Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-09-25

the controversial school integral
Before adjourning yesterda,
tracked resolutions on both
sides Of the question, and one
which sought to steer a middle
course.
II think it is completely
logical that the conference
should not become embroiled in
the issue" said Gov. Coleman,
who succeeded Gov. Collins of
Florida as head of the regional
group.
IF it is a matter for the de-
termination of each State, as
we have all along contended it
should be. then it has no place
In a convention Of States"
McKeldin Cites Course
Gov. Theodore r. McKeldin,
Republican Of Maryland. who
led an unsuccessful fight to
have the conference put its
moral support behind each
State which is making a sincere
effort to begin compliance with
the Fourteenth Amendment,
said the only realistic course
open to the South is to adapt
itself to changing conditions.
Addressing the students of
the University of Kentucky
after the conference adjourned,
Gov. McKeldin gave the other
side of the picture.
He said: Most Of our diff
cvlties today stem from the fact
that 80 years ago the majority
acted on a hypothesis that had
not been subjected to the test
of experiment.
1T was,"- he continued. "the
hypothesis that newly emanci-
pated slaves were fully COM
petent to participate in the
Self-government of a free ma
ton. They were not, and the
breakdown of the theory under
the test of experiment released
upon the South and also the
rest of the Nation an innumera-
BILE swarm Of troubles"
Proof Up to South
But Gov. McKeldin pointed
out that several generations
have since gone by, during
which the South operated
under the doctrine of separate
but equal schools for the races.
He said the Supreme Court
has now discarded that doctrine,
and added that if the South
INSISTS that makes no differ
ence, the South must prove it,
and not by trickery, but BY
scientific demonstrations"
Gov. McKeldin said it would
be unrealiStic and "down-right
insane" for the South to resort
to forcible resistance again. The
other course. he said. is to
adapt ourselves to the situa-
tion-to face the facts and
make the best adjustment to
them that we can. This course
is the only one advocated by
any responsible Southern lead
er, and the only question is to
the details Of adoption"
The university had invited
Governors on both sides Of the
issue to take part in a panel
discussion, but Gov. McKeldin
was the only one who accepted.
Side-step Issue
The six-man resolutions COM
mlttee of the conference had
three proposals before it when
it met yesterday morning. Gov,
McKeldin cast the only vote
for his pro-integration resolu-
ton.
The committee also pigeon
holed one by Gov. Marvin Grit
fin of Georgia. expressing the
States rights view of the seq
regationists. and one by Gov.
Clement of Tennessee, which
sought to take a middle ground
in favor of State sovereignty
and action by the States to
protect the rights of all citizens,
regardless of race or creed.
When the conference met
In closed session, according to
custom, for its final business
session, Gov. McKeldin moved
to throw the meeting open to
the press for the consideration
of the resolutions. His motion
was defeated, Z to 5.
1t was reported that the two
other Republicans Of
Delaware and Underwood of
West Virginia-and Democratic
Gov. Collins of Florida and
Daniel of Texas voted with Gov.
McKeldin.
1t also was learned that after
the McKeldin motion failed,
Gov. Griffin made no move to
get up his States rights reso-
luton.
Even if the conference had
taken up any of the school
resolutions rejected by the COM
mittee, it is doubtful if any pro-
posal could have commanded
the two-thirds required for
adoption.
49,, FH.I1-.... -1sa kz.5a.. A.