Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-22
IGrayConvention Foe
Brundage Wins Seat
Leads 5 in Race
In FuIIs Church
And Fuirfox Area

III TQilS AHuICH
And Fuirfux Area
Dean Brundage of Forestville
won a five-way race in yester-
days voting to represent Fairfax
County and Falls Church at the
Virginia Constitutional Conven-
ton March 5.
He opposed calling the con-
vention to implement Virginia's
Gray plan. but said he has no
plans to wage any futile
campaign against amendment
of the State constitution as pro-
posed.
The vote for Mr.. Brundage In
Fairfax and Falls Church was
i. 389. The other candidates and
the votes they received from the
two jurisdictions were: Charles
Pickett, 1852: John Rust, 1858:
Victor Parker. 284, and Theodore
Arrants. SO.
Elected without formal OPPOSE
Ition to represent Arlington and
Alexandria at the convention
were Frank L. Ball, ST., and
Albert v. Bryan. jr., respectively.
S.O2S for Ball
MIR. Balls total vote in Arling-
ton was 8,02S. He also OPP
posed calling the convention. but
said he would support the pro-
posed constitutional amendment
lsince the majority of the voters
Iof the State had decided that
they wanted it in the Gray plan
referendum last month. AIRING
ton election officials reported O
lwrite-in vote for Kathryn Stone.
who is a member of the county
delegation at the General AS
sembly.
The total vote received by
Mr.. Bryan in Alexandria was
43l. He was a supporter Of the
Gray plan. There were scat
tered votes against him. include
ling several for Albert Smoot who
Opposed the Gray plan; a few for
alexandria State Senator Armi-.
stead Boothe. who also opposed
the Gray plan, and twq for
former Mayor Marshall u Bev-
erley. who supported the Gray
lplan. q
3 State Contests
One delegate to the conven-
ltion was picked from each Of.
the States 40 senatorial dis
ltricts in yesterdays voting.
There were only Is contests
throughout the State. however.
including the one in Fairfax.
The purpose of the conven-
ton is to amend Section 14l OF
the State constitution so tuition
grants may be paid from public
funds for children to attend nom
sectarian private schools. That
section now prohibits use OF
public money for private educa-
ton.
Amendment Of Section 14l is
the first step in Virginia's Gray
tplan to avoid forced indignation
lin public schools. Other features
iof the plan-legislation provid-
ing for tuition grants and pupil
assignment arrangements - are
supposed to be enacted by the
General Assembly after the con-
stitution has been amended
accordingly.
The plan was drafted by .
commission headed by State
Senator Garland Gray of Wav-
erley as Virginia's answer to the
Supreme Court school segrega-
ltion decision. Gov. Stanley ap-
pointed the commission.
Brundage Victory Expected
The election of Mr.. Brundage
was no surprise in Fairfax Coun-
Ity, where voters gave the Gray
lplan its severest licking in the
State. The two candidates who
placed second and third worked
for the Gray plan. -
Mr.. Brundage made no pledges
before yesterdays election about
how he would vote on amending
the State constitution. but said
he intended to do all he could
Ito guarantee continuation Of
public schol system in the State.
II will be my usually moderate
self" said Mr., Brundage. with
only the limited objective Of try
ling to persuade my fellow dele
gates to maintain the system Of
free public schools"
Sees Some Merit
He acknowledged that he had
opposed the tuition grant propo-
sal Of the Gray plan. but added:
~ can live rather handily with
some proposals of the Gray COM
mission. The tpupiD assignment
plan seems to me to have some
merit"
Mr.. Brundage said he would
feel he had done some practical
good" II the tuition grant amend
Iment carries a provision stating
that the General Assembly's re-
sponsibility for public education
continues unimpaired.
Mr.. Brundage, 80. Is head Of
the social studies department at
Westinghouse High School in
Arlington.
His first venture into politics
was In 1854. when he unsucess-
fully sought the Democratic
nomination for Congress from
virginia's 10th District. He il
married and has four children.