Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-09
VIRGINIA
By ALEX, R. PRESTON

The Supreme Court, in ruling
last week on Texas case that local
opinion is no grounds for delaying
public school indignation, hit at
one Of the keystones Of Virginia's
plan to preserve segregation.
The decision also serves as q re-
minder that time is running out
and that some major Federal court
decisions specifically directed at the
Old Dominion can be expected
within the next two weeks.
Last Monday the court rejected
an appeal by the school board Of
Mansfield, Tex, for more time Ito
solve it's problems and end segre-
cation" in the high school there.
Under one of the new laws
backed by Gov. Stanley at the spe-
cial session of the General Assem-
bly, last September. public school
that might integrate as result Of
a Federal court order would auto
matically close. The State. under its
police powers, would step in and
operate it as an efficient" defined
as segregated school.
This law was sold to the LegiS-
lature on the argument that 1t
would prevent rioting and blood
shed in a locality while the Gov
ernor stepped in and tried to ne
gotiate a settlement. The negotia-
ton. the Legislature was told.
would consist of the Governor at
tempting to persuade Negroes to
leave a white school or whites to
leave a Negro school.
Unprecedented Obstacles Seen
The preamble to the law expresses
this as the public policy:
The General Assembly declares
that, as a consequence Of the deci-
sions of the Supreme Court Of the
United States affecting the public
school system, school authorities Of
the various political subdivisions Of
the Commonwealth Of Virginia will
be faced with unprecedented OBJ
stacles If and when ordered to en-
roll white and colored children in
the same public schools. and such
enforced indignation Of the races by
q county or city school board could
destroy the efficiency Of the school
In which white and colored children
were so enrolled. and would tend to
disturb the peace and tranquility
Of the community in which such
school is located"
The Supreme Court last week did
not hand down a written opinion
IN the Mansfield case, but its re-
fusal to review the case had the
effect OF upholding the United
States Court Of Appeals in New
Orleans.
The latter court had ordered the
Mansfield board to end racial seq
regation completely uninfluenced
by private and public opinion as to
the desirability Of desegregation in
the community"
Rioting occurred when three Ne
GroeS, acting under court order,
sought admission TO the Mansfield
school. Texas Rangers ended the
disturbance. and attorneys for the
Negroes announced that they were
temporarily abandoning efforts to
enroll the three.
Perhaps the first Virginia decision
will be from the Fourth Circuit
Court OF Appeals. which recently
heard arguments in Baltimore in
suits against Arlington and. Char
lottesville. The court did not say
when 1t would rule. but ii gave at
torneys on both sides 10 days from
the hearing. on November q, in
which 70 file additional data, II they
90 desired. The deadline was Friday.
The decision awaited in these
eases could. more than In any Of
the cases now pending. have the
most immediate effect on Virginia
schools. The three Judge court is TO
determine the validity OF lower court
orders directing Arlington 10 end
racial segregsSton In elementary
schools by the end Of next month
and Charlottesville to end segreea-
tion as Of last September.
Moy Rule on Stonley Low
Shortly after these decisions come
down. District Judge Walter 2 Hof-
man may rule on the validity OF the
Stanley school plan--specifically the
pupil assignment law Judge Hofi-
man said during arguments on No
vsmoer II that II he had 70 rule at
the time he would throw & out the
window Judge Hoffman has eases