Evening star., 1952-06-14
Truman Gives Talk
AS Howard Graduates
IFS Largest Glass

In cap and gown. President
Truman early last night was in
the fore of the academic process
sion, as Howard University gradu-
ated its largest class in history.
About $4,000 persons heard Mr..
Truman give the commencement
address on the subject of civil
rights. He remained through the
entire exercises, as the 691 gradu-
ates received their degrees, in
groups, from Howard University
President Mordecai w. johnson.
Mr.. Truman wore the same cap
and gown he donned in the
spring of 1948. when he was
awarded the honorary degree of
doctor of humanities by Rollins
College, Winter Park, Fla.
Greets Judge Waring.
Mr.. Truman rose from his
chair to shake hands with Judge
j. Waties Waring, who recently
retired from the Federal bench,
after the latter received an hon.
orary degree of doctor of laws.
The only other honorary degree
was presented to Paul Revere
Williams, the noted West Coast
Negro architect. who received a
doctorate in that field.
Later last night, at a trustees
dinner for recipients of honorary
degrees, Judge Waring said the
honor accorded him was the most
important in his life. In referring
to civil rights, he said:
"The words on your banner Ga
reference to the American Negro)
should be No appeasement and
no compromise"
Judge Waring is noted for his
decision of July IL, 1947. He
handed down a ruling that made
it possible for qualified Negro cit
liens. for the first time in South
Carolina history to vote in the
primaries of the Democratic Party.
This was the sole agency in that
State for selection of the officers
and law makers of the Nation. In
consequence of that decision, 35,-
900 qualified Negroes voted in the
primary in August. 1948. Judge
Warnings citation stated in part:
when it is considered that the
Judge who made that decision did
so in awareness Of the openly
declared opposition Of the Cover
nor of the State, the united op-
position of the legislative assem-
bly,, and in a public atmosphere
not free at all from the possibility
of violence against his person, his
entitlement to remembrance and
gratitude is multiplied"
OF South Carolina Family.
1t was pointed out by DR.. John
son that Judge Waring was de-
Iscended from a slave-holding
family, with 10 generations of un-
broken residence in South Caro-
lima.
DR.. Williams, who has won the
coveted BeauX Arts Medal, came
from an orphans status to his
eminence in architecture. 1t was
explained that, because he was a
Negro. he had a hard time becom-
ing an apprentice after graduation
from the University of California
and the Beaux Arts Institute of
Design. Overcoming the handi-
caps, he became a successful de-
signer Of low-cost housing and
individualized private homes.
The highest scholastic average
in "a years at Howard University
was attained by LaSalle D. Lef-
fall, of Quincy, Fla. In winning
the honors, which included $3.50
in cash awards, he led in medi-
cine, obstetrics and gynecology
and surgery. He had an average
of 99.7 in surgery, the highest
ever attained in Howard's history.
Other awards went to Joseph A.
Bourke, jr., of Washington; Ed
ward B. Cross, New York; Benja-
min H. Barbour, Greenville, S. c.;
George Rawls, Gainesville, Fla;
L. Julian Haywood, Warrenton,
N. c.; Basdeo Balkisoon, Trinidad,
British West Indies; John Wood
wear. New York: Anna L. T.
Standard, Milwaukee, Wis: Evans
H. Daniels. Versailles. Mo-; Fred
erick D. Drew, Salisbury, N. c.:
Edwin Shirley, Fort Pierce, Fla. !;
Roland Nickens, Washington;
Harcourt Harris. New York, and
Maceo Braxton, Memphis, Tenn.