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

and integrity of the Common
wealth.
II regard Section 129. which
requires the maintenance of an
efficient public free school sys-
TEN. as binding on the people Of
Virginia and that it is a guaran-
tee the school system will be
retained.
He said he would be unwilling
to ask people to support the pro-
posed amendment unless I be-
lieve the public school system
would be kept intact"
THAT assurance" he declared.
ought to be given the people Of
Virginia. That's what's disturb
ing them, and that's what they're
entitled to hear"
Abandonment Mentioned
The report Of the Gray Com
mission which recommends q
constitutional change mentions
the abandoning of public school
systems in some localities.
1T would be catastrophe II
schools were closed in Virginia
for either race" Mr.. Darden
said.
MIR. Darden, who amplified his
views today, first made them
public at a luncheon discussion
yesterday of Virginia's Big Six
college presidents who had gath
cred at Natural Bridge to dis
cuss quite another problem
Virginia football.
I It was a similar concern about
Section 129 in the constitution
that moved State Senator Ted
Dalton, of Radford. to ask the
State Senate to write into the
proposed amendment a guaran-
lee it would not weaken Section
1929. The Senate declined to do
so and Senator Dalton voted
against the referendum bill.
| A similar effort was attempted
unsuccessfully in the House OF
Delegates by Omer Hirst Of Ar
lington who suggested that tut
ton grants be given only to
those localities which maintain
public schools.
Proponents Active
Meanwhile, those pushing for
an Affirmative vote stepped up
the tempo of their own CAM
Ipaign. The State Referendum
information Center here, serv-
ing as voice for those who seek
to amend Virginia's constitution.
sent out a group of speakers to
various parts of the State, the
Associated Press reported.
I Gov. Stanley told reporters at
his press conference yesterday
that if the people vote against
the referendum question on jan
uary 9. "' - Then I think we'd
have to take fresh look at the
Legislation proposed by the Gray
Commission"
! Gov. Stanley said he feels the
"crux of the effectiveness" Of
the pupil assignment plan pro-
posed by the commission would
be a favorable vote for the con-
vention in order that the Legis-
lature might then make, if IL
considered it wise, tuition grants
available" to parents refusing to
send their children to integrated
schools.
At Norfolk, DR.. Dabney S. Lam
caster. director of the groups
State campaign headquarters.
described how school buildings
vacated by local resistance to en-
forced indignation could be pur-
chased by corporations formed
by parents and operated pri-
vately.
! DR.. Lancaster said the courts
have authority to declare public
buildings surplus property and
put them up for sale.
AS outlined by DR.. Lancaster,
the purchase could be made with
an acceptable down payment
he mentioned $1,000-with pay
ment of similar sum to be made
a year later. The buildings
could revert to local school
boards, if and when desired, with
the mere lapsing of one payment.
he added.
Ministerial Misgivings
The Richmond District Meth
odist Ministers Association by q
26-10 vote yesterday adopted q
statement to the effect it has
many misgivings about opening
the public treasury for tuition
grants" to those choosing to at
tend private schools" However.
the statement neither supported
nor opposed the proposed con-
stitutional change.
In Staunton yesterday. State
Senator A. S. Harrison, jr.. Of
Lawrenceville, a member Of the
Gray Commission, said:
Numerous areas will provide
no local taxes for the operation
of schools unless they are as
sured that such schools can be
Operated under a plan which will
not require enforced integra-
ton"
Dowell P. Howard, State SUI
perintendent of Public Instruc-
ton. adore sing Parent
Teacher Association meeting at
Berryville last night, said the
amendment proposal "does not
contemplate the establishment
of a system of private schools"
Mr.. Howard said that in real
ity the amendment proposal of
fers greater protection to the
basic and fundamental principle
of separation of church and
State than does the present sec
ton al as it had been previously
interpreted"
Attorney General J. Lindsay
Almond, jr., speaking at Apo
mattox last night, described the
tuition grants plan IAN essential
and indispensable corollary" to
tho ,1,,,il oscionyyo,t y,roy,Osol