Evening star., 1958-09-09
Warren County Officials Stunned at Likelihood
Of High School Closing in Massive Resistance
BY PAUL HOPE
Star star Writer

BY PAUL HOPE
Star star Writer
FRONT ROYAL, Va, Sept.
9.-Warren County has been
granted a short breather in q
fast moving deSegregation ac-
ton which has left local off,
cialdom cropping for solutions
to educational problems.
County officials are q little
stunned over circumstances
which put the county near the
end of the list Of integration
requests. but possibly first to
have a school closed under the
States massive resistance laws.
1t, appears almost certain
that the county's only white
high school viii close Monday
unless the county can get q
suspension of q Federal Court
order signed yesterday by Judge
John Paul. School opened Sep.
tember 2.
Judge Paul's order requires
the county school board to ac-
cept 20 Negroes into Warren
County High School.
He refused to grant q stay.
which would have suspended
his order indefinitely while the
State appeals the case. But he
did agree to date the order to
become effective next Monday.
which gives the State a chance
to seek a stay from the Fourth
Circuit Court of Appeals. One
Judge Of the appellate court can
grant such a stay. The plea is
expected to be made within q
few days to Judge Simon Sobe-
loft of Baltimore, who is the
closest appellate judge.
A grim school board met in
a special closed session yester-
day awaiting the outcome Of
proceedings in Judge Paul's
court in Harrisonhurg. about
10 miles away.
No Change Now
There will be no change at
this time in the operation of
Warren County schools" the
board said in q short press
release after hearing that
Judge Paul had granted a
weeks delay before the order
takes effect.
Under State law, any inte-
grated school is closed auto
matically. Oficials are not sure
exactly who turns the key in
the lock. but the school board
here apparently was ready to
do it yesterday rather than risk
any incidents at the school
involved.
'"Our main concern is keeping
everything on an even keel. We
don't want any disturbances, "
said Supt. @. D. Gasque.
If the high school closes, it
means the. suspension of pub
lie high school education for
the county's white children.
The county has only one white
high school. Negroes go to
Manassas Regional High in
Prince William County and
johnson williams High in
Clark County.
See Closing Preferred
Al poll Of most members of
the school board and the county
Board of Supervisors showed
they believe a majority Of the
county's population would
rather have the schools closed
than accept integration.
Under the State law, q board
of supervisors and the school
board may ask the Governor
to return q school to local op-
Grafton If it is closed by the
State and cannot be reopened
by the Governor on a segre-
gated basis.
This thing has come to q
showdown so fast. it's hard to
know what the people think,
said E. M. Bowen, chairman of
the County Board Of Super
visors.
A week ago there was little
talk about the racial issue, he
said. The county was the last
among eight Virginia jurisdic-
tions to get requests from Me-
groes to attend white schools.
Increasing Topic \
"Since last Friday, it's been
the only thing you hear" said
Mr.. Bowen, q farmer and oil
distributor.
The chairman said there has
been some talk Of fusing
churches and vacant buildings
for private schools if the high
school is closed. ut wouldn't
be much of an education,
though" said Mr.. Bowen, who
has son in the schools ninth
grade.
He said q '1ot Of people"
would rather see some inte-
grafton than closed schools,
but he doesn't believe they are
in a majority "at this time"
The most outspoken official |
Is George B. Baggarly. vice |