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

parents OBJECT 10 lntegratlon IN
public schools.
In its attempt to meet con-
ditions created by the Supreme
Courts desegregation decision,
the Gray Commission has rec
commended as the first step an
amendment to section 14l Of the
State Constitution. This section
now prohibits private school
tuition grants from public funds.
Other portions of the commits
sion's program would be enacted
at the regular session of the
General Assembly which con-
venes January IL.
Statewide Group
Gov. Stanley drew on 80 mem
bers of the Legislature to serve
on the commission. There were
at least two from each of the
States 10 congressional districts.
| At the time of the appoint
ments the Governor had told the
people, II shall use every legal
means at my command to con-
Itinue segregated schools in Vir-
ginia.'
He gave larger representation
Ito those sections of Eastern and
Sollthside Virginia where the
Negro school enrollments and
population are heaviest.
The commission held its first
meeting September Is. 1854. It
selected as its chairman State
Senator Garland Gray, whose
home county Of Sussex has a So
Iper cent Negro enrolment. NE
gro enrolment in the District Of
Columbia is "a per cent?.
At its first meeting. the Gray
Commission adopted a strict Sc
Ierecy rule that was to close its
doors to press and public at all
subsequent meetings during the
next II months, except for one
public hearing.
Negroes Omitted
Gov. Stanley's failure to ap-
point Negroes to the commission
came in for criticism from both
MAJOR political parties.
Complaints in this regard were
Expressed by Republican State
Senator Ted Dalton of Radford,
and Delegate Robert Whitehead
|of Nelson County. anti-organiza-
ton Democrat-both likely can
didates for Governor in 1857.
Delegate Armistead L. BootheI
of Alexandria, q leader of the
Young Turks" In the House, who
led successful rebellion against
the dominant organization at
the 1854 session. announced re-
suits Of a QUESTIONABLE he had
sent to the 1879 other members
CT the Legislature. He got re-
plies from about a third, he said.
The answers, he said, indi-I
Gated that enforced indignation
for either race was opposed 10
10 /; retention of a public school
system as required by SectionI
|129 of the State Constitution
was favored Z to /, and more
than 10 to / felt that no teach
ers should be assigned to schools
of the opposite race.
One of the highlights Of this
period was action taken by the
Fairfax County Board of Super
wilson's. After receiving petit
ton of protest from 2,843 citi-I
zens, the board rescinded an
earlier resolution supporting a.
free public school syStem and al
Emethod Of local option to COM
ply with the Supreme Court de-
lcision The supervisors then
voted to abide by whatever pol
icy the State might establish.
Only Public Meeting
The Gray Commission held its
only open meeting "a public
lhearing-on November Is, 1854.
About 1000 persons turned out
and the meeting was held in the
Mosque Auditorium at Rich
mond. During the IL hour
hearing, about 100 persons spoke.
Contrary to State law. the audi
ence was not segregated.
The commission announced
that the governing bodies Of So
counties out of Virginia's total
of SO, had by then asked it to-
come up with a plan to prevent,
public school integration. The
number was later to reach SIS.
On the same date-November
l15-attorneys for Virginia and
Prince Edward County, Va, pre-
scented arguments before the
Supreme Court asking that the
case against the State be re-
turned to the lower court to per-
NIT gradual adjustment"
Attorney General j. Lindsay
Almond, jr., filed a brief with
the court warning that 1.-The
spectre of impending educa-
tional chaos" hangs over much
of Virginia.
BY this time, also, the De-
Tenders of State Sovereignty and
Individual Liberties, which had
started in Prince Edward County
in october. was making itself
heard. 1t had sent spokesman
to the Gray Commissions pub
lie hearing to plead for main
tenance of segregation at all
costs. Defenders units in North
Iern Virginia later were to fig
lure in political campaigns there
chiefly in Arlington in the
County Board and School Board
races. Their candidates were de-
feated.
Preliminary Report
On January 10 the Gray Com
mission filed preliminary re-
port with the Governor. It
stated. in part it will explore
avenues toward formulation of
a program, within the Frame
work of law, designed to prevent