The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1961-05-02
Defenders


Continued from page u
dalton of a type found only in
totalitarianism.' stated the res
olutiOn.
Appeasement Stunned
John j. Wicker. of Richmond.
a former state senator and past
state commander of the Ameri-
can Legion. sounded a similar
theme. He said he couldn't
agree with a gentleman's sug-
gestion that Prince Edward
open schools with token integra-
ton for it would be simple APP
peasement. Wicker's reference
was assumed to be the sugges-
ton for a simple solution adj
vanced last week by Armistead
Booth that a public school be
opened for Negroes.
People who believe in Vir-
GINA and in our way of life
should realize here is nothing
no more important than stand
ing together. said Wicker. He
cited the fallacy of appease-
ment, saving it is similar
to Chamberlain umbrella ap-
peasement to Hitler. He emu
merated some examples of lead
ers such as Washington and
Churchill. who did not appease
but stood fast to defend princi-
piles like those now under attack
in this country.
Totalitarian Action
Congressman Watkins M. Alb
bit said of the Justice Depart |
n.ent's move 1T is an attempt |
on the part of the executive de-
partment by totalitarian execu- |
tive action to intimidate a whole
people by coercion and intimi-
dation."
Stand firm, the right think
hind you was his advice for
Prince Edward. He included |
himself among those right think
ing people of Virginia are be-
iDg people.
There are others in Virginia
whom he views with uncertain
ty. He said. There are those in
Virginia who are taking this
thing too mildly Governor Al
mond has said he believed the |
federal government lis not seek !
ing to close down all schools in
Virginia" He is reported to have
said. the State Board Of Educa-
ton lis perfectly calm about the
slttation. There is no reason to
be excited about it
cOunty's Position
j. B. Wall, citing the back |
ground of the school situation, |
stated that the county's position
has been abundantly clear from
the beginning. 1--WE do not desire |
TO evy taxes for an integrated |
public school system. which we
knew will not be satisfactory or |
conducive to the educational pro-
cess the Herald publisher and |
editor said.
The question, Why does not |
Prince Edward open public
schools for Negroes and let the
private schools continue to serve |
the white people was answered |
by Wall.
In the first place no public
school can be operated except
as a potentially integrated |
school. This is exactly what the
people of Prince Edward have
historically commended that thew
would not do To those who
nave considered such a proposal |
1t has appeared impractical I'M
economical, and not in the best
interests OF any Of our citizens"
Wall said.
The NAACP and now the
Justice Department have raised
many constitutional questions
which must be aired for the
benefit of very person in the
United States. Oddly enough
these questions can be raised in
no other place in the nation ex-
cept IN Prince Edward county
and raised they will be- de-
clared Wall.
The editor also cited Southside
Schools offer to help provide
educational facilities for Negro |
children. He noted that the de-
clslon not to accept the offer
was made entirely by the Ne
groes with the resultant absence
OF education in private schools
after the choosing of the Negro
leadership has already closed
public schools for whites and Ne.
grOeS.