The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-12
LOOKING UPWARD
EAST ORANGE NEGROES TO
BETTER RACE.
Form Independent Association, Labeled
Republican, Which Is to Make
Politics Secondary, Ills Said.

A new negro organization has peeh
| formed in East Orange, having for its
! object the uplift of the race in that city
and an effort will be made to have pontl.
cal afiliation made a secondary object. Al
the meeting this week Robert A travis
president, delivered an address, In which he
referred to the split that Is now showing
itself among the negro Republicans In the
city, many of them having been campaign
ing for Democratic success. Mr.. Travis
said in part:
''For some considerable time the need
of an organization among. the. negro
American citizens which shall. nave Tor
the purpose of its existence the welfare
and betIerment of our race-kind here I'D
East Orange, has been evident TO all. At
institution which shall devote its energies
to the uplift of our people within their
W spheres, bringing into its fold those
of our race whoy coming as strangers 70
our city, know not where to turn or go
for that association which Will .eno ~
their moral and intellectual betterment.
Sl,cL is the purpose of existence OF TINS
leDgue, and such IS the result that | as
your president will use every enaeavoe
has grown to be the garden spot OF New
Jersey, its reputation throughout the state
and the country is an enviabie one.
Its citizens are justly proud OF Inc t a1d
refinement to be found among its society,
the peace and quietude OF It's everyday
life the excellent manner in which the
city is governed, its wellshaded and nnely
keDt avenues, its clear and Well-kspt
streets. the almost total absence of any
thing to cause one to wish he lived else
where al. &C to make the people OF Eass
Orange proud OF their city, and we snouiu
have a share in this feeling OF pride' we
should, however, see to 1t that we are
Justified in taking this share. we snouln
do ey erything in our power to see lnat
the behavior and conduct OF our people
q 49, a. 4C a Is Hh0EfQ ana
| gocdly as that of anyone else. we are
Justly proud that our city numbers amohs
its negro citizens some of the leadihg men
of our race; gentlemen high In the coun-
ellis OF the race in its national HE VITO
ara only too ready to give us the Denema
of their advice and experience were We
in az attitude to receive same
9TH purpose of this league In ITS very
starr is to seek some place where the mei
Of our race may gather for social n m
teiIectusi intercourse surrounded by those
influences which tend to develop an ina,
is high and noble in us. For TINS an9
sincere efforts. trusting for you CO.
operation and asking you to silence anu
heed not those of our race-klnu OF any.
one else who have said and Will say tnat
thtl neg roeS of East Orange can never
unite f.. their mutual uplift. Because
Of the failure of men whose Visions Wers
narrowed, whose intellects were dWaIleu
and whose ambitions were very iimlteu,
because InGX nave ldl1cu 10 hO
fhe desired result cannot be materialiZed.
"As to political affiliation,. which, to my
mind, sH6uld be secondary IN our purpVss
OF organization. because of the greater
di1tv Which / believe we owe to ourselves;
in that we should first seek our material
uplift within our own sphere. You know
and | know Of the great effort now .oelne
put forth to break and sever the alleg, lance
vote to h party which has given to the
nation. the world \ and to h9 wni5a !
Know that fine feelin. of unrest and dis
content. which, is characteristic Of a the
felt in our midst, l would caution all To
weigh carefully the matter of changing
party afiliation and be Thoroughly con-
WINGED that you see things as they are,
face to face, and not through a glass
darkly." ~.
oreenization, which is styled the '1nde-
pendent Nesro American Repuesi n.;aF
is secretary, Hamilton Travis correspond
ing secretary, and Horace Davis treasurer