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

articles describing the background
which led to me Gray Commissions
recommendations.
statesman Of the Revolutionary
period.
In March an organization with
detectives opposite to those of
the Defenders was chartereda in
Richmond. 1t was the Virginia
Council on Human Relations,
backed by the Ford Foundation
and was formed to promote
gradual indignation IN the
schools.
Its 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-
rector Today the council claims
about 300 members. The De-
tenders claim about 5000.
Supreme Court Hearings 4.
On April IL, 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
interrogation. 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 indignation
in 1854, 1.-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
aggregation problem. We cannot
foresee any definite future date
when it can be completely
solved.
what We are up against is
that neither . court decree for
that matter. nor an executive
order can produce the result
which is opposed By . united ma
iority in the place Hheee 10 must
be enforced" =.
The coust handed down II
final deere 10 abandon racial
segregation with IA delibefate
speed'r on May sI.
FdnHs DELAYED
Boards Of supervisors IN
Prince Edward. Sussex. James
City and Nottoway Counties il1ls
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 q segregated basis IN
the fall.
The day after the Supreme
Courts final decree. the Norfolk
School Board issued q statement
which said. I'VE intend. without
reservation, to uphold
and abide by the laws OF the
land
Later, a school board member
clarified" the matter by ex-
planning the board meant 1t
would uphold the laws Of Vh-
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 integrate. Later they
succeeded in obtaining this
amount in pledges and donas
tons.
Soon afterward, Judge Leon
Bazile Of Hanover County Cir
cult Court ruled. in effect, that
81 million in bonds previously
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 migration 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-
vation Director Raymond v. Long
had said the State intended to
lease the park to q private
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 aps
pealed.
In September public schools
opened on a segregated basis.
dNvSan vaarAnhlAI ~xLNzI. ...A.-