Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-23

Arlington did not seek re-elec-
tion. but has been replaced BY
another prepayment, William L
Winston.
! In Alexandria, Gray plan pro-
Iponents gained a vote when
James M. Thomson was elected
ito fill Mr.. Boothe's House seat
AS previously indicated. Senator
Donovan of Fairfax voted to hold
the referendum. but now is
speaking for defeat Of the
question.
Church Groups Opposed
| Against such an array Of
State officials, the opposition
has the backing of many church
and civic organizations. It
Opened its State headquarters
under the name Of the Virginia
Society for the Preservation of
Public Schools one week after
the Gray plan hackers estab-
IIished their base of operations
lin the same hotel.
(Another group with a SINH
lar title, the Committee for the
Preservation of the Public
School System. was organized
with the opposite objective in
Hanover County,
Two organizations with oppo.
site views were formed as a di-
rect result of the Supreme Court
decisions. The Defenders Of
State Sovereignty and Individual
Liberties. claiming about 5000
Imembers. is supporting the ref
Ierendum. The Council on HUI
man Relations. with about SOC
members, is opposing it.
At the Statewide level the
board of directors of the Viz
lginia League of Women Voters
went on record against the tu-
tition grants plan.
H. B. Boyd, president of the
Virginia Federation of Labor
tAFL). and Julian F. Carper,
Executive vice president of the
Virginia Industrial Union Coun-
ell tCIO) issued statements ex-
pressing their personal opposi-
Ition.
The National Association fol-
the Advancement Of Colored
People and the Virginia Teach
iers' Association - representing
Negro public school instructors
formally voted opposition.
A number Of local chapters Of
the League Of Women Voters
including the one in Arlington
have voiced disapproval. although
the Richmond chapter refused tc
take a stand and said the State
league should have refrainec
from acting. Several local unit.
Eof the American Association OF
University women have voiced
opposition to the amendment.
Although the State Board Of
Education unanimously approved
the referendum, the Arlington
School Board and two new mem.
bers of that body who will take
office January Mrs. Barbars
Riches and James G. Stockard-
went on record against tuition
grants.
The Referendum Center say.
that as far as it knows. thu
school board in Arlington is thu
only one in the State formally
to oppose the referendum.
How Religious Groups Stand
Jewish congregations general.
| " oppose the proposed change.
An undetermined number o.
Protestant ministers throughout
Virginia have delivered sermon,
opposing segregation on religion!
grounds or disappearing private
school tuition grants becaus,
they see 1t as possible break.
down in the barrier between
church and State.
| Here are some of the religion.
groups that have expressed op.
position, either to the Gray plar
in general or specifically to the
referendum issue for tuition
grants:
/ The Potomac Presbytery Of
the Presbyterian Church in the
United States (Southern) by 9
vote of '33 to 2; the Roanoke
Ministers Conference; Alexan.
Idria Council of Churches; Fall.
Church Association of Min.
listers; 10 clergymen Of the Au-
lgusta Convocation of the Pro.
Itestant Episcopal Church in the
diocese of Southwestern Vir.
Iginia; Arlington Fairfax Jewish
Center; the congregation of the
IAgudaS Achim Synagogue. the
Hadassah Chapter and B'na
Birth, all of Alexandria; five
districts of the Church of the
Brethren; the Episcopal Min.
listers of the Shenandoah Valley
! by a vote of 8 to 3, and the Rich
mond Baptist Pastors Confer.
lence.
Editorials in several Protest.
ant church papers have voiced
Opposition. Roman Catholic
Iparochial schools moved towarc
limited indignation more than 6
year ago, but the church.
leaders have been silent on the
controversy.
Some Not Opposed
| Not all Protestant minister!
are opposed to the Gray plan
however. When the Gray Com.
mission held a public hearing
more than a year ago, severa
ministers. particularly from
Southside and Eastern Virginia
urged it to bring out a plar
that recognizes the practica
problems confronting resident!
of these areas. Since then, state.
ments by some ministers hav'