Letters to the Editor
END OF SEGREGATION
SIR,--Mr. Brogan's article The End of Segre- gation ' must interest many who like myself knew the Deep South before the First World War, when the colour bar seemed as firmly established as a geographical fact. The writer calls upon Congress to 'implement quickly' the recent ruling of the Supreme Court. He thinks that evasive tactics such as gerryman- dering will be used. I think it more likely that a sudden and rigorous enforcement of the decision will produce a withdrawal of white children and teachers from schools into which ncgroes are compulsorily admitted. Private schools have always been strong in the South, and the effect of so drastic a change in the habits of a proud people would be to swell existing private institutions and cause the opening of many others. (Readers of the Atlantic Monthly will have noted the in- creased respect given to private education in the States during the past few years.) Except for Poor Whites and immigrants there would be few of this generation even amongst 'advanced' white thinkers of the Southern States, who would send their children to schools predominantly negro, or even to schools with a substantial negro minority. The emptying of government schools in this way would, of course, put an end to the need for a double standard and reduce public expense; but it would hardly achieve the results desired by Mr. Brogan, If Congress does implement the decision of the Supreme Court I hope that the Spectator will publish articles written on the spot by people with first-hand information on the sub- ject.—Yours faithfully,
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