Activities Among Negroes
During the past two weeks many daily papers throughout the nation, including the Oakland TRIBUNE, have published strong editorials against the evil of lynch law. This united effort on the part of the press proves that the 21 year of effort to abolish lynching made by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has not been in vain, and that they have finally won the cooperation of a friendly press when they recently published their work on drafting a federal anti-lynching bill to present to the next congress. On September 20, 1980, Rev. Robert Eleazer educational director of the commission on race cooperation issued the following statement "The first scientific study ever made of lynching, case by case, in an effort to discover the underlying causes and if possible to formulate an effective preventive program, has been undertaken by a southern commission. The project was initiated and will be soon sponsored by the commission on Inter-racial cooperation, a body of representative southern people seeking an equitable adjustment of the South's race problem. Through its president, Dr. W. C. Jackson, vice-president of North Carolina College for Women at Greensboro, and its executive director, Dr. Will M. Alexander, of Atlanta, the commission will advise and assist in the study."
In announcing the plan, Dr. Alexander stated: "The study was suggested by the epidemic of lynching which marked the present year carrying the record already to twice what it was in the whole of last year.
"Largely because of the steady decline in lynching, we had begun to hope that we had a new South morally, economically and politically.
"The depressing record for the present year has seriously shaken our confidence and revealed the persistence of tragic conditions we hoped we were leaving behind. So ominous is the situation that we feel the people of the south must confront afresh their task. We believe there should be a thorough study of all the facts involved, such as it is contemplated by the commission just created. The personnel of this group justifies us in expecting a piece of work which will commend the confidence of the public.”
In commenting on this statement, the New York Telegram had the following to say on September 21: At last a notable group of southerner have set out to make a scientific investigation of the American form of savagery known as lynching. It is high time, for already there have been eighteen lynchings in l930, while the dishonor roll for all of 1929 was only twelve. The problem is not alone southern, nor sectional, it is national. Indiana has just made a contribution to the list. The mob spirit is rife in the North and in the South. Nor is the problem solely racial. There are white victims also. Probably no better group could have been found for the investigation than that chosen by the Commission on Inter-racial Cooperation.
"George Fort Milton, the chairman, is editor of the Chattanooga News and a publicist of distinction. Julian Harris, another, southern editor. In 1926 was awarded the national Pulitzer prize in journalism.
"Howard W, Odum is head of the social science institute of the University of North Carolina. The other members are Alex W. Spence, a Dallas attorney; W. P. King, book editor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and W. J. McGlothlin, president of Furman University and the Southern Baptist convention.
"Equally able is the advisory Negro college committee chosen: R. R. Moton, principal of Tuskegee Institute: John Hope, president of Atlanta University; Charles S. Johnson, Fisk University, and B. F. Huber, president of Georgia State College. Presumably these investigators will have the cooperation of the eight southern governors who recently pledged themselves to fight this evil. Certainly the aid of all officials as well as commercial and educational institutions is needed to make the investigation a success.
"The Commission on Inter-racial Cooperation in appointing the investigators did not exaggerate in describing the situation as so ominous that the people 'must confront afresh their task of vindicating the law and civilization.' But, however successful this investigating group may be on uncovering the causes and fixing the blame for this barbarous system, it can hardly do more in the end, than reveal the dire need for federal legislation and enforcement as a part of the solution. Once before such a bill passed the house only to be killed by a senate minority filibuster. Now Cole Bleuse and some other southern senator in that filibuster have been repudiated by the voters. So there should not be great difficulty in passing such law."
On October 2 an Associated Press new item published in the Oakland TRIBUNE carried the following statement from Atlanta: "A group of prominent clergy and lay members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in a statement issued for publication today, ascribed the persistence of lynching to the neglect of religious leaders to impress the people with the solemn warning of the church on the subject, and weakness and complicity of public officials. The statement urged that measures be taken to bring such recreant officials to account in the courts of justice and the bar of outraged public opinion.”
LOCAL NOTES
The reciprocity meeting of northern district California State Federation of Colored Women's clubs held last Wednesday was well attended. The principal business was the report of Mrs. C. Sledge, who was re-elected as president for this district at the state convention, and also delegate to the biennial convention of the N. A. of C. A. She said in part "I am happy to be with you as your president for the coming years. I wish to thank the officers, club presidents and coworkers for their support and hearty cooperation, more especially in re-electing me as your president, which is an expression of your confidence. I am glad to have had the opportunity of serving the clubs of this section as a delegate to the seventh biennial convention of the National Association of Colored Women held July 11-18 in Hot Springs, Ark."
The highlights of her report were the financial report from the national organization activities, and the amount given to the organization by the California State Federated clubs.
LOCAL CLUB ACTIVITIES
The Hollier club of young matrons of Alameda county, with their president, Miss Nettie Collins, held their second anniversary Tuesday with a social in Lorin hall, Berkeley. The Mothers' Charity club met Monday afternoon in Fanny Wall Children's Home and Day Nursery. Mrs. Sledge and Mrs. Stubblefield making reports of the biennial convention. Mrs. Stubblefield told of the many courtesies shown the California delegation by John L. Bebb, custodian of funds.
The Martha Wilson Memorial club of San Francisco held their initiation of newly elected officers with a reception Friday evening in the Madam C. J. Walker clubhouse. Mrs. Esther Noble was reelected president. Mrs. Irene Ruggles, founder, had prepared a program with Junior club girls and boys. Little David Marlow acted as color bearer with the American flag which the girls saluted.
Miss Phyllis Foreman, who won the distinction of being the best speller in the public schools of San Francisco, was presented a silver loving cup by Mrs. Ruggles. Mrs. Charles Dodge, past state president, from San Diego, delivered an inspiring address. She is the founder of a community house in that city, and has personally sponsored a Negro art exhibit. The Harmon art exhibit, which the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is sponsoring, to be shown in this city November 10 to 28 in the Municipal art museum, will only be shown in San Diego and Oakland, going east from here.
The exhibit, comprising 71 oil paintings, crayons, pastels and two pieces of sculpture have been well received everywhere. Because or the expense in transportation and other expenses the local branch is finding it unable to bear this burden without calling on the art lovers of the County to financially assist them.
