Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-08-19
Prince Edward Move
Up to Gov. Harrison
BY MARY LOU WERNER
Star Staff Writer

occupies Virginia's executive man.
sion.
Since Albertis S. Harrison, jr.,
coaSted to a pleasant victory as
Governor last November without
much soul searching on vital is
sues, there has been little to
measure what manner of man he
really is.
Charming, yes; articulate. yes.
And after his inspiring inaugural
message, who could question his
aStute grasp of Virginia's prob
lens and the difficulties to be
overcome in solving them.
But impending developments
generated in Prince Edward Coun-
ty, where public schools have been
closed three years to avoid inte-
grafton, will call for more. Gov.
Harrison is apt to be confronted
with some of the same tough de-
ciSionS that wrought such political
grief for his predecessor, j. Lind
say Almond, jr.
Bluntly stated, the latest opin-
ion in the 11-year-old Prince Ed
ward school case serves notice
that Virginia cannot permit
schools to close anywhere while
children in other parts of the
State enjoy the privilege Of public
education.
The ruling has lifted Prince Ed
wards problem out of the realm
of a local tragedy and given the
State something to ponder.
Should Stote Act?
If Prince Edward still refuses
to put up money for the opera
ton of public schools, should the
State step in and do the job
without county aid? The school
shutdown occurred when Prince
Edwards governing body refused
to put up its share of school
operating costs in 1859. Virginia
schools are financed by a COM
bination of State and local ap-
preparations. The State has con-
tinued to include in its budget
funds for Prince Edward school
operations, but they have gone
unclaimed.
If the State does decide to pry
open the school doors, should
steps be taken against Prince
Edward to make the county ante
up its share?
Or. should the State bow out
of the public school business al
together and let each locality
shift for itself?
The latter course may seem
drastic today in a State that has
seen indignation come gradually
and peacefully to more than one
fifth of its school districts. But
it was widely discussed a few
years ago while Virginia still was
cropping for a sure-fire remedy
against any indignation. 1t is still
possibility. Within a matter of
weeks, the State constitutional
provision for the operation Of a
public school system could be
repealed.
Example for Seereeotionists
The present regime in Prince
Edward takes reSolute pleasure at
being an example for segregation
lists everywhere. Prince Edward
figured in the Supreme Courts
original 1854 decree outlawing
public school segregation. Yet no
Negro child has crossed the
threshold of a white Prince Ed
ward school. Apparently it does
not worry them that no other
community has seen fit to follow
Prince Edwards drastic example.
Gov. Harrison did not really
need Federal Judge Oren R.
Lewis to tell him that Virginia
could not go on operating public
schools everywhere but in Prince
Edward. In January. 1859, while
Gov. Harrison was attorney gen.
eral, a three Judge Federal court
said the very same thing in a
Norfolk indignation case. The Nor
folk ruling came at time when
schools in three Virginia commu-
nuties - including Norfolk
closed temporarily under the old
massive resistance" laws. That
decision, together with one
handed down the same day by the
State Supreme Court of Appeals,
destroyed the old resistance laws
and indignation began in Virginia.
Moderate Program
Gov. Almond subsequently led
Virginia to more moderate pro-
gram called freedom of choice"
For this, he was condemned by
segregation zealots because the
new plan grudgingly yielded to in
tegration. Senator Byrd, leader of
VirginiaS dominant Democratic
organization who is credited with
master inding the whole mass
i've resistance movement, never
has forgiven him.
Like so much dust under the
carpet, the all-or- nothing at-all
edict Of the Norfolk ruling was
blithely ignored by the State in
the meantime. After all, that rul-
ing was for Norfolk and the old
resistance laws. Virginia was con-
tent to rest in the false security
Of its new program until it went
the route of other diverSionary
maneuvers through the courts.
Thus, the Prince Edward case
groaned through the courts once
more as the freedom of choice"
laws were tested and the schools
remained idle
The county's 400 white chill
dren have continued their educa-
ton in private schools organized
by their parents, taught by teach
ers recruited from the closed pub
lie schools. Part of the time, the
private classes were financed by
State and local tuition grants
which also are part of the free
dom-of choice" program. Judge
Lewis held last August, however,
that the grants could not be used
as long as the public schools were
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