Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-04-25

no controversy lett. Inc strlIe-
torn session was marked by
the Byrd organizations mas
sive resistance forces contending
against the more moderate APP
proach of Gov. Almond to the
school indignation prob
lem.
The session began on Janu-
airy %, only a few days before
Negroes entered formerly ALL
white schools in Arlington,
Alexandria and Norfolk on
February 2 under Federal court
orders.
Republican Help
1t ended yesterday with the
Democratic Governor able to
pass his program only with
the help of the Republican who
had opposed him for his high
Office in the last campaign in
1857.
On critical votes, the division
in the State Senate was 20 to
10. Voting with the Governors
forces. along with two remain
ing Republicans in the 40
member Senate, was Senator
Ted Dalton of Radford.
Senator Dalton campaigned
against Gov. Almond on a plank
that emphasized local pupil
placements opposed to State
assignment of students-as a
means of minimizing the effects
lof indignation.
AS it turned out, Gov. AL
mond'S friends in the Legis-
lature came around to the same
conclusion-that some integra-
ton is inevitable but that as
signment of students by local
school boards is the best DOS
sible answer without ABANDON
ing public schools entirely.
Neither the Governor nor his
supporters were willing to take
the final, drastic step of closing
schools.
| Almond Message
/ Gov. Almond sent a message
to the Assembly minutes before
it completed its job yesterday.
1--WE should exhaust every
recourse in its defense and
betterment before we consider
abandonment of our public
school system" Gov. Almond
said. 1T is my purpose to
pursue that course.
"Supine surrender of that
great asset, so indelibly woven
into the life of our people and
into the fabric of our culture
, and progress, would engulf Vir.
! GINA in the despoil of deca-
dence and rob her of her emf
hence and leadership ano
respect in the sisterhood Of
States"
He also told the lawmakers
., you have kept faith with
, the people whose trust vol
! bear"
. The Governor recognized the
bitter fight between those whit
stuck behind him and thos,
{ who advocated the sterner mas
|, sive resistance approach /,
> Virginia's problem. This bit
. terness could have lasting eff
fects on the future course o
d Virginia politics.
DeplOres Ill Will
. Il respect the right to diffe
e and those who exercise it," Gov
Y Almond said. Il deplore ill vii
S which I do not harbor, name
: calling in which l do not in
dulge and bitterness which
do not share District an
disunity is the handmaiden o
futility and defeat. Those VIII
foment it sabotage our strengt
and render a disservice to tn
Commonwealth,
BY implication. the Cover
nor seemed to direct a part {
his message at the massive re
sistance members Of the Legi'
Ilature. They lost the battle
let localities determine f.
themselves how to meet III
racial issue. Speaking of tt
legislation adopted, he said:
ltS purpose Is not 10 lmpo'
the will of one locality to ovel
come the will of another.
commend you for your patienc
understanding and forebea
ance in this important respect
In the closing hours Of Il
Legislature, while it was di
posing of formalities, Delega
John C. Webb of Fairfax to-
the floor Of the House to cor
mend the Governor and &
Perrow Commission for
tremendous job"
1--WE would not have aehiev
what we have, without t
Governors leadership" n
webb said.