St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-06-08

involving a Negro policeman at the
Pennsylvania station in New York.
The matter became a political cam
paign issue. Over the year and
several months during which came
in frequent contact with him at the
White House, however, found him
most courteous, obliging, and every
inch gentleman.
I remember particularly an Incl
dent which occurred soon after I
started attending the press confer
ences of the President. An anti
administration newspaper in Ohio
took the occasion to criticize Presi-
dent Roosevelt. In an editorial it
alleged that my certifcation as a
White House Correspondent was a
bid for Negro votes. 1t cited this
as one of the lengths to which the
administration had gone to WOO
those votes.
Then it said that soon after I be-
gan attending the Presidents con-
ferences, I learned that this en-
titled me, also, to attend the daily
press conferences of "Steve" Early.
When 1 started coming to these
conferences, said the paper, began
plying the presidential aide with
questions about the FEPC. But,
it said, unlike most new CORE
spondents, 1 did not use a titular
handle on Early's name. 1t was
"Steve, how about this" and
"Steve, how about that"
Steve, the paper pointed out, is
a "hot-born Virginian, a descendant
of the Confederate general Jubal
Early" According to the papers
account, the color rushed up Steve's
neck, but he remained a gentle
man.
AS soon as 1 saw the editorial, I
took it with me to the White House
and asked Steve if I could speak
with him. Just few days before,
he had written the general manager
of the Atlanta Daily World prais-
ing my work and attitude at the
White House and saying how
pleased everyone was with my per-
formance and conduct.
"Has there been any change in
your attitude toward me recently,
Steve?" 1 asked. "Not at ALL" he
said.
1 then told him about the edi-
torial. When I reached the part
about asking questions concerning
FEPC, he interrupted to say that
I had a perfect right to ask about
FEPC or any other matter in which
1 was interested and was seeking
an answer. 1 pointed out that that
was not the main argument of the
editorial. Then we reached the
part about my using his first name
in the press conferences.
''Well, I call you Mac don't II"
Steve asked. "That's right" I re-
piled.
"Then what could 1 expect but
that you would call me 'Steve'," he
said. Gust forget about that edi-
torial and pay it no mind" he stated
emphatically.
I told him how glad it made me
that he should take that attitude
because I didn't want to appear any
different from any of the other
correspondents covering the White
House. Everyone else called him
"Steve," and for me to do other
wise would make it appear that l
was something separate and apart
rather than one of the group of
reporters there to do a job.
you're damned right" he said,
and we shook hands on it.
And that was Steve's attitude
throughout. He did me no special
favors. I asked for none and
wanted none. At the same time, he
denied me none of the rights and
privileges of every other reporter,
That won from me the highest
respect and appreciation. That is
why got a personal joy and sat
isfaction out of the surprise award
of the Distinguished Service medal
to him by President Truman on
Steve's last day at the White
House.