Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-09-17
Is Undecided
On Next Warren
School Move
BY ALEX r. PRESTON
Star stan Writer

conceded yesterday.
He added that he would not
assume an attitude OF de-
fiance" and would accept amy
process to which I am legally
amenable."
He gave no clue what his
next move might be in the
Warren County indignation
crisis. but implied that Vir-
ginia might have to turn to a
private school system if segre-
cation is to be preserved.
When his Semiweekly press
conference was over, residents
of Warren County still had no
idea how long their only high
school might remain closed. 1t
has been shut down since Mon
day when a Federal Court
order requiring admission of %
Negro students took effect.
Action Doomed
To attempt to reopen War;
rem High as a State school on
a segregated basis. said Gov.
Almond, would lead only to
another Federal Court injunc-
ton.
One of Virginia's package Of
massive resistance laws pro-
vides that a school closed by
indignation may be reopened
as a State school apart from
the public school system. The
Governor is supposed to operate
the school as an agent for the
General Assembly.
Gov. Almond was asked if it
would be possible to reopen the
closed high school "as a segre-
gated school as a separate
entity from the public school
SYSTEM"
Il would be delighted to do
that" the Governor replied.
but there is a little difficulty
in the offing that is, the
State could be enjoined, the
Governor could be enioined, his
agents could be enjoined from
operating in violation of the
Federal decree. That would be
equivalent to interposition."
State Lacks Authority
He also said this State and
no other State has the power
no matter what its rights may
be-to interpose itself between
the subject matter court or
dered desegregation) and the
overriding power of the Fed
eral Government"
Regarding the power of Fed
eral courts to enjoin actions in
defiance of their edicts, the
Governor declared: mo citi-
zen, whatever his capacity, is
immune from process issued
by a court of competent juriS-
diction. I would not be ugly
about it. Any process to which
I am legally amenable, I would
accept. I would not impede it
in any way. / would not as
sumo an attitude of defiance.
The hint of turning to a pri.
vate school situation came
when he said:
THE forces working
(may) ultimately force the peo-
pie of Virginia to turn to some
other form of education"
The only alternative, he add.
ed, would be system of private
schools with such assistance
as the State could render to
all its children as the Federal
Government may permit it to
render"
When asked if he was fol-
lowing the State law in at
tempting to reorganize Warren
County High School by seeking
voluntary withdrawal OF the
Negro applicants, Gov. Almond
said:
THAT phase of the matter is
not being explored at this
moment"
Other Possibilities
Another alternative for re-
organizing the school might be
to attempt to move classes in
volved in the Indignation order.
and reopen the school without
those classes. Or, an effort may
be made to accommodate the
displaced students in school or
temporary facilities elsewhere.
Gov. Almond declined to say
whether he was considering any
of these possibilities. He said
he would have a statement in
due time, and urged the people
Of Warren County to stand firm
in their support of him.
'In the final analysis, the
people of Virginia will decide"
he added.
The Governors attention was
called to the fact that in segre-
cation suits involving Norfolk
and Charlottesville, the defense
has been based largely on local
pupil assignment plans. So far
these local plans have not been
overthrown by the courts.
Local Assignment Method
The Governor was asked, in
view of this. if the State was
giving any thoughts to ditching
the massive resistance" pro-
gram-which does not permit
Indignation anywhere-in favor
of some local assignment plan
such as was recommended BY
the Gray Commission to the
State Legislature.
That is not under immedi-
ate consideration" was the