St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-06-30
We Get Closeup
of Mr.. Dewey
By Cecil Newman

We had an opportunity a few days
ago to be with Governor Thomas
E. Dewey, 1914 Republican stand
ard bearer. For almost two hours
we were able to observe him in a
semi-social atmosphere, when he
was guest at party given for the
Negro Newspaper Publishers by
the New York AMSTERDAM
NEWS at the Hotel Roosevelt Sat-
urday, June II.
Together with John Sengstacke
of the CHICAGO DEFENDER, we
served as a sort of personal re-
ception committee to the New York
Governor. Our job was that of as
sisting Mr.. Sengstacke, Associa-
ton president, in presenting the
presidential aspirant, individually
to the $50 publishers, editors and
newspaper men and women.
DR.. C. B. Powell, editor of the
host paper, and, incidentally, chief
Negro Dewey supporter, turned the
business of getting Governor
Dewey acquainted with his guests
over to Mr.. Sengstacke who re-
quested the writer to assist him.
1t was rare opportunity to OBJ
serve one of the country's oustand-
ing figures in action-for he was
on parade before the critical eyes,
the directing heads of 40 of the
Country's most influential news
papers.
AS we walked slowly around the
room introducing various publish
ers and top executives, the feet
eight inch Dewey, with a twinkle
in his eye, turned on the Dewey
charm. Affable and with a ready
wit, he displayed a ready knowledge
of the various newspapers which
attested to the fact that his ad-
visors have been certainly on the
job. Candidate Dewey did not talk
partisan politics to any of the per-
sons to whom he was introduced,
although some of the journalists
seemingly wished to probe the
political spheres with him. He con-
fined himself to the exchange of
pleasantries, and welcoming the
delegates to the Empire State.
Dewey's poise was to be admired.
AS he walked along his manner
was completely unhurried-as if
there were not at that very minute
a million tasks ahead of him. Was
not the G. o. P. Convention only
few hours away?
To each visitor he gave a firm
intimate handshake and fingered to
chat. He tarried so long in some
instances that President Sengstacke
had to grab him lightly by the ell
bow several times to keep him NOV
ing toward the end of the long
line of waiting\ newspaper per-
sons.
To Dewey's credit is the distinct
quality of his being neither patron
izing nor condescending. He ex-
pressed his full realization of the
serious mindedness of the Negro
people who were graph
ing with great problems and car
rying grave responsibilities. Dewey
left the assembled group with a
feeling that he was not a political
a matter of fact, few
political accidents achieve the gov
ernorship of New York State.
There is no doubt that Dewey
made some friends among the pub
but we question very much
if he converted any of the pro-New
Deal newspaper executives.
Our personal estimate of Cover
nor Dewey is that he is a hkeable
young man, who is a good judge
of human character, that he is
aware of the "New Negro" and that
he wants and knows that he needs
the good will of the colored people.
AS we pointed out before, meet
ing the distinguished young gov
ernor had no obvious effect on the
political leanings of the publishers
who were in attendance. The Re-
publicans were reserved in their
praise of the personable seeker of
the Presidency. The Democrats or
Independents (and most were indie
pendent) said, "He's a nice fellow"
and LET IL on at fhafl