Cecil A. Partee Memoir - University of Illinois Springfield

A: Well, I was there for about a year. Then they asked me to be an assistant
state's attorney.
SESSION 3, TAPE 3, SIDE 2
A: I went to the ~tate's attorney's office, but I didn' t give up my office. I
still had the office because I was first assigned to other courtrooms where
sometimes it was a half-a-day, you know, and I would have something to do in
the afternoon at my own place. So I still maintained a relationship with him
in terms of trying cases and writing briefs and that sort of thing. I still
kept my office.
Q: You say "they." Who were "they1' that asked you to become assistant.
A: Oh, a judge came to me. I had joined a political organization. I had gone
in to see Congressman Davson and told him that I wanted to become a precinct
committeeman, and he says, "Why?" And I said, ''Well . . ." He said, "Do you
want a job?" I said, "No, sir, I don't want a job." He says, "You're a
lawyer." I says, "Yes." He said, "You went to my school, Northwestern." I
said, "~es." He said, "Well, you're kind of strange." And he called a lot of
fellows in and he said, "I want you to meet a very strange animal, ~ers's a
fellow who's different. Most lawyers want a job and no precinct, and hare' s
a guy who wants a precinct: and no job." He said, "That's kind of interesting."
He said, Well, why do you want a ~recinct?" I said, "Well, you see, 1'm not
from here, I don't know a lot of the people here, I'm trying to get to know a
lot of people. If I had a precinct, I would know 500 people by their first
name and 500 people would know me by my first name. And that would give me
some start towards getting known in this city." So he said, "Fine."
So I took a precinct, Now, I had had the precinct: for a year before they
called me in and asked me, they said, "Well, now you said you didn't want a
job but here's a very nice opportunity for you as an assistant state's
attorney." There were very few blacks at that time and I said, "Well, I'll
think ahout it." I talked to Mr. Clayton and he said, "That'll be a fine
opportunity for you professionally!' So I became an assistant state's
attorney.
Q; Where was the precinct?
A: The precinct was at: 62nd and St. Lawrence and Champlain. Sixty-second
and St. Lawrence was the basic part of it. Sixty-two hundred south on St.
Lawrence Avenue,
Q : In what ward was that?
A: That was in the new 20th ward.
Q: What kind of person was Mr. Dawson?