The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
NAACP PRExY
HONORED WITH
TEST |M0NIAL
BY vvIENNE COOPER

Over three hundred persons rep
resenting vacations ranging from
medicine 10 labor. filled every
available space in the huge Lucy
Thurman YWCA gymnasium We'd
nesdsy night at the testimonial
dinner honoring energetic. dynam-
ic DR.. James J. McClendon, presi-
dent Of the NAACP.
The Hon. Ira w. Jayne acted as
POSTMASTER and introduced such
personalities as Mrs. Daisy Lamp
kin, John Ballenger. police COM
missioner of the city OF Detroit;
Mrs. Oscar G.. Starrett, public
welfare commission; Jean Sheafer,
Secretary-treasurer OF Michigan
Bell Telephone company; Rev. r.
L. Brady Sr.. L. c. Blount, DR.
Robert Greenidge, the Rev. Law
renee ]. avansugh, Walter
White, Judge James !. Ellmann
and scores OF others who paid trib-
ute to the doctor.
WALTER WHITE, keynoter and
main speaker OF the evening, COM
mented upon the splendid work of
Dr.. McClendon and said that the
phenomenal growth OF the entire
NAACP throughout the country Is
due 10 the inspiration from De-
troit's NAACP.
The speaker elaborated on his
recent trip 10 the San Francisco
conference as a consultant. He.
with AZ other representatives, was
sent there by the State Depart
ment. He told of the weakness OF
the American delegation. saying
that the late President must have
anticipated being at the confer
ence in person 10 dominate il.
He told how the American dele
CATION had the opportunity for
leadership at the conference but
failed 10 seize the opportunity. He
reId several paragraphs from the
amendments TO the Big Four con-
ference. but stated that they could
hardly be effective due to the in
sertion OF the "so-called states
rights clause, giving the state
the last voice in matters regarding
human rights.
THE SPEAKER stated that he
felt one of the low spots of the
conference was the casting Of the
deciding vote by the United States
in favor OF Great Britain against
Russia and China.
Commenting upon his tour In
the South Pacific. he told OF one
instance OF physical violence by
white GIs on their darker COM
rsdes. In his talks with several
white soldiers in this area, he
found many who had found that
the racial problem was a global
one and told him they intended to
support organizations for equality
for the Negro. upon their return
10 the States after the war. Upon
his return TO Washington, Mr.
White stated, he intended having
conference with the officials re-
garding treatment Of American
Negroes in uniform.
Concluding, the speaker said.
We cannot have today a world
half slave, half free: this is just
as true today as in Lincoln's time.
Take courage and make il a world
where all peoples shall have COM
plete freedom and rights"
DR.. McClendon was presented
with morocco-bound leather
book containing letters from per-
sonalities throughout the country,
including Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt.
Lena Horne. Mary White Ovong-
ton, Arthur Spingarn. r. J. Thorn
as, Arthur Cooper and hundreds
OF others. The national branch OF
the NAACP presented Mrs. Nc
Clendon with bouquet of Amer
lean beauty roses and gardenias.
THE McCLENDON Testimonial
Banquet Committee was chair
named by L. c. Blount, with Hon.
Ira w. Jayne, Miss Laurentine
Collins, Jean T. Sheafer and Mrs.
Florence Sweeney serving on the
subcommittee. The general COM
mittee was composed OF almost a
hundred civic, religious and fra
ternsl leaders.