Evening star., 1943-06-11

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But the man has following that
exceeds that of any matinee idol in
history. Men and women stand in
the street to see him pass. They
stand outside of his door to watch
him come and go. They ignore rain.
fog and all the other elements to
gain a glimpse of him.
The man I am talking about is
Winston Churchill Oh, we'll, you
may say, men and women want to-
see him because he is the Prime
Minister, because he is one of the
three most powerful men in the
world today, because he holds a
position that would provide glamor
even for letter box.
Love Him as a Man.
But that wouldn't be true. I have
been in England long enough to
know that the hold Winston Church.
i'll has on the English people goes
deeper than that of mere position
and power. His hold is not based
on his magnificent leadership OF
what at one time seemed a lost
cause. They admire him for that.
They'll eventually build monument
to him for his stubbornness in the
face Of overwhelming odds. Gen.
turies later his name will be big in
the history books, and there will be
streets and squares named in his
honor.
But I am speaking of the living.
breathing, walking, talking Churchill
of today and the living, breathing,
walking, talking men and women
who are under his power today. They
love him for what he is-a vibrant,
warm, understanding human being.
When he came back from his long
trip to America and Africa the other
day, he was greeted by hundreds OF
persons when he walked into No. 10
Downing Street. They lined the side
walks. They fanked the doorway.
They cheered when he stepped out
OF the car. They called to him rs
they would call to loved one or
an old acquaintance
There was none of the feeling Of
This is the Prime Minister and I
am humble subject" Their greet
ing had a warmth that few states
men are privileged to receive. He
answered it with warmth that
few statesmen have. He grinned.
He smiled. He chuckled. He held
up his fingers in V salute.
Remained Buoyant.
He was tired, yes He must have
| been. A man, even a younger man.
couldn't cover the miles he had in
boats and planes without feeling
fatigue, even if he had nothing more
on his mind than his hat. But
here was man who not only had
covered miles. but had worked on
problems touching the lives of al
most all the men and women in
the world. Yet he was the same
buoyant. gracious man he was years
ago when the cares of the world
had scarcely brushed his shoulders.
There are people in England who
criticize Mr.. Churchill. I have even
heard some say that "he has had
it, which is English for he I
done for. But let an outsider say
this, let some one who doesn't be-
long to the British Empire criticize
him and the very ones who speak
against him rise in quick and vio-
lent protest.
The answer is that England loves
the man. England knows that he
has the Empire in his soul. He be-
longs equally to the laborer on the
docks and the lord Of the manor.
He would and has fought for both.
One of the pictures I will carry
in my memory for a long time is
that OF the queue of folks awaiting
his return few days ago. They
could not have possibly known the
day of his arrival. That was a
secret the Germans tried to get and
couldn't. Why do you think they
shot down the airliner that had
Leslie Howard as passenger? Yet.
rather than miss him they queued
up every day. rain or shine. We
have all lived long enough to know
that you have to be quite a man,
indeed, to be a politician and still be
loved by the people.
Distributed by McNauzht Syndicate, Inc.)