Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-15
Segregdtionist
Drafts Modified
Student Setup .

Delegate James M. Thomson
of Alexandria, who has been
Northern Virginia's most vigor-
Gus pro-segregation legislator,
today proposed a modified pupil
assignment plan that could per-
init some integration.
Mr.. Thomson said he did not
consider his plan a retreat from
his previous opposition to inte-
grafton, because he believed the
scheme could prevent mixing of
white and colored students.
But he acknowledged that
there might be some Indignation
in localities that seek to permit
it under the modified plan.
The Thomson proposal ap-
pears to represent a compromise
between the strongest pro-
segregation forces. who would
withhold State funds from any
community that integrates, and
liberal leaders, who would al
low localities to handle the
problem as they see fit without
any financial restraints by the
State.
Would Limit Funds
Mr.. Thomson told The Star
that under his plan, the State
would withhold funds only for
the number of children that are
integrated into white schools.
He said this would serve to deter
localities from integrating, but
might not be a complete barrier,
because only a few colored chill
dren may be involved in some
areas.
Since this would mean the
withholding of only a few hum
dred dollars, he said, some COM
may see fit to let a few
colored children attend white
schools.
The Alexandria delegate said
ne would not vote to close
schools. nor would he vote to
all State funds from
any locality that integrates. He
that such drastic
as these don't stand a
chance" of passing at the spe-
cial General Assembly session
beginning August 81.
"StOp- Gap" Action
Mr.. Thomson said he consid-
cred his plan, or any other
adopted at the session, strictly
a "stop-gap" measure to hold
the line against Indignation until
something better is worked out.
He said that the plan of
Senator McCue of Charlottes-
vile would take some time to
adopt because it involves con-
stitutional changes. The McCue
plan would put control of all
schools in the hands of the Cen
eral Assembly. Mr.. Thomson
declared that he was not taking
a stand on the McCue proposal.
Mr.. Thomson's support for a
pupil assignment plan came as
a surprise. since the segregation
forces generally have opposed
such a plan because it might
lead to indignation.
Gov. Stanley at one time an
nounced he would oppose a pupil
assignment plan. Later. he
modified his stand to say he
would not oppose it, but would
not support it.
Mr.. Thomson said it was
ridiculous" for anyone to say
there wouldn't be an assignment
plan.
Must Agree on Details
1.-THE real bone of contention
is going to be what l consider
an assignment plan and what
the liberals consider one to be"
he added.
Other features of Mr.. Thorn
sons plan include a proposal to
limit applications for new school
assignments to individual stu
dents. and to spell out an appeal
system through administrative
remedies for each assignment
case. Mr.. Thomson added that
the opportunity to appeal an
assignment should be made avail
able to persons who object to a
colored student entering a white
school. as we'll as to a colored
student dissatisfied with an
assignment to an all-colored
school.
Mr.. Thomson spoke last night
to about so members of the Ar
lington chapter of the Defenders
of State Sovereignty and Indi-
vidual Liberties in Broyhill Audi