Evening star., 1955-07-18
County Pleads
ForSegregated
Virginia School
Prince Edwurd Will
End Public System
H Order Is Refused
BY MARY LOU WERNER
Star stan Correspondent

IL Order Is Refused
By MARY LOU WERNER
Star stan Correspondent
RICHMOND, July ls--Attor.
neys for Prince Edward County,
Va. today asked q three-judge
Federal court to give specific
permission for operation Of that
county's schools on q segregated
basis in 195l-56, warning that
the county would have mo alter
native" but to close public
schools II ordered to do other.
wise.
The plea was presented as
Judges Armistead Dobie. Ster-
ling Hutchison and Albert v.
Bryan convened here to tell
Prince william County just
what it must do to comply with
the Supreme Court segregation
decision.
No Deadline Set
Attorney T. Justin Moore, ST.,
representing the Prince Edward
School Board, argued for an
order different from the one en-
tered at Columbia, S. c., last
week. A Federal tribunal at
Columbia directed the Summer
ton school district to make
necessary adjustments" and
then proceed forthwith in de-
segregation. At Columbia the
court set no specific deadline
for the school district to make
the necessary adjustment"
"Are the defendants in this
proceeding entitled to have guid-
ance Of the court in continuing
to operate schools as hereto
fore?" asked Mr.. Moore. Must
they close schools next year to
be safe, or operate them in peril
Fof being in contempt Of court?"
He pleaded for a specific order
from the court allowing con-
tinued operation Of segregated
schools in the county during the
next school year.
Would Continue Segregation
Attorney Archibald Robertson.
also of Prince Edward County,
submitted a proposed decree
that would allow Prince Edward
to continue operating segregated
schools in 1856, and require
the county to report back to the
court August l, 1856, on what
progress, had been made by that
time to meet the Supreme Court
decision. .a
"A suit brought by Negro stu
dents in Prince Edward County
was one Of several similar suits
that led to the Supreme Court
segregation decision.
Mr.. Robertson recited what
had been done in Virginia as q
result of the Supreme Court de.
cision. He, noted that the Gov.
ernor had appointed a special
commission which has submitted
q preliminary report recommend
ing continuation of segregated
schools next year.
"The State of Virginia is pro-
Iceeding with alb deliberate speed
to accommodate the administra-
tion of Its public school system
resulting from the decision Of
the Supreme Court in this case."
Mr.. Robertson said.
State Action Needed
"The method of operation Of
the schools in Prince Edward
County cannot be changed until
appropriate action has been
taken on the State level -"
Mr.. Robertson presented affi.
davits from school officials in
Prince Edward County explain
ing what had happened since the
segregation decision. The Board
of County Supervisors has re-
fused to appropriate money to
Operate the school next year,
fearful that they might have to
be integrated. White citizens
have started collecting money to
lpay teachers privately.
Prince Edward County is To-
Gated in the south-central part
of Virginia in what is known as
the States "black belt"
One Of the affidavits, taken
from Thomas J. McIlwaine.
Prince Edward County school
superintendent. warned that Sra
cial feeling is running high" in
the county as a result of the
decision.
Relationships Strained
Relationships between the
two races, which had been amic-
able for decades, has been
strained to the point Of open
hostility" warned Mr.. McIlwaine.
"The people of Prince Edward
County are determined to
forego the benefits of a public
school system If that benefit can
be achieved only through racially
Iintegrated schools during the
session i955-56."
More than 100 spectators
packed the Federal court room
to hear the case which is ex-
pected to set q pattern through
out Virginia. A majority Of the
spectators were Negroes. At least
100 other Negroes stood In the
crowded courtroom hall, waiting
to hear the decision.
INnrr;I la