The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-02-17
GOVERNOR HODGES
GIVES HIS VIEWS
TO HIS HOMEFOLKS
Announces His Candidacy and
Talks Frankly at LeaksviIIe
Saturday Afternoon

Governor Luther H. Hodges, in
his home community in Leaksville
Township Saturday afternoon
talked about his work as Governor
and announced his future plans.
Speaking to neighbors, friends and
relatives, he spoke informally and
earnestly about some of his ideas
of the governorship and told some
thing of his work on a few of the
difficult proble m confronting
North Carolina.
Hodges told his audience, hun
dreds of whom had worked with
him or for him in his more than
80 years in the local mills, that
hard work was just as essential
and as rewarding in the Governors
office as when he was office boy,
sweeper, weaver, General Maaa-
ger, ETC., in the mills.
The Governor discussed the per
capita income of the State, the
highway and safety problem, as
we'll as some of the other subjects
which he has had to face. He gave
particular attention to the public
school and higher education situa-
ton. On the troublesome problem
of segregation, he had the follow
ing to say:
"One of the toughest and most
disturbing problems have faced
as Governor is the one brought
about by the public school decisions
of the United States Supreme
Court. Indeed, this problem is one
Of the greatest our whole South
has faced for many decades.
"Those of you in my home COM
munity know me well enough to
realize that 1 usually say what ]
believe and think, but like to be
informed before l speak out. My
position on the Supreme Court de-
cision and segregation has been
stated on many occasions, but the
problem is so varied and difficult
and so many ideas and opinions
have been expressed that an anx-
ious public can easily get con-
fused.
"Let me again make my position
clear. l do not agree with the Su-
preme Court decision and ! think
it usurped the rights of the States
and the Congress in its decision
II do not favor mixing the races
in the schools, and l believe the
vast majority of white and coloreC
citizens feel the same as ! do. MY
plan of voluntary choice of sepa.
rate schools is still working anC
can continue to work. The Advis
DRY Commission, which appoint
ed, has Reconnaissance ! ap
prove-the policy which declare.
that no child shall be forced tt
attend a school of mixed race!
against the wishes of his parent!
or himself.
eff incidents arise which chal
lenge this policy, we propose t
have legislation which will provid,
tuition grants or transfers along
the general lines of the Virgini;
proposal. As many Of you know
my friend, Governor Thoma
Stanley of Virginia, lives just |
few miles across the line from u
here in Leaksville Township, AM
he and have consulted freely an,
frequently. His General Assembl.
is now in session and will conside
the same kind Of local enrollmen
and assignment plan which on
1855 North Carolina Assembly ha
already passed. At a later date,
shall present to our citizens, an
the same matter will be presente
to our Legislature, the full detail
of program embodying the basi
principles which have just men
toned.
sour chief concern is the preseI
walton of our public schools 70
See HODGES, Page Eight