Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-09-23
NORFOLK

NORFOLK
Foundation Wins Teachers
Davis, and Assistant Attorney
General Robert D. McIlwaine-
Immediately went into confer
ence on time for the court
hearing.
Narrow Question Up Today
Judge Sobelotf reminded the
lawyers that he was not asked
today to rule on the merits, but
rather on the narrow question
of whether to stay the lower
court order.
In the Norfolk case. Judge
Hoffman did not assign Negro
students to white schools, but
charged the school board with
the responsibility of deSegre-
eating this school year.
The school board received
ISL applications from Negro
students to enter six white
schools. 1t reluctantly agreed
to admit II, but asked Judge
Hoffman for a years delay
which he has declined to grant.
Opening of all junior and
senior high schools has been
held up, pending action on the
request for a stay.
Asked at his press conference
today about the prospect Of re-
opening closed schools, Gov.
Almond said:
LAS a result of many discus
sions at the local level, I feel
sufficient encouragement to say
that we are making progress.
I'VE are working long hours
over the situation in Norfolk,
in Warren County. in Arlington
to a lesser extent-and in
Charlottesville. We're doing
everything we can"
10000 Affected in Norfolk
A total of 2,700 children have
been locked out of three schools
in Warren County and Char
lotteSville by State law follow
ing Federal court deSegregation
orders. About 10000 more will
be affected in Norfolk.
Arlington has been given a
respite by being allowed to wait
until February to admit four
Negroes into one school.
In anticipation of possible
adverse action by Judge Sobol-
off in the Norfolk case, re-
porter asked Gov. Almond if
he expects to withdraw the six
schools affecting 10000 chill
dren from the public school
system. as he did in Warren
County and Charlottesville last
week.
He answered that he did not
expect to have an announce
ment today.
Questioned along other lines,
Gov. Almond said that the cost
to Virginia in fighting for its
massive resistance" program
has been high but he served
notice that the State has more
money to continue the battle
indefinitely.
Outside Prejudice Cited
A reporter asked Gov. Al
mond to estimate the dollar
cost of fighting off indignation
and whether it was worth it.
i couldn't estimate the cost. p"
he answered, but it has been
avery costly procedure financed
by the taxpayers of Virginia
against an overwhelming album
dance of money and prejudice
and confederation and associa-
ton from the other side.
THE effort to save the public
schools has been more than
justified and more money will
be available for that purpose
If needed"
He was asked if he could as
sess public sentiment in the
three areas most vitality af-
1ected by school closues-in
Warren County and Charlottes-
vile, already shut down, and
IN Norfolk, threatened with
closure.
Depends on Statewide View
Gov. Almond declined to
indicate sentiment from those
specific areas but answered this
way:
I'D have to assess sentiment
on a Statewide basis. The SEN
tlment sustains Virginia's posi-
ton -. Chat schools be closed
rather than integrated)
There has been a division
OF sentiment in Arlington
Charlottesville and Warren
County, but Just how it is
divided I can't say"
But, he added, a large num-
Der of people in the afflicted
areas" feel that integrased
schools should be avoided.
Il have had scores of COM
munications from beyond the
confines of Virginia" he said,
and from beyond the confines
OF the South. They have been
very heavy in support of Viz
ginia's constitutional position. ("
Other letters from through
out the Nation, from people
who teach in integrated
schools" tell him forcefully
that mixing the races will not