Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1951-10-20
X ( N D RIx
CO N M E N 7 S
MONTE IRWIN RECORDS
IN MONTGOMERY


IN MONTGOMERY
Montgomery, Ala.-Monte Irwin
may have not set any records in
the late World Series, but he is
believed to have made a record
here that will post-date that 90
year-old "home" steal, record
breaker, in the first game of the
series. The Giants picture vas
carried in column two on the edi-
torial page of The Montgomery
Advertiser-the morning daily of
this the former capital of the
Confederacy.
To carry anyone's picture in
the editorial columns of any paper
is, indeed, unusual. Such would
seem to be completely out of tune
with the American style of jour
nalism. | had never seen it hap
pen before-not even to Roosevelt,
Churchill nor Truman. Though
it may have happened to Hitler
in Germany, but that was Ger
many, and Hitler's Germany at
| that.
Now | am writing about the
USA, a daily newspaper in the
capital city of Alabama, and a
tan baseball player whose like
ness has appeared in the editorial
columns of that paper. 1t is not
uncommon at all to see the pic
lures of featured columnists on
the editorial pages. But in the
editorial columns-no! That's hal
lowed space, reserved for the edi
| tor.
Monte's honor, great one, too,
came to my attention here while
meeting with some of Montgom-
ery's leading citizens in the beau
tiful lobby of this city's new
Hotel Ben Moore (it's for Ne
groes). Far be it from this writ
er to discuss the ages of even
men-but some of my visiting
crew had been around Montgom-
cry almost since Jeff Davis said,
81 do"
One of my guests remarked that
such had not happened in his
twenty-five years in Montgomery
not to anyone, much less a Ne
gro. He was promptly challenged,
the challenger had domiciled here
Tor thirty maybe forty years.
This was something new in his
memory. Maybe it's a new edi-
rorial technique of Editor Grover
C. Hall, Jr.
Probably Mr.. Hall could see no
reason why a 123-year-old news
paper could not change its style.
Publishers being agreeable, | am
inclined to go with Mr.. Hall. But
why did this Montgomery editor
select Monte Irwin as his first
pictorial-and the issue October
10 for the introduction of this
revolutionary editorial practice?
This is it. Monte is an Alabama
boy, and so is Willie Mays. The
people of this state, all of the
Negroes and most all of the
whites, are proud boosters of
their contributions to the Majors.
The Montgomery Advertiser, this
corner has to assume, had its
pride in Irwin plus that courage
to do the real unusual.
The picture was accompanied by
one of the finest editorial tributes
that | have ever read. Called,
"Hail Columbia and Haleburg"
(the Giant star was born some
where between these two south
eastern Alabama communities),
the rendition terms Irwin ian au-
thentically great baseball player"
who has thrilled millions of TV
lockers and baseball goers.
Referring to the Aabaman's
salary, the Advertiser placed it
currently at $4,000 land next
year he will possibly get a con-
tract for $4,000. This is" notes
the paper, more than he would
have made had he remained in
the increasingly well-known Hale
burg vicinity" Here our Mont
gomery editor is talking Ameri-
can.
He forgets race and admits that
no baseball player could earn S15,-
600 annually at the national sport,
IN Columbia or Haleburg. IT'S
long pitch from what might de-
cry the presence of Negroes in
the Big Game, taking no mention
to the fact that in certain circles
such money would be considered
too much folding moss for Ne
gro.
Editor Hall takes a fast swing
at the Democrats while reporting
Twins intention to enter politics
Whether he runs as a Demo-
crat or Republican, our inquiry
cid not establish. However, since
his speciality in stealing bases, it
is reasonable conjecture that he
is a Democrat" Again our edi-
tor displayed Americanism-a fun
poke at an American.