Griffin Plans Discussion of Interposition

Marvin Griffin, Governor of Georgia and a leading opponent of integration, will debate Jacob K. Javits, New York State Attorney General, on the issue of Southern segregation here April 13 in a Law School Forum.

Griffin has consistently been an outspoken Southern leader in his defiance of the Supreme Court's ruling banning segregation in public schools. Georga's legislature in January gave Griffin power to close the public schools, if necessary, to prevent integration.

The program also gave the Attorney General permission to officially suggest that people defy the Court's ruling. Cities would be allowed to lease their schools to submit to integration. Cities would be allowed to lease their schools to private individuals rather than submit to integration. Public parks and other property could be sold.

The Georgia Legislature later voted to censure the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Herbert Brownell, U.S. Attorney General, for stepping in to obtain a new trail for a convicted negro criminal.

Griffin joined three other governers in January to plan a campaign to fight segregation. The group drafted a statement to stress states' rights and oppose integration. The report emphasized the legality of "interposition" of states between the Federal government and citizens and the employment of all legal means to carry out the fight. Griffiffin is a political protege of former Georgia Governer Herman Talmadge.

Javits to Defend Civil Rights

Javits, Attorney General of New York State since last fall, opened his political career as a Congressman for four terms from 1946 to 1954. A leading supporter of civil rights since the start of his term, he has expressed a willingness to run for Senator on the Republican ticket this fall and has received substantial support.

The next Law Forum's program will be a discussion on March 30 between Henry Wallace and Mark DeWolfe Howe '28, professor of Law, on "The Role of the Vice-Presidency."