Evening star., 1959-06-28
Boothe Comedies Threat
To Private School Plan
Airs His Views
With Beverley
On Education

Private schools that use tax.
supported scholarships cannot
expect to maintain segregation,
a Virginia lawmaker who voted
for his States new school pro-
gram conceded yesterday.
The admission came from
State Senator Armistead
Boothe Of Alexandria during q
television interview.
In reply to another question,
Senator Boothe conceded that
the closing Of public schools
anywhere-such as Is contem.
lplated in Prince Edward Coun.
ty-might jeopardize the entire
State public school system.
"Of course. that is a danger"
ne said, "and it is a danger
that I feel sure Gov. Almond
feels"
He declared that another
danger is Federal interference
II the State backs out of the
school business.
Senator Boothe was a sup-
porter Of Gov. Almonds Perrow
Plan, which Virginia adopted
BY a narrow margin at a recent
session Of the General Assem-.
bly,. Scholarships for children
who choose to attend private
schools are q major feature of
the plan.
Marshall j. Beverley, who is
running against Senator Boothe
in the Democratic primary.
reiterated his opposition of the
Perrow Plan and again called
Tor a three-school system-one
integrated. one white and one
Negro.
Hot Campaign
Senator Boothe and Mr.. Bey.
erley are waging the States
. hottest election campaign in a
contest that is being fought
over school integration. Senator
Boothe is a supporter of the
governors school plan, and Mr..
Beverley is running as a mas.
sive resistance segregationist.
The two candidates were in
terviewed on the WTOP pro.
gram. City Side.
Asked If he thought private
! schools could remain segregated
II they used the scholarships
provided by the Perrow Plan,
Senator Boothe replied:
Il do not. I feel that public
money will make public
schools"
He noted that the Virginia
Association of Private Schools
recently expressed similar fears.
Senator Boothe was asked If
State leaders are not kidding
the people by allowing them
to believe the scholarships will
offer a way of maintaining
segregation.
Says Answer Is Yes
Il think q perfectly honest
answer would be yes. I'm afraid
we are to q certain extent and
another thing I feel, I think
tuition grants are unconstitu-
tional because they are only for
children who go to non-sec.
tartan schools and under the
United States Constitution I
don't think that is legal" Sem
ator Boothe responded.
| He added:
But having been in Rich
mond for these five very dark
and crucial years I find that it
is necessary to do anything to
convince the people that we
are taking every possible step
No. !. to, keep the schools open
and, No. 2, to keep them as
segregated as possible under
the law"
Senator Boothe described
himself as a segregationist,
stating that rightly or wrong
ly. I have favored segregation
of schools in Virginia"
He said his past pleas for q
racial study commission and
other actions which his op.
ponent has called 'integra-
ZIONIST moves" were intended
as constructive steps" to keep
the Federal Government from
meddling in State affairs.
Senator Boothe was reminded
that he opposed a constitu-
tional amendment in 1855 to
permit payment of tuition
grants and now was q sup
porter of the Perrow Plan
which provides them. He was
asked If he had changed his
position.
He acknowledged that he
had changed Ito an extent"
He said once the people voted
two to one in favor Of amend
ing the constitution, he sup
ported legislation to carry out
their wishes by voting for tut
ton grants - or scholarships,
which is the name they are
given in the Perrow Plan.
Mr.. Beverley was asked If
he had changed his position.
since he supported massive
resistance which closed schools
in Virginia and now insists he
favors open schools.
II supported the State policy
against integration and ! am
now against integration but
I am fighting to keep our
schools open and I will con:
tinue to fight as long as can."