The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1951-11-03
MOSS HENDRIX
Little Ben Bows


PEOPLE IN ATLANTA al s-rreaaer a~1.-aa.a
-e-erEon Dss-a 1.-the 5er TO, 'rey ~.-- -sserr-
re ecer arc lste B~n.zrnn Jeferson DAYS s. -
Lite B~n an admitted Communist, rs~ s-anas
eo1v1-ec {. What t.e courts cal consPEang Q ieacn
advocate the Ose-t-.o@ q TIE gcyerzS-eni and
tre Supreme Court has Upheld this convictlo--
On Ire othe-hsnd. Ire elder NJ DAVIS = rs
,srse o.g ~h@< In ne COP hsy-dsy Oo@s Of Replh-
politics n Ceo 81 ard rgh national psrty c.
e@a having time beer Rep lIcsn National Corr
.tteer.sn from Georgia
IN GEORGIA the mare Ben DAYS restea -sop the
snteI II political and frse-rs esteem thTol ghcI
quarter OF this century. Coming oct 81
Ia Dson Georgia tsr from the later birthplace %
Congretsrnsn Bill Dawson. BE- Ben vas % nave an =
.ssrrso4s
HIS biography shows him 10 have been journal
Isl and those who know MS Atlanta Independent ALL
sharpness his editorial pen Starting
hrcksyer ne later taught school and underssudied
the great frsternsl ard political leaders Of his time
quickly rising 20 the top.
BEN DAVIS WAS KNOWN as the Builder OF the
Odd Fellows Block in Atlanta and that probably MS
lasting for il still stands and It's build
in the possession Of his great sdnirer and pro-
tege. Bill Shaw. Likewise history will record hiE a.
the last ~ colored COP leadership in Georgia
For twenty-five years more. this rugged self
made born leader Georgia dele gste-at-
large Republican conventions He led many Black
and Tan delegation COP conventions and served four
times the Partys resolutions and platform commit
Tee A. the height OF his rule he handled COP patronage
for Georgia
/, is said that when Big Ben spoke al was sun
the courthouse wall which vbssted from the force
cry courthouse in Georgia, while stately
connsenance had entered most Of the post offices Of the
Clay State He fearlessy continued the regime Of
Link Johnson and others.
BIG BEN WAS big man in rgia-t the sire OF
Little Ben
was fascinated by the career OF the elder Mr.
Davis and often in his late years with him as he
stood Auburn Avenue looking past and upon
the massive structure which ne built never really
kne" Little Ben However, do remember his having
played tennis adjacent to my high school
THAT WAS IN the early thirfes and he must not
have long since returned from Cambridge with his
Harvard LIB Ten years passed before again
set eyes the image of the graceful young LAWYER
whose skiful tennis playing had held my attention as
nigh school student In the meantime much had hap
pened
There was top Negro COP leadership in
Georgia and nationally Republicans were wondering il
f)h were going 70 be lifetime resident OF 1000 Penn
sylvania Avenue The depression had cr,nbled the
great fraternal empires and Big Ben was but shadow
life W =" 'S
LITTLE BEN HAD been chief defense counsel IN
Auantas famous Angelo Herndon case later abandon
ing ms hometown for New York City and strange re-
hRo2 winch ranSplanted his Baptis heritage sought
MN Out IN the lobby OF uptown New York hotel
feit mat ne could have had great future lawyer
and leader or his people in Atlanta. and told him so
Even in New York he may have had q fruitful
political career. He followed Adam Powell into the
city council and Republican he would have proved
formidable opponent for the Harlem congressman But
the man from Morehousc Amherst and Harvard pre-
ferred other lines
ben Davis, the younger. not consider this a
sad story would he want his fate decried but Il il
sad story. nevertheless.