Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-18
Action Is Due Today
On Gray Proposal
Election Set
February Il
For Convention
By = stan Correspondent Of The star

VI ~VbbVSbbNbO
By stan Correspondent Of The Star
RICHMOND. Jan. 1S-Final
action on the Gray Commission
plan calling for a constitutional
on March 5 was due
In the House of Delegates today.
Floor leaders indicated the
rules would be suspended and
the bill sent to Gov. Stanley be-
fore the day is over.
The convention would remove
a barrier in the constitution
against payment of public funds
for educating children in private
schools. Such payments are rec
commended by the Gray Commits
sion as q method of getting
around the Supreme Court de-
cision against racial segregation
in public schools.
Confirmation BY Stanley
At a press conference Gov.
Stanley confirmed the report
printed in The Star yesterday
that he plans to call a special
election for February 81. This
would be to elect 40 delegates.
based on State senatorial district
representation. to the conven-
ton. Candidates would have
five days in which to file after
he calls the election.
The amendment. in itself. win
not carry out the Gray Commits
sion anti-integration program.
Gov. Stanley indicated the Gray
plan would not be adopted by the
present General Assembly. This
means a special session.
"I stick by my earlier state
ment," Gov. Stanley said. Il
said, when called the last spe-
cial session, that / felt legisla-
ton proposed by the commits
sion on public education (the
Gray Comrnission) would be OF
sufficient importance to deal
with, either prior to or after the
regular session"
Timing Still Vague
He refused to be pin-pointed
on whether he proposes to ex-
tend the present Assembly
beyond its March 10 adjourn
ment date or summon it back.
Some speculation indicated the
LEGISLATURE may come back here
within a month or so and other
reports have it that it will be
summoned back about next Sep
TENDER.
In the latter case. it would be
another "stalling tactic" to delay
compliance with the Supreme
Court decision in the event
Negroes file suits in the interim.
September is when schools open.
Meanwhile, a resolution Of
Observation-Disclosures approach
to the segregation question
was being readied for introduce
Ition by State Senator Harry
Stuart of Russell County. 1t re-
Iportedly has the backing of top
political leaders.
Interposition-in briefs Q
declaration by a State that the
Supreme Court was without
power to do what it did and the
State refuses to recognize the
decree until the Federal Con-
Istitution is amended. Prior to
May II, 1854, the Supreme Court
held that separate but equal"
facilities for whites and Negroes
were in compliance with the
ederal Constitution.
Early Introduction
Senator Stuart, who will be
Joined by State Senator Harry
r. Byrd, jr.. among others. as
copatrons, said the resolution
may be introduced today or
tomorrow.
1t is understood the resolution
avoids saying. directly. that the
courts decision is void. but
rather would consider that Sec
Ition l40 of the Virginia Consti-
tuition is valid pending ratifica-
ton of an migration amend
Iment by, three-fourths of the
States of the Union. Section
lao prohibits white and Negro
children from being taught in
the same schools.
Republican State Senator Ted
Dalton of Radford, a likely can
Ididate for Governor next year,
said, Il cannot see anything to
be gained by this crying at the
moon effort.
Instead of, helping, 1t may
hurt because we will be seeking
time and consideration at the
hands of the Federal Courts. In
this connection. I point out the
preamble to the Gray report is
lprejudicial to our gaining from
the court this time and consid-
Grafton that we so much need in
these days of a social education
crisis.
MY idea is that we should be
devoting our time and thought
and energies toward working out
plans within the framework Of
the law to keep separate schools
insofar as we can. That Is
necessary in view Of the customs
and traditions of Virginia and
the South.
I'VE may as well be realistic
and recognize that we cannot
get more than a few other South
ern States to join us and our
efforts will wind up as fruitless."