Minneapolis spokesman., 1963-01-17
Milton C.. Williams:
To His Reward

The untimely death Of Milton G. (Gus) Will
hans publisher of our longtime local contempor-
aries, the Twin City Observer and the ST. Paul Sum-
was we know great shock to his staff and friends
This newspaper was quite familiar with Mr..
Williams, since it was the first newspaper he
worked on. He was member of the staff for brief
period in the first year Of our publication and had
served as advertising manager Of a monthly maga-
zine, Timely Digest, which was published for about
year In 1e31-1932 by the editor and publisher of
this newspaper.
Thus it can be said with some truth that In
the earlier years Of his in the newspaper field
we were well acquainted with the deceased. He had
many good qualities, and knack Of making friends
in all walks Of life.
In recent issue Of his papers 1t was indicated
editoray that 1t was necessary for him to work at
two jobs to keep his papers going. This Is not
entirely unusual in the weekly newspaper business
or in other types Of business where investment
capital is limited
Mr. Williams however was determined that his
journalistic venture would succeed and is said that
ne made many sacrifices to keep his newspapers
afloat. That his papers apparently never earned
enough to make living for him and to allow him
to give full time to them was no discredit to him.
1t was perhaps due to the economic fact that the
Twin Cities field for publications of this type are
limited by the relatively small Negro population and
market.
We can only speculate that the hard work, and
long hours attendant to holding down two jobs that
of publisher, and another, hastened his death at
relatively young age. However, it is possible that
such circumstances caused his poor health and
brought his death.
We remember Gus" we used to call him In
the old days, as individual Of considerable i'm
agination, and acumen who sought to make his
mark, and was willing to work very hard to do So
While we were puzzled that he kept his papers
conservative in world where few Negro papers
could find reason to remain archly conservative
when only the liberals offered the Negro assistance
and understanding he nevertheless essayed the con-
servative position.
In recent years his publications seemed to show
signs of deserting the conservative role in politics
and assuming the independence which most Negro
papers have had to pursue in order to be of real
good to the people they attempt to serve.
Any real estimate Of Mr. Williams contribution
to Minneapolis and st. Paul should Of course come
from less disinterested source than this but we do
have responsibility to make some comment on
his passing and that we have tried to do. We most
certainly regret his death and offer our sincere
condolences to those who were close to him.
1t is customary when an individual leaves this
vale of tears" enroute to meet his Maker that
only that which is good, and kind be spoken or
written about him. We have no quarrel with this
civilized custom.
1t is with this in mind, that pay our final
respects to Gus" Williams, knowing as we do that
he contributed what he considered his best to his
newspapers, and the two communities. Nothing we
can add or subtract, will change the record as 1t
has been written as time marches on.