The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-05-22
Greg. U. S. Pat. on
By JACK GUENTHER
UNITED Press staff Correspondent

NOhtCU ETeSS StdH NOTTeSpOuueHbD
New York, May 22-(UP)-There
was a party up at Odd Fellows hall
in Harlem last night. 1t was a
pretty good party and 1t was held In
honor of pretty good guy. You
probably remember him. His name
is Private Joseph Louis Barrow
to us he Is known as just plain Joe
Louisiana If Identification is neces-
sary he is the heavyweight cham
pion of the world.
AS such things go, the party was
a Knockout. 1t was sponsored by
the Reveille club of New York, an
organization composed of % Negro
veterans Of World War I, and 1t was
the very first testimonial accorded
the champ by members Of his own
race. Actually, 1t was more than a
party. It was major occasion and
1t drew a thoroughly distinguished
crowd.
All for Joe
The upper crust of Harlem'S
Sugar Hill society turned out in
force. There were white-haired
judges and elderly political leaders.
There were musicians and cartoon
lists and lawyers and business. ty-
coons. There were tall, graceful
women in evening dresses spangled
with orchids. Everybody who was
really anybody In all Harlem gath
cred around to pay homage.
ThoNy S11A ~ iI1 nina 1r,oxt TN
Joe always is embarrassed by things
Of this sort and last night proved
no exception. His khaki uniform
a distinct brown landmark in a
sea of dinner jackets, he lodged his
admirers for few minutes by re-
treating to the comparative OBJ
scurity of the press table. He
talked baseball as long as he could
and joked with the writer's and then
he went back, still g trifie shy, to
his seat of honor.
He sat there, blushing a bright
red through his tan cheeks, for
quite a spell. On his right was
Tallulh Bankhead, daughter of the
Alabama congressman who once
served as speaker of the House of
Representatives. On his left was
James ]. Walker, former mayor of
the city of New York. All along
his table the celebrities were strewn.
But once again Joe was worthy of
the occasion.
Hopes for Son
Walker spoke first. Jimmy said
he had a five year old son and that
while he didn't particularly want
this son to follow Joe's profession
prize Nightingale did hope that
this son would some day attain a
stature equivalent to that which
Louis now holds as man. In short,
Walker said, he hoped and prayed
that his son would equal Joe as an
American gentleman"
Miss Bankhead followed. In a
sense she did even better. She re-
called the evening when Joe re-
marked that America would win the
war because America was ION Gods
SIDE" Then she turned to Jce's
mother, a large, completely over
come woman in a bright silk dress,
and told the crowd that America
would win and Louis would win be-
cause God is on their side-Joe's
side"
Several men-judges and assem-
blymen and professors - followed,
but the president of the Reveille
club, James w. Johnson, hit closest
to the assembled guests hearts. He
said hardly anyone in the world
can say anything new about Joe
Louis. Excluding only General Mac
Arthur, his name Is the most prom
inent in America today" Then he
presented Joe with a plaque.
It was a simple plaque. 1t bore
only Joe's head, in has relief, and
Joe's name. Joe made q simple ac-
ceptance speech. He said just this
THE judges and chairmen have
asked lis to conflne our remarks to
as short time as possible and that
is Just my speed. I've always tried
to confiue my action to as short a
time as possible. / thank you very
much" Then he sat down.
New Experience
There were other talks after his