The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-10-14
Willkie
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cy which any mans could have
possibly caused. i was proud to
have him as one OF my most Inti-
mate friends. In talking with him
few days before he entered the
hospital, he reiterated the cardinal
principle of his life that the rights
OF minorities and a decent interna-
tional understanding were the most
important problems facing Ameri-
ca and the world today Negroes
have lost one of the truest friends
they have ever had"
DIR. Claiming II. Tobias. national
YMCA secretary, declared: mo
man in public life since the efnan-
cipation OF Negroes in this country
has made the rights of the Negro
major issue as Wendell Willkie
made it. That took unusual cour-
age and forthrightness. He was
close enough to Negro leaders to
share his Utmost convictions with
them. A great champion OF the
oneness OF humanity has fallen"
DR.. Rufus E. Clement. president
OF Atlanta university, said: "Ameri-
ca and the world have lost a great
leader in Wendell WILKES passing.
His courage and high moral prin-
cples made him inevitably the
champion of the right. May we
who admired him follow his ex-
ample of forthrightness."
Judge Almond w. Scott, of the
Municipal Court for the District
Of Columbia. declared: The passing
of Wendell l.. Willkie was not only
a great shock 10 the American peo-
pie but particularly to our racial
group. He was truly one of the
greatest statesmen Of his time
bold. fearless and possessing UNI
limited courage. He was champ
ion Of the rights Of the plain people
and believed in equal justice for
all. He was unrelenting in his
fight against injustice and racial
and it will be long
time before one will come in his
place"
Charles ii. Houston. member of
the Fair Employment Practices
and legal staff of the |
NAACP, said: in 1910 when Mr..
received the Republican
nomination for President he was
suspected as anti-Negro. In four
years he came TO be respected, ad-
nired, and trusted by Negroes al
most more than anyone else in pub
lie life as a man fearless and fair"
william II. HASTE, dean of the
School of Law, Howard university,
declared: my first reaction to the
news of Mr.. Wilkes death was
that of shock and sorrow which
one always feels at the loss OF a
friend. But all of us. whether we
knew Mr.. Willkie personally or not.
have suffered the loss OF one OF
the truly great men Of these times"
Truman X. Gibson Jr., Civilian
Aide to the Secretary of War.
said: In the death Of Wendell
Willkie America lost an outstand-
ing liberal while the Negro lost an
outspoken friend. To all his pass
ing is irreparable in these times
A telegram from the Detroit
Branch NAACP to Mrs. Willkie
termed WILKES passing IAN ire
parable loss"
THE Detroit Branch Of the Ma
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People" stated the
NAACP telegram signed by DR..
James J. McClendon, president and
Gloster B. Current, executive sec
rotary, Joins with people all over
the world who mourn the passing
OF a great American statesman. Mr..
Willkie was an outspoken champion
OF the rights Of minorities. His
stand for justice and fair play for
the Negro in America won him the
sincere respect of 100000 Negroes
He was great friend OF the
National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People. On |
behalf Of the $4,000 members Of the
local branch of the NAACP who |
feel that we have sustained, also,
an irreparable loss. we extend to |
you and the family our deepest
sympathy"