Evening star., 1944-02-14
CIapper's Integrity
Cited by Colleagues
Al Services Here

WoIApcIICn Ol JOufuaIlSIn WIN Ray
mond Clapper and who, in leisure
hours, also had shared the warmth
Of his friendship met at the National
Press Club yesterday in tribute to
his memory.
A chosen few of them spoke sim
ply, as men might when gathered
around flreside, about ,Mr. Clap
per's professional achievements and
his character. But underlying their
words was a rededication of them
selves to the aggressiveness and
faithfulness to duty which Law be-
hind the nationally known column
lists recent death in the Pacific as
he flew in a Navy plane to witness
the bombardment of Japanese po-
sitions in the Marshall Islands.
Widow and Children Attend.
In addition to Mr.. Clapper's
newspaper colleagues and some of
their wives, the ceremonies were at
tended by Mrs. Olive Ewing Clapper,
the columnist's widow; their chill
dren, Janet and William Raymond: !:
Mrs. Clapper's sister and brother
in-law, Mr.. and Mrs. William
Mancken of New York City; Mrs.
Roosevelt; the Presidents secretary,
Stephen Early. and Mrs. Early, and
a few high-ranking Army and Navy
officials
Eugene Meyer, editor and pub
Usher of the Washington Post, an
nounced that memorial would be
established for Mr.. Clapper but that
its form had not been decided yet.
Mr.. Meyer was authorized by Rear
Admiral Emory S. Land chairman
OF the Maritime Commission, to say
also that an American ship would
bear the late columnist's name.
Last Message Recalled.
The last message sent from the
Pacific by Mr.. Clapper. recalled
Thomas L. Stokes, political writer
for the Scripps- Howard newspapers,
was marked more" The dispatch
had been interrupted as MIR. Clapper
was called to make the trip in the
plane which ended in his death.
And in the last word to come from
the columnist's typewriter, Mr..
Stokes saw striking symbolism.
wherever newspapermen are
gathered" Mr.. Stokes said, whether
in city rooms or while waiting to-
gether for official announcements,
some word or deed will recall Ray
Clapper's memory, and some one
will say: There was a great re-
porter and a grand guy
He was right. There will be
more"
Earlier, Mr.. Stokes, who was close
ly associated with Mr.. Clapper for
more than 20 years as reporter for
the United Press and, later, for the
Scripps- Howard newspapers, lauded
his colleagues ability to write beau
tifully and succinctly-a gift that he
kept to the end He paid tribute,
too, to the man he called a friend,
teacher and older brother" for his
glowing warmth" of soul his intel
lectual honesty and his determined
fight for the freedom of the press.
Lowell Mellett, formerly Scripps-
Howard editor and for the last six
years an official in the Roosevelt
administration, said that any con-
sideration Of Raymond Clapper's
character brings us down to the
fundamentals of human living" and
Ito grips with reality" 1T is like
dropping grain OF truth into q !
debate devoted to bunk" Mr.. Meiiett |
declared, for Mr.. Clapper had in
tegrity and gave 1t a real and vital
Sd. ... f..
His death was q tragedy for his |
friends and tragedy for journal
ism" Mr.. Mellett concluded.
Praised by Richberg.
Donald Richberg, one time ad-
official and well-known
lawyer, who was neighbor of Mr..
Clapper ,extolled the columnist for
his rigid code of honor in keeping
condolences, which often clashed
with his passion for getting and
publishing all the facts.
Mr.. Clapper, Mr.. Richberg said,
took life "the hard way" constantly
driving himself to do difficult things
because he believed his obligation to
his reading public demanded that
they be done He praised his late
neighbor as a grand companion
and warm and faithful friend"
Walker S. Buel, Washington cor
respondent of the Cleveland Plain
Dealer and a friend for many years
of the journalist, expressed the
opinion that there were few COL
umnist who, day in and day out,
could ring the bell" both in their
professional work and in the de-
mands of human relationship. But,
he added, Raymond Clapper did so.
Newspaperman's Columnist.
Declaring that Clapper work was
marked by both thoroughness and
versatility, Mr.. Buel conferred on
him the eccolades OF "the average
mans columnist" and "tke news
paperman's columnist."
George B. Parker, editor in chief
Of the Scripps- s-Howard newspapers,
also paid high tribute to Mr.. Clap
per. recalling as fitting epitapth
quotation from Pilgrims Prog
ress" concluding: ooh, death, where
is thy sting? Oh, grave, where is
thy victory?"
Mr.. Meyer, who presided at the
simple services. closed them by add
ing to his earlier remarks this
tribute:
Raymond Clapper's story is
success story. But the fine thing
is the way he achieved success. He
stuck to his principles relentlessly.
He was liberal in his political at
titude because he was liberal in his
heart"
Man Elected Mayor