The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-01-03
4 NON-PARTISAN
NEWSPAPER
The Labor And Political Front
BY Attorney Alfred Casey
Associate Editor

Editor
masses under his leadership. Here
Is one OF the most convincing dem
onstrations Of cooperative. sound,
honest. Christian leadership. II is
one OF most impressive demon
strations OF how the masses benefit
by this kind OF leadership
We have been talking about UNI
selfish and cooperative leaders and
how their policies benefit the
masses and raise the social compe-
tency Of the Negro. Charles A.
Marlborough belongs 10 this class.
His father was lawyer and set
tied in Detroit when Charles was
seven years old. The father spoke
Polish fuently and established
good practice here among the peo-
pie OF that nationality. Thus II was
that Charles A. Roxborough was
born into professional family:
that he. the son was educated 10 be
a lawyer; that he grew TO be man
Of impressive physical hearing;
that he was possessed OF a splen-
did personality and that having all
OF these qualifications, Charles A.
Roxborough was pre-eminently a
desirable addition TO the society
class. But an individual has no
choice In the matter Of parents or
into what social group his family
belongs. That is part OF his social
heritage.
These young people were friends
he knew most intimately. Lies
lasting joys come though endur-
Ing and agreeable friendships. Now
this group life into which he found
himself had many good features;
hut II also had many bad features.
The Ideas and ideals of this socie-
~ class were hedged about with
silly restrictions and prejudiees
that made II impossible for a eos.
mopolitan spirit should spring up
among them and none has. Even
Charles A. Marlborough was SUBJ
jected 10 this influence. he never
became n part oi II. There was n
deeper. broader. sounder cosmo-
pollian ideal oi race and public
service, he seized II n a,idly and
~ eagerly n a duck takes TO water.
When Charles A. Roxborough be-
came a candidate for the state SEN
ate Of Michigan from the Third
Senatorial district. peoples pro-
gram found a responsive chord in
his convictions An OF the unex-
pressed desires for race service and
public service came TO locus with
the full force OF fine instincts. hon
sst principles. and an enlightened
unsefshness behind them. lie be-
came the first Negro in the State OF
Michigan 10 be elected 10 the state
senate under the Primary system.
The program for his campaign Was
so we'll planned and executed thai
the records lor getting out voters
and directly interesting them re-
NAMED supreme for many years.
but the real test of RoNboroughs
character came with his defeat fof
reelection. The democratic hurri-
cane on castside districts began TO
make itself felt: but Charles A.
Roxborough. like Max ot Greek
mythology. came forth with RI
eantic program of race selt-hclp-
ulness. that dshed The gods OF
our nations political destiny We
might remark in passing that had
the Republican party In the nation
been able TO produce such leader
as RoNborcueh proved himself 20
his people. our history might have
been different
when charles A. RoAborough was
defeated N u candidate for the
state senate in the Third district.
he came hack 10 build the greatest
civic organization that the Ncgro
In Michigan has achieved. Here was
nm organization that definitely car
rled the Ncgro vote and did II on
n basis Of our best racial interest
The amazing thing about this move
ment was that they carried the
vote Tor all candidates II favored
pro, Ing IT. ciiecth eness for all can
didates. why and how this was ae'
cempllshed brings ~ 10 the stery
Of Rox borough. the leader of the
masses.
Charles 4 became the most ef.
fective leader OF the masses In the
political life oil our community be-
cause OF his great JOY In service
because OF his great energy because
OF his resourcefulness in getting
| things done. because OF his uncom.
promixing honesty. because OF his
steadfast integrity and because OF
the cooperation OF many white
friends who believed in the good
ness OF his work. Marlborough made
the most humble Negro citizen feel
perfectly at home in his presence
he made the most diffident Negro
feel free and easy In bringing him
problems 10 the organization and
that what could be done would be
done fer him: he made the friend
less feel that In the Organization he
had a big brother whom he could
trust 10 fight with him In all OF
his difficulties: he made the most
ignorant and illitcrate feel and an
dersiand that all the power and
knowledge Of the organization were
at his disposal he made the race
cynic become believer In race
leadership and the race pessimis'
take heart In the warmth OF an at
mosphere OF brothcrly cooperation
This state Of confidence Is organi'
zation was accomplished by doinl