Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-29

f1dTpcT, III MAI yldllu SOullOy' >
and his people on his fathers
side were slaves of a Baltimore
man. His mother came to Lii
IBERIA from Georgia in 1872, one
of the few Negroes to emigrate
to Liberia after the Civil War.
Was Youngest Senator
The Presidents formal edu-
cation ended with high school,
but through private studies he
was admitted to the bar. After
teaching for few years. fight
ing against the tribes in three
bloody campaigns, and serving
terms as collector of internal
revenue and county attorney
Mr.. Tubman at % became the
youngest Senator in his coun-
try'S history.
In 1887, he was appointed an
associate justice of the Supreme
Court and, in 1943, won the
presidential nomination of the
True Wing Party. Since no OPP
position party exists in Liberia,
his political future was and is
secure.
Mr.. Tubman is a Stocky man
of medium height. He is de-
voted to Liberia, the ladies, his
yacht, convivial companionship,
and diversified Havana cigars.
So much a part of the nation
al image of Mr.. Tubman is the
cigar clamped precariously in
holder that the larger-than-
life bronze statue of him out
side the University Of Liberia
portrays him clutching a stogie.
Comparison with Roosevelt
Mr.. Tubman puts in long
hours at his Monrovia Office
behind a desk covered with the
appropriate clutter of presi-
dental souvenirs. One almost
expects Fala to pop out from
under a sofa and the Similari-
ties between Mr.. Tubman and
F. D. r. are, in fact, more than
superficial.
Like Mr.. Roosevelt, Mr.. Tub
man has served his country as
President for an unprecedented
number of years. The old rule
was that a President served one
eight-year term and was in
eligible for reelection. This
has been amended and Mr.
Tubman, after his election is
formalized this year, will TOP
his 16 years in Office with an
other four-year term.
Like Mr.. RooSevelt's, Mr.
Tubman'S administration has
brought sweeping social and
economic change. 1t goes with
out saying that, like the New
Yorker, he is regarded by sons
as "a traitor to his class"
Mr.. Roosevelt had his tilted
cigarette holder; Mr.. Tubmar
has the ubiquitous cigar. And
Mr.. Tubman has successfully
by-pasSed the polls to gair
political support for his pro.
grams, not with flre-side chats
but through a series of "execu,
tive councils" held with the
people of the interior.
Before President Tubman
the 10000 descendants of thu
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS who livt
along the coast - the people
whose ancestors were ono,
slaves in the United States
ruled the roost and no ques'
tons asked. Liberals 2 million
natives had no. real political o
personal rights, were often sole
into near-slavery by armed
bands of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
None of Liberals II president
had ever dared or desired tt
go more than 40 miles from thu
coast.
- Social Reforms Put Through.
Mr.. Tubman changed all that
Since 1914, the president ha!
Travelled thousands of mile.
through the interior on foot
mule, car, or hammock II
preach his doctrine of uniflca'
ton. AS result of his efforts
the franchise has been ex
tended at least in theory to al
property-owners, regardless o.
background or sex. "Aborigine
ministers sit in his cabinet anc
hold other high government
posts.
Administrators found abus.
ing their. authority over thu
natives have been summary