Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-24
Dalton AssaiIs
Byrd on School
Segregation

possible gubernatorial candidate,
today attacked the anti-segrega-
ton program of the Virginia
Democratic organization as "fu-
tile and unthinking."
when they talk of resistance
and the closing of public schools,
they are not talking about re-
sistance. They are talking about
surrender" Senator Dalton told
a meeting of the Republican
State Central Committee. =
His remarks were in answer
to speech last Monday in Rich
mond by Senator Byrd. Demo-
crat of Virginia, whom Senator
Dalton referred to as 1.-The chief
spokesman for the Democratic
machine in Virginia"
Says Cue Has Been Given
Noting news reports that Sem
ator Byrd said the Supreme
Court may reverse it's desegre-
cation decision and. further. that
Senator Byrd said most COM
munities in the Commonwealth
would choose to have no schools
rather than integrated schools.
Mr.. Dalton declared:
This is the pattern that the
gubernatorial campaign Of 1857
will take. The chief spokesman
has spoken and has given the
cue, and this refrain will be
echoed day in and day out all
through Virginia until November
election day"
Senator Dalton said the time
is past to be talking about what
the Supreme Court may do.
They have already done it
to us, and what we need to be
doing is to help work out an in
telligent approach that will meet
the situation in our schools by
keeping the white schools as
white as possible under law and
order, but. by all means. to keep
the public schools open"
Calls Action Futile
/ He accused the Democratic
leaders of talking about resist
ance in one breath and then
talking of closing public schools.
/ If this is resistance, then it
is futile, unthinking resistance, .
he declared.
1T is resistance which calls
upon the school children of Vir-
ginia to bear the brunt of the
battle when the schools are
closed.
1T is a resistance that the
Democrat leaders do not favor
for the big children in the State
university and colleges. but
which they advocate for the lit
tie children of this State" he
added.
Senator Dalton charged that
Virginia is caught between IAN
unreasonable and unfair court
decision and an inflexible Dem
ocrat machine that refuses to
face reality and provide a werk-
able defense. 1t is the cause Of
education that is likely to suffer.
/ He noted that Senator BYRD
had praised legislation passed by
the Virginia General Assembly
that includes a measure to cut
of State aid to localities which
may be forced by court order to
integrate.
OF Senator Byrd's contention
that the localities would close
schools rather than integrate,
Senator Dalton said:
The people of Virginia arc
going to have to face this argu-
ment for what it is. and l for
one stand ready to speak my
mind on the subject"
One subject on which Mr..
Dalton did not commit himself
however. was whether or not he
will be a candidate for Governor
He polled nearly As per cent of
the total State vote in running
for the Office four years ago.
COP. leaders have urged him
to seek the Office again this year
While l have not definitely
and positively removed my name
from the list of those who may
be considered" Senator Dalton
said today. yet permit me to
say again that l feel strongly
inclined against undertaking it."
/