The Augusta Courier

GOVERNOR'S PROGRAM NOT ENOUGH
(From the Chattanooga (Tenn.) News-Free Press)

Gov. Frank Clement's program for meeting the problem of maintaining segregated public schools falls far short of providing for Tennessee's great need.
The five measures the governor proposed do not seem to be objectionable, and could provide a reasonable first step for an appropriate legislative defense of segregation.
But if we should depend upon the governor's plan alone doing nothing more - Tennessee would have little more than a thin, and possibly temporary, illusion of defense.
We do not think an illusion is enough.
Gov. Clement's plan to permit school boards to operate separate schools for children whose parents want them to attend classes with members of their own race is satisfactory for those who want segregation. But we must face the fact that one who does not want segregation may challenge the plan in a Federal court that already looks to an unconstitutional ruling that denial of admittance on basis of race will not be tolerated. Under these circumstances, we could not depend upon this measure, though worth trying, to stand up very long.
Gov. Clement's plan to permit local school boards to assign pupils on basis of "sociological, geographical, physical, psychological, fiscal, educational and other factors" also is worth trying. But it is immediately vulnerable and could not be expected to stand up long.
The other proposals are not integration alternatives at all, but are administrative and complementary in nature.
Since Gov. Clement proposes nothing more and opposes more substantial action, we must assume that once his easily assailable alternatives have been battered down, he would accept integration.
We do not believe, however, that the vast majority of Tennesseans would be willing to surrender so easily.
The noteworthy "Virginia Plan," which provides a "defense in depth," approaches the segregation problem in a manner not different from Gov. Clement's program. But the Virginia Plan does not stop with a mere approach. Instead, it goes much further to provide additional alternatives.
Missing from Gov. Clement's program are proposals to deny state funds to segregated schools, to provide for tuition grants for those who go to private, non-sectarian schools in lieu of integrated ones, to ease the compulsory school attendance law so none will be compelled by state statute