Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-03
Gray Report

ivy NSHS
In my opinion, no more en-
couraging news has broken in
the Virginia press in recent
months than the revelation
that certain courageou. men,
bers of the Gray Study Com
mission are abandoning the
heretofore unshakable "Unani-
nous Report" approach to our
serious school problem. and
are standing alone and in
the open upon their own
convictions.
Months ago, two members of
the Gray Commission were
guests of a group of interested
citizens here in Farmville,
among whom were most of the
officers Of the Prince Edward
Educational Corporation. At
that meeting I. for one. urged
these Commission members to
bring out a report, even If it
had to be a minority report,
stating unequivocally that
segregation in the public
schools would remain the pol
icy in Virginia
Not being a politician. I
failed then to see. and do not
now see, the virtue in unani-
nous reports when they must
be arrived at by compromise.
1t is my opinion that to COM
promise Except in very minor
matters) is but to surrender
some part Of ones honest con-
automatically to take a
false stand.
I would much prefer to see
those members OF the Gray
Commission who will sanction
no indignation whatsoever
plainly so state their beliefs.
and by the same token to have
those who disagree to just as
plainly state their stand.
Seeing the dangers Of a spe-
cial session of the General As
sembly. so long as the Gray
Commission Report. with its
invitation to a little integra-
ton, remained holy and I'M
touchable. y l have gone along
with my co-workers here in
Prince Edward County in OBJ
posing such special session.
However. I believe now that
the Gray Commission report
can be and will be drastically
revised, retaining the good
provisions which would permit
tuition grants to children for
private education and which
would protect the pensions
and retirement benefits of
the teachers; and by adding
perhaps a recommendation
that the compulsory attend
ance laws be repealed: and
by deleting the Little Inte-
grafton" loophole which has
come to be called the Assign
ment Program. l believe that
If this report is then brought
out into the open on the floor
OF the General Assembly there
will be enough Virginians in
the House and the Senate to
accurately represent the peo-
pie OF this State and TO APP
prove the report by a substan-
tlal majority.
And make no mistake: the
Pupil Assignment" portion of
that report. while appearing
to retain segregation, actually
permits indignation in the pub
lie schools of Virginia to the
immediate detriment OF both
races. wherever willful few
might authorize it. And while
a bewildered handful Of poll
tlclans say now that the peo-
pie of Virginia voted for the
Gray Commission report in
the January referendum, l say
and ] talked with the rank
and file of the citizens In a
wide area Of central Virginia
that this Overwhelming vote
was cast for segregation. Not
one person in 10000 who voted
at that time knew or cared
anything about the merits OF
tuition grants. nor OF the
perils OF pupil assignment.
They voted for the continued
segregation Of the races in the
public schools of Virginia, and
II they could be polled one by
one today they would tell the
same story.
And TO those members OF
the General Assembly who
still can't see the handwriting
on the wall, ! would say this:
Let the folks back home once
fully realize that you would
cast your vote not for them
and the future OF their chill
dren, but for and with the
NAACP, and you need never
ask them TO send you back TO
Richmond again.
+. Louis Dahl,
Treasurer, Prince Edward
Educational Corporation.