Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-23
VIRGINIA MUST DECIDE
Most State Officials
oyorAmendment Plan
BY ALEX r. PRESTON

BY ALEX r. PRESTON
The lineup of advocates and
opponents of a Virginia constitu-
Itional amendment finds those in
ofiicial positions Overwhelmingly
in favor of this first step in the
Gray Commission program to
avoid compulsory attendance at
Iintegrated public schools.
This does not mean. OF course
that their views are shared pro-
iportionately by the people. The
answer to how voters feel will
not be known until after the
January 9 referendum on wheth-
Ier to authorize a constitutional
convention.
Imposing Lineup
But those already on record
and, in some cases, conducting
an about drive for a favorable
vote in the referendum, include
some of the States top states
men, education officials and some
who have demonstrated in the
past their staunch support OF
a public school system.
The advocates include four
former Governors, the present
Governor and all but one po-
Itential candidate for the chief
executives chair in 1857.
They include the present and
two former State superin-
tendents OF public instruction.
They include at least 1870 OF
the lao members of the General
Assembly, which takes in the
ichairmen Of both the Demo-
cratic and Republican Parties
in Virginia. cat the recent spe-
cial session of the Legislature,
l31 voted for the referendum
and s against. but one of those
in the majority-State Senator
John A. K. Donovan Of Fairfax.
now is campaigning against the
constitutional amendmento
Determined Opposition
In the opposite camp fighting
the private tuition grants is a
less imposing list of names. but
an equally determined group
with q following also dedicated
to preserving public education.
The opposition is spearheaded
by the five members of the
House of Delegates who voted
against the 90 others at the
recent special session.
They are Delegates Armistead
L. Boothe of Alexandria: John C.
Webb and Omer L. Hirst of
Fairfax. and Kathryn H. Stone
of Arlington
In the Roanoke area. Delegate
Stuart Carter of Botetourt, who
was the fifth House member to
vote mo-" is campaigning &C
lively to defeat the referendum
Question.
Republican State Senator Ted
Dalton of Radford--the only one
who voted against the referen-
dunn in the upper chamber--is
the lone potential candidate for
Governor who is fighting the
Gray Commissions first step.
Stanley Leads Drive
Gov. Stanley is taking the
lead in a crash drive for a IA
#vorable vote. He has the backing
of these former Governors: Sem
lator Byrd; University Of Viz
lginia President Colgate w. OAR
den: Representative Tuck and
John S. Battle of Charlottesville.
Men who have figured in spec
ulation for the 1857 guberna-
Itorial nomination and who have
given the referendum their in
dorsement include Attorney
General j. Lindsay Almond, jr..
who told The Star several
months ago. I'm in the race:
Delegate Robert Whitehead Of
Nelson County, the anti-organ-
ization Democrat who has said
my sails are set" for 1857; State
Senator Charles r Fenwick of
! Arlington. a member Of the Gray
Commission who ran in 1858 and
said he might be interested
again under certain conditions:
Lit. Gov. A. E. S. Stephens and
State Senator Garland Gray.
chairman of the commission,
both of whom have figured
prominently in speculation for
the 1857 race.
At the congressional level, Sem
Iator Byrd has been joined by
Senator Robertson in favoring
the referendum. Representatives
Tuck and Abbitt previously came
out in favor of the program.
Educators, who have added
their voices of support include
|Dowell J. Howard. State. SUPER
Iintendent of public instruction,
and his predecessors. @. Tyler
Miller and DIR. Dabney S. Lam
caster. DR.. Lancaster, president
Iemiritus of Longwood State
Teachers College, heads the Ref
Ierendum Information Center at
Richmond, the headquarters for
proponents Of the Gray program.
The State Board Of Education
has unanimously approved the
tuition grants proposal.
Another educator. DR.. Walter
IS. Newman, president of the
Virginia Polytechnic Institute,
serves on the referendum GEN.
tiers advisory committee which is
headed by Mr.. Battle. The two
other members of the advisory
committee are State Senator
Thomas Blanton, chairman OF
the Democratic Party. and State
Senator S. Floyd Landreth. Re-
publican chairman in Virginia.
Prior to release of the Gray
report, the commission said it
had received requests from
boards of supervisors of 81 OF
the States SO counties urging
adoption of a plan to preserve