St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-06-09
Six Hundred
Honor w. White
at Big Banquet
By Nora Holt


mented by more than $50 guests,
paid tribute to Walter White upon
the occasion of his twenty-five
years of distinguished work with
the National Association of Colored
People at a testimonial banquet in
the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel
Roosevelt last Thursday, with Mrs.
Franklin D. Roosevelt as the prin-
cipal speaker.
Formal tribute to Secretary
White was contained in a leather
bound, gold stamped book of per-
sonal expressions from 300 nation
ally and internationally known per-
sonages. Musical numbers were
contributed by Edward Matthews,
of "Porgy and Bess," and Duke
Ellington, the famous orchestra
leader. The guest list read like
"Blue Book" of black and white
America.
At the speakers table, Mr.. White
was flanked by the First lady of
the White House," Wendell Willkie,
executive members of the NAACP
and distinguished civic leader, Mrs.
Mary Mcleod Bethune who was
scheduled to speak was confined to
her bed in Washington, D. c., and
sent a message.
DIR. William Allen Nelson, as
chairman, held the noted speakers
to three minute limit, with the ex-
ception of DR.. Mordecai Johnson of
Howard University, to whom he al
lotted 80 minutes. This usurpation
of sparsely distributed time to other
speakers was forgiven when, after
a stirring sequence of oratory, DR..
johnson raised over $4,000 for the
association.
First on the program was Mr..
Willkie, whom DR.. Nelson intro
duced as a 'leader who puts prin-
ciples above politics" and of Mrs.
Roosevelt, to whom the time limit
was extended, he remarked, "she
is the conscience of our country and
we place no restrictions on our con-
science" Some pointed remarks by
speakers were:
Wendell Willkie-"Every time a
race batter mistreats a Negro he
lessons the hope of America to lead
the world"
Arthur Spingar - During the
last 25 years, the NAACP has
been the life of Walter White. To
him it is a religion"
Roy Wilkins-"For the first time,
Walter must sit and listen, some
thing he does with difficulty"
Eleanor -"Best wishes
from my husband. 1 have not work
ed with Mr.. White but I have work
ed for the same principles for a
long period of years. The Negro
has advanced. Often through de-
feat, but each defeat means some
victory"
Arthur Garfield Hayes-"If there
is a dark cloud in my mind, it is
that Clarence barrow is not here
tonight. Walters work is not only
for the Negroes but the whites as
well-for all free men of the U. S.
A."
Jean Muir of Hollywood-"The
Negro must demand better pictures.
When one comes out like Cabin in
the Sky (that abomination) write
the producers in protestation and
for one like 'Sarara' praise it."
DR.. Mordecai JohnsOn-'No ma
ton is greater than its liability to
the weakest part of that nation"
DIR. James McClendon-"In De-
troit we have $1,000 members, all
inspired by the enthusiasm of Walt
er White"
Carl Van Vechten-"Mr. White is
an authority on lynching in Amer
lea. In Germany, readers would
burn his books. In America, his
books burn his readers"
Mr.. White said in part, "This is
the most miserable but happiest
moment of my life. 1 returned from
the theatre of war to listen to the
villifying remarks about the Negro
in the halls of the Senate. In De-
troit, housing conditions are caus-
ing friction. The result is an in
creasing skepticism. Every lynch
ing and denial of civil rights
heightens that skepticism. This
may some day cost the United
States dearly. The South Americans
and Caribbeans listen in dismay
about our Democracy. Our boys on
the front are fighting and dying for
freedom. They say, maybe it will
be better when we get back home.
The test will come when the war
is over. If they return to be the
prey of the xxx, the war has been
in vain. We must now wipe out the
chasm which stands between our
present situation and real Democ-
racy."
NEW YORK MINISTER GIVES