The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1945-12-15
We Pass On The Torch
K, !. EDN. Net AL

Younger hands the management ana NldJoi
ownership of the Detroit Tribune and the
Midwest Publishing Co., Ire. We have car
ried the torch fo many years, in spite of our
prescriptions and we have held il high, but
the time has come to make change.
We are confident that the new manage
ment will carry on with efficiency and vigor.
We are handing over the management to
them this week end, but we still retain Off
cial connection with and financial interest in
the corporation and Will continue to give it
our support.
The Detroit Tribune has been built upon
a strong and solid foundation and IS known
and respected throughout the nation 1t holds
a UNIQUE position In Metropolitan Detroit
since il is the oldest Negro weekly here and
the onlyrecognzed one which is owned. edit
ed ana published in Detroit in its own plant
and on members Of the race
The Detroit Tribune has weathered the
storms of depression. race riots and other UNI
favorable conditions but we have never
missed payroll or single issue Of the paper
since it was founded hv the McCalls in 1898
On YariouS occasions. more than one issue
week was printed.
All through the years the Detroit Tri-
bune has sought to be constructive and pro-
gressiNe Its policy has been based on impair
tial justice fo all. without favortism or Vim
deliveries. The Tribune and its founders
have stood on the firing line for years at
times alone. and fought in defense of our
people-fought with dynamic printers ink
written in an honest and courageous news
paper
Because Of our handicap Of blindness,
we have not been able to accomplish all we
had hoped to accomplish but our efforts have
1
our people in Detroit a hometown newSpap-
er which IS their own We have given them
a paper which * widely respected for its in
tegrity. because the Detroit Tribune has new
er sold the race down the river nor sacri-
feed the interests Of its people for political
patronage ol appointments To public Jobs
We have built for our people in Detroit a
neWSpaper and printing plant which have
provided Jobs and Will continue to provide
jobs for trained young men and women of
the race
The Tribune has been a pioneer in cru
sadlng against police brutality INADEQUATE
housing lob discrimination. and violation Of
civil rights Of Negroes The Tribune was the
first local Negro weekly to make a sustained
and concentrated effort to get the masses of
colored Detoiters 10 register and vote This
paper also led in the successful campaign 70
get Negroes in the Detroit Fire department
and IN Detroit public libraries 1t was the
first Negro newspaper in this city to encour-
age members Of the race to join the JAW
Go. and il was also the first to publish week
~ labor columns contributed by Lonnie Will
liams and Paul Kirk, pioneer Negro organi-
zers for the union.
lime and space will not permit us to
innumerate the many constructive wavs in
which the Detroit Tribune has served the
community It has not only co-operated with
the churches. the schools and the various
CIVIC organizations and interracial commit
tees, but has also Worked hand-in-hand with
the Booker T. Washington. Trade assoca-
ION and the Detroit Housewives league in
ne effort to encourage and stimulate Negro
business.
Through it all, the Detroit Tribune has
strlven zealously to maintain high standard
OF journalism and to observe the ethics Of
good journalism, even at times when unethi-
cal tactics have been employed against us.