Evening star., 1901-07-18
HOLDS ANNUAL SESSION
NATIONAL CONVENTION OF COLORED
WOMEN AT BUFFALO,.
Mrs. Mary Church Terrell of WASH
The Officers Chosen.

MrS. mary CHuICH l0TTell, WIZ was lol
several years a member of the board of
education of the District of Columbia and
for the past two years president of the
National Association Of Colored Women,
returned Monday to her home in this city
from the third annual meeting Of the or
ganization which was held last week in
Buffalo, and this morning left for Moline
Ill. Mrs. Terrell has been engaged to
speak at a number of Chautauquas to be
held in several of the middle western states
during her absence from Washington,
which will continue for several weeks.
In referring to the Buffalo convention
Mrs. Terrell said:
1T was a splendid success from what
ever point of view you look at it. 1t was
well attended, in the first place. There
sissippi, Georgia. Alabama, Tennessee,
Florida, West Virginia, Kentucky. Rhode
Island, New York, Michigan. Nebraska,
Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Missouri,
Massachusetts, Ohio and the District of
Columbia. The subjects discussed were
those which bear directly upon the diff
culties and needs of the race.
Perhaps the most interesting discussion
had was one called forth by paper on
the kindergarten, which was read by Miss
Helen Abbott, teacher in St. Louis. The
necessity of establishing these schools for
colored children was dwelt upon with
bore testimony to the benefits to be deriv-
ed from the kindergarten. They told how
1t had helped their own and their neigh
bors children, and urged us to do every
thing in our power to have them estab-
lished throughout the country. AS re-
suit of this discussion. a committee was
appointed to send a printed appeal to the
various states, urging that the kindergar-
ten be Incorporated a part of the pub
Tic school system as soon as possible.
Convict Lense System.
"The convict lease system was discussed
by Mrs. Frederick Douglass. Mrs Joseph
Inc Bruce, widow of former Senator B.
X. Bruce, read a paper setting forth the
needs of industrial training for the race.
Mrs Booker T. Washington was present,
but said only a few words as she has
been i'll and was not able to respond to
the addresses of welcome which the mayor
and the citizens of Buffalo gave us. Miss
Cornelia Bowen who is called the Booker
L. Washington of colored women, urged us
to get money, so that the association may
De able to carry on the work which we
have planned and hope to do Miss BCAven
is an energetic little woman, who allows
no obstacle to discourage her. Through
her own efforts solely she has built up
school in Waugh, Ala, which is doing the
same kind Of work as that done for the
coiored people in Tuskegee.
Mrs j. S. Yates, the newly elected
president of the association, read paper
on Woman as Factor in the Solution of
Race Problems Mrs Yates was educat ed
in Rhode Island, and is now teaching in
Kansas City. Mo. She is a woman OF
strong character and high ideals, and Will
undoubtedly discharge her duties as presi-
dent faithfully and well.
According to our constitution no officer
can serve more than two consecutive
terms, so that the terms of the officers
was organized had expired. Mrs Booker
I. Washington, formerly the chairman of
the executive committee was elected first
vice president; Mrs. Bruce, formerly first
vice president, was liade chairman of the
executive committee; Mrs. Agnes Moody of
Chicago, second vice president Miss Small
wood of Pennsylvania, corresponding sec
retary; Miss Elizabeth Carter, president of
the Northeastern Federation, recording
secretary, with Mrs. Susan Evans of Buff
falo and Miss Josie Holmes Of Atlanta
Ga, to assist her; Mrs. Libbie Anthony Of
Jefferson City, Mo-, treasurer; Mrs L. A.
Davis Of Chicago, Ill.,, national organizer"
Compliment to Mrs. Terrell.
resolution was unanimously adopted
by the convention, setting forth that "as
the National Association of Colored Wo-
| men cannot afford to lose from its execu-
tive board a woman who has had the ex-
perience Of directing it's policy as presi-
dent for five years. therefore Mary Church
Terrell, first president of the National As
sociation of Colored Women, upon retir-
ing from her office, shall be made honorary
president of the National Association Of
Colored Women, with all its powers ard
privileges, including that of vote upon
the executive committee"
Mrs. Terrell was also presented with a
beautiful silver loving cup.
AT one time there were upon the plat
form the only surviving daughter of Fred
erick Douglass, who was introduced and
spoke to the convention; the daughter OF
the late John M. Langston, who read a
paper on "Womans Domain" and the
widow of the late B. K. Bruce.