Evening star., 1956-08-28
10Th District Leaders.
Score Stanley Plan
Thomson Is ONLY
Area Delegate
Proising Proposal
By a Star staff Correspondent

District next to Washington to.
day stood almost solidly in OPP
position to- Gov. Stanley's pro-
gram to withhold State aid from
localities that integrate their
schools.
Only Delegate James M.
Thomson of Alexandria appeared
to be favorably disposed toward
the program.
1 He said he regarded the Gov
ernor's message to the opening
session yesterday as "a very, very
fine talk"
Fairfax Delegate Omer L.
Hirst, on the other hand, la
mented the fact that Gov.
STANLEY has discarded a pupil
assignment plan such as was
recommended by the Gray Com.
mission. He, along with a num-
Der of others, regarded decision
by Federal Judge Albert v.
Bryan of Alexandria as practi-
cally offering a blueprint" of a
workable plan for minimizing
the problem of integration.
Court Order on Schools
Judge Bryan, in ruling last
month that Arlington must end
racial segregation in elementary
schools next February, indicated
strongly that pupil-assign-
ment proposal might withstand
legal tests. He took into con-
slderation the fact that the Gen.
eral Assembly had been called
into its present special session
TO deal with the racial problem.
His colleague, Delegate JOHN
IC. Webb, also of Fairfax, said
the Governor was living in the
past by offering such an extreme /,
solution to the problem.
i felt was back in the year
1860 when I listened to him."
lMr. Webb said. THE Governor
made very fine pronouncemerft
'lof things as he would like them
to be. In his thinking, he has
refused to recognize events that
nave occurred since then"
! Delegate Kathryn Stone Of Ar
llington said:
In sense, am glad that his
proposals are as extreme as they.
lare because it is inconceivable to
me that the Legislature can fol-
low the plan he recommends"
| The Governor insisted in his
speech that an efficient" school
system, required by the State
CONSTITUTION, could not be main
tanned where the races are mixed
in claSsrooms.
Mann Declines Comment
| Delegate Harrison Mann of
Arlington declined to comment
on the speech but he was previ-
ously on record as strongly op-
posed to withholding funds from
any area.
Senator John A. K. Donovan
of Fairfax commented, THE
trouble with the Stanley plan is
that it is no plan at ALL"
Senator Armistead L. Boothe
OF Alexandria, like Mr.. Mann.
reserved comment but is known
to oppose the funds-withholding
proposal. He introduced legisIa.
ton yesterday, with Republican
Senator Ted Dalton of Radford,
to provide for q pupil assignment
program.
Arlington Senator Charles r.
Fenwick said. THE Governors
plan is not one to prevent inte-
grafton in Virginia. 1t is a plan
to close your schools If, under a
court order, you are forced to
integrate. 1t simply boils down
TO this: Are the people willing to
close their schools in order to
prevent integration?"
Would Preserve Schools
Mr.. Fenwick added, II shall do
everything can to prevent inte-
grafton in the public schools and
at the same time preserve the
public schools"
Delegate Robert Whitehead
antiorganization Democrat who
may run for Governor next year.
had this reaction:
Gov. Stanley's proposal is a
complete deviation from the
conservatism and the response
bility Of public officials for which
Virginia is noted.
Il challenge Gov. Stanley and
those who think as he does 10
submit the issue of the abolition
OF our public schools to the SOW
ereign people of Virginia in a
referendum"
Fian IL bOid Approach"
State Senator Harry F. Byrd,
Ijr.. Of Winchester, said:
Il shall do everything possible
to preserve segregated schools.
believing 1t TO be in the best in
terest Of both races. / favor full
and complete hearings on the
Governors program. His is a
bold approach to a difficult prob
lem The court decision, unless
circumvented. would destroy Vir-
ginia's public school system"
Mr.. Dalton. who may be the
Republican candidate for Gov
ernor next year, said, Il am
as anxious as anyone TO preserve
separate schools In Virginia, yet
l do not agree that the plan pro-
posed by his excellency will ac-
lcomplish the purpose. I do not
believe the proDOsal Ia legal nr