Evening star., 1958-05-15

could muster the senator
added,
"Without RancOr"
Tom Stokes has the ability
TO be flerce IN his beliefs with
out rancor or meanneSs for
those with whom he disaarees. "
Senator Monroney said. "As a
result. editors with dlametri-
eaily opposed views are able 10
print his column. and readers
with differing convictions 10
read Il, even during such heat
ed periods as national election
years"
Other honors came. such as
the Saturday Review OF Litefa-
ture award In 1914. when Mr.
Stokes fellow correspondents
said he measured up In "relia-
bility fairness and ability 10
analyze the news" The Chi
eago Defender honored him for
contributing 10 better racial re-
lations, and he was cited by the
New York City Newspaper Guild
and the District American Vet
erans Committee.
Although he loved his native
South with a passion, he es-
poused a forward-looking. lib
eral policy instead OF the old
traditions. He often argued his
deep convictions In pointed epi-
grams. but he never lost his
temper.
Told Of Industry's Migration
As a reporter. he was par
ticularly proud of the stories
he wrote about the migration
OF Northern industry to the
South. He believed the articles
pointing out low wages in the
South influenced enactment OF
the wage-hour law.
Mr.. Stokes social conscious
ness was not confined to his
pen alone. Last June he COM
pleted two years as chairman
of the United Community
Services public relations COM
mittee. He also was chairman
of the UcS annual conference
on Health, Welfare and Rec
reation last year.
High points of Mr.. Stokes
Washington career made a
readable book. Chip OF My
Shoulder" published in 1910.
He told how he came to WASH
ington as an eager-eyed youth
of %, full of awe and re-
mained to be often diSilluSioned
But though ne was often Bit
ing and apprehensive, he was
never cynical.
A second book, published in
1851, was THE Savannah, "
one of a series on American
rivers, which carried him back
to the Southern lore he knew
and loved so well.
Native Of Atlanta
Mr.. Stokes was born in At
lanta November /. 1898. His
Scotch Irish father, Thomas
Lunsford Stokes, was co-foun-
der of the Atlantic department
store then known as DAWSON
PaXon-Stokes.
In Atlanta, he attended Boys
High and Peacock schools, be-
ginning a debating career he
continued at the University of
Georgia. He was graduated in
1920 with a Phi Beta Kappa
key he never wore.
After a year with small
Georgia dailieS. he borrowed
5000 from his father and
headed for New York with one
of the thickest drawls to come
out Of the South.
He never got past Washing
ton that trip. He found a Job
taking dietation with the Uni
ted Press and stayed on to
cover the Capitol. the White
House and to start regular
trips to the national political
conventions.
Tribute From Time
From 1888 to 1896. he was
Washington correspondent for
the New York World Telegram
of the ScrippS-Howard news
paper chain, which in 1886 as
signed him as political reporter
for the entire organization.
Watching him write his New
Dealish material for an anti
New Dealish organization. Time
magazine observed that mo-
body can call Mr.. Stokes a
trained seal"
Mr. Stokes married Miss Han
nah Hunt of Washington on
January 10, 1924. They had a
daughter. Layton, who died,
and a son, Thomas Lunsford
Stokes III.
Mr.. Stokes was a member of
the Gridiron Club since 1888
and its president in 1850. He
also belonged to the National
Press Club. the Cosmos Club,
the Overseas Writers and was
former chairman of the Stand
ing Committee of Correspond
enLS at Cne capitol.
Writers Representatives
The Standing Committee of
Correspondents, of the Con-
gresSional Press Gallery, APP
pointed the following commit
tee to attend the funeral Of
Mr.. Stokes:
Doris Fleeson, United Fea-
lures Syndicate: Carroll H.
Kenworthy, United Press As
sociations; Ray Tucker, Nc
Clure Syndicate; j. A. OLeary,
The Star: Ernest B. Vaccaro,
Associated Press; Harry w.
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