshall, counsel for the
National Association for the Advancement of Color
ed People said the least the Negroes should be
asked TO accept would desegregation by Sep
tember, 1856 Disputine the contention of some
States that forthwith" decree would lead TO
violence, Mr. Marshall said that once the law is
made clear the people will obey. He said that the
fact hat Catholic schools in such states as Texas
and South Carolina had been integrated shows that
1t can be done
The Virginia spokesman, Attorney General ],
Lindsay Almond, .r. held that ntegration in the
Catholic schools has no bearing on the case. He said
that only seven per cent Of the parochial school
children in bis State are Negl oes, and besides, the
paroehia schools not unsupported.
Assistant Attorney General / Beverly Lake of
White children will be mngling in North Caroina's
schools in the near future l. exceedingly remote
He held that the people IF North Carolina are con
school system and the "only one that win work"
Justice Stanley r Reed asked Mr.. Lake about
the situation in North Cardinals paroehial schools
The State spokesman admitted that parochial schools
aae integrated, but said that there very few
Catholics in North Carolina.
cThe most recent Official Catholic Directory gives
. total Catholic population of North Carolina of
$4,000, with more than 5000 enrolled in the
Catholic elementary and high schools)
II the Department of Justice that called for
. niddle-oftheroad policy between those suggest
I'd BY the states and the NAAcP. Solicitor General