, 1951-03-06

wish to nominate Mrs. Edith spurlock Sampson of
of Chicago as the American Negro who registered the
highest achievement in 1850, and is therefore worthy to
become the 35th recipient of the Spingarn Medal.
Mrs. SIMPSONS specific achievement was her
qualification for and appointment by the President of the
United States as an Alternate Member of the u. S. Dele
cation to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Ex-
cept for DR.. Ralph j. Bunche, no higher honor has ever
been bestowed upon an American Negro in the realm of
international affairs.
The honor is additionally significant because it was
bestowed by the head of our Government, with the con-
sent of the Senate, and without the stimulus of extra
national accomplishment or influences such as precipitat-
ed DR.. Bunche to the fore. In other words, without the
slightest degree of disparagement of DR.. Bunche intend
ed, Mrs. SIMPSONS achievement was strictly within the
confines of American affairs and its familiar ~handicaps
to persons of Negro origin.
The record shows that Mrs. Sampson long ago had
began preparing herself for a role of unselfish service to
mankind, first by way of social work, and later through
the courts of our land.
Her sponsorship by the National Council of Negro
Women, and her inclusion, at her own expense, in the
1949 world tour of Americas Town Hall Of the Air, be-
spoke two things: full acceptance of her as a personality
and a leader by other women; and her readiness to broad-I
en- her vision and to know and understand something of
the forces which, if successful, could turn this truly into al
chaotic world. Incidentally, when the touring group
reached Hawaii on it's return journey home, its members
decided to form a permanent organization, named it the
World Town Hall Seminar, and elected Mrs. Sampson its
first president.
Therefore, recognition and acceptance by her fell
low Americans and recognition and acceptance by the
nationals of many other countries, together suggested her
selection by the President as being a sound, reasonable
and logical one for membership on the American dele
cation to the world parliament which we know as the
United Nations.
Shortly after she had been notified of her selection,
Mrs. Sampson told reporters interviewing her that she was
eager to tackle UN problems other than those of a racial
nature in which her legal experience could be put to use.
How ready our Government was to rely fully upon her
ability and judgement, in this respect, to represent all
of the American people is best illustrated by the list Of
agenda items for which she was given the responsibility to
carry the American initiative during the session:
/. Failure of the USSR to repatriate or other
wise account for prisoners of war detained in Soviet
Territory"
2. "The proper adjustment of the borders be-: !
tween Egypt and the former Italian Colony of Libya
with particular reference to paragraphs 2 and 3 OF
Annex II Of the Treaty of Peace with Italy,
3. Interference with radio signals Gamming)."
4. "Freedom of information and of the press in
times of emergency"
5. Social advisory welfare services"
How we'll Mrs. Sampson acquitted herself in this
new and unprecedented role for an American Negro isl
partly reflected in a letter which Ambassador Warren R.
Austin, Permanent U. S. Delegate to the United Nations,
had occasion to write in January to a man in Milwaukee.