Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-06
Big Negro Turnout
On Gray Vote Seen
Virginia Areas
Report Heavy
Registrations
BY ALEX R. PRESTON

BY ALEX r. PRESTON
A surge Of unusually large
numbers Of Negroes to register
and pay poll taxes in Virginia
presages a possible record turn-
out in the State when a con.
stitutional convention referen.
dunn is held January 8.
Yesterday was the deadline for
paying poll taxes without PEN
atty. except for new voters who
have until Monday.
Unusually large numbers Of
Negroes were observed at the
tax payment windows in the
nearby area yesterday while
treasurers and registrars at Rich
mond and Norfolk told of heavy
|rushes.
The General Assembly last
week authorized the special ref
Ierendum to carry out the first
step of the Gray Commission
program to prevent enforced In
tegration in public schools.
Expected to Vote ssNo"
Based on statements made by
Negro ministers. civic leaders
and others, along with the Ma
tional Association for the Ad-
vancement Of Colored People.
members of that race can be
expected to vote almost solidly
against the constitutional con-
vention.
The convention would amend
section 141 of the constitution
to permit use Of public funds
for education in non-sectarian
lprivate schools. This would make
it possible for any student. as
signed to an integrated public
school, to receive State grants
to attend a private institution
II he so desires. The funds also
would be available-to both Ne
lgroes and whites-in any area
whose local school board decides
to close its system rather than
comply with the Supreme Court
mandate against enforced segre-
lgation.
1 Since Gov. Stanley appointed
the Commission on Public Edu-
cation. headed by State Senator
Garland Gray Of Waverly to pre-
serve segregation by all legal
means" reports from Southside
Virginia have indicated q strong
drive to qualify Negro voters.
i Await Mail Payments
I AS the deadline for payment
without penalty passed yester-
day. officials Of the nearby areas
were unable to compile results
Immediately, pending receipt Of
some payments by mail.
i In Richmond. City Registrar
/ Vernon N. Davis and Treasurer
i Walter B. Gentry reported lex
tremely heavy" activity.
I Out Of 252 new registrations
yesterday. 1914 were Negroes, Mr..
Davis said. There also were
about 800 transfers. The regis
tration deadline for new voters
in Richmond. Alexandria and
! other cities of more than 1000
population is December "a. The
deadline for smaller cities and
the counties is December 81.
Everyone qualified to vote in the
November 8 election may vote in
the referendum. The poll tax
deadline next Monday applies
only to new voters.
Rush to Pay Taxes
The Richmond treasurer's Of
flee collected about $500 poll
taxes yesterday. including about
1000 in back taxes, Mr.. Gentry
reported.
In Norfolk. a reporter said
there was tremendous" rush
to pay taxes and register all
Though no figures were available
Immediately. A large majority
Qualifying were reported to be
Negroes.
Louis M. Coyner, director Of
finance in Fairfax, said poll tax
payments by Negroes have been
above average, although figures
will not be obtainable until the
tax lists are made up next year.
Mrs. Gladys Isdell, Fairfax reg
istrar. said as many Negroes reg
istered at her Office yesterday "as
normally register in a month"
Gov. Stanley, meanwhile, was
headed for Old Point Comfort
to give personal impetus to the
drive to put the Gray Commits
sion program across, the Asso-
Iciated Press reported.
Mr.. Stanley was to meet with
LIST District members of the Gen.
eral Assembly at noon and later
with I'd District lawmakers at
Norfolk.
Plan Campaign
In Richmond yesterday, Mr..
Stanley met for 31a hours in
private conference with a three
man subcommittee of the Com.
mission on Public Education.
They repeatedly discussed plans
for an organized campaign on
behalf of the proposed consti.
tutional changes.
After the meeting a spokes-
man for the Governor confirmed
reports that Mr.. Stanley will
hold a series Of conferences with
General Assembly members in
each of the States 10 Congress
sional Districts.
These get-togethers were ar
ranged for the broad purpose
of discussing Mr.. Stanley's 1856
Legislative program in advance
of the regular Assembly session
on January IL. However, 1t ap-
peared clear the referendum
question would figure impor-
family in the talks
Next week Mr.. Stanley will
probably cover the 7th, 9th and
10th districts on Tuesday.
State Senator Ted Dalton Of
y n How'd xr,I,o acct kha a,,Ix, x,ofA